Pastor's Ponderings: Old Testament bible study of Psalm 20 (June 5, 2025)

June 5, 2025:  Thursday Bible Study on Psalm 20

May the Great Goodness of our faithful LORD surround us and hold us in God's constant care.

The ELCA Grand Canyon Synod Assembly in Las Vegas, Nevada is next week.  Our delegates are Sharyn Burt, Jesse Taylor, and me.  We will travel on Wednesday, be in assembly on Thursday and Friday, and return home on Saturday.

Please keep us in your prayers for safe travel, and the assembly for its work to proclaim the Gospel.  Please keep Henry in your prayers.  He has often worked around the church on special projects as a handy man.  Right now, his health is not good, and he needs to get good Doctor's care.  His wife died last year, adding to his emotional and physical health circumstances.   This Sunday we will celebrate the ministries of many people in our congregation, whose service happens all around us every week.  The Gospel Group, the Altar Assistants, Readers, Church Council members, counters, Altar guild, Parish Administrator, Bell Choir, and more.  Join us after church for a piece of cake and fellowship in the parish hall.  This group of people are at least 20+ strong.  We need to always give thanks for all of them in our prayers.

Today we are in the 20th Psalm.  Let me begin with an analogy this morning.  This week we are going to celebrate many ministries in the congregation.  I am the pastor of the congregation, and yet, without all these people my work would be impossible.  In a church the Pastor and the congregation are co-dependent.  That is not co-dependent in the way that is unhealthy, but rather in a truly good way in which both the parish and I receive the kind of support and encouragement that we need to be effective in the work of the Gospel that is always before us.  David finds himself in a similar place.  His relationship with the people, and indeed their relationship, are co-dependent on God, and yes God uses David and his people to move His purposes forward for all His creation.  David gives thanks to God for these relationships, without which, as King, he would certainly be unable to defend and provide for his country.  After all, isn't this how our relationship with God works too?  God calls us to service of the Gospel, and through His gift of Faith, surrounded by the Holy Spirit, we set about the business of sharing Jesus with one another, and with the world.  In this relationship we learn that being co-dependent in this good way requires both words and actions to move toward the completion of God's plans.  Since you and I only get to see a tiny portion of this Plan of God's, we must rely on faith to carry us through until that day comes when we will be received in the LORD'S heavenly kingdom.  The greatest complement which we can share in the church is, "Well done good and faithful servant and friend of the Gospel".  I hope that you long to hear these words when you have grown in faith and grace every day!  It really does seem as if David is writing this Psalm in response to the circumstances of the enemy and battles that are a part of the war.  But David is also speaking to the hearts of the people in Israel and ruling in such a way that everyone knows there will be times when it will be necessary to stand and defend their nation, but for now there is watchful peace, and thanksgivings to be made to God who has made it all possible.  After all, David, his people, and this Promised Land were being molded through their journeys, their victories, and their faithfulness in times of strife, and in times of calm and peace.  God was with them and is still with us today!

Thank you for letting me share with you today.    In Christ's Love, Pastor Kim