Nodding Aquaintances – Psalm 105

A text – Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45b

105:1 O give thanks to the LORD, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples.
105:2 Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wonderful works.
105:3 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.
105:4 Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually.
105:5 Remember the wonderful works he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,
105:6 O offspring of his servant Abraham, children of Jacob, his chosen ones.
105:23 Then Israel came to Egypt; Jacob lived as an alien in the land of Ham.
105:24 And the LORD made his people very fruitful, and made them stronger than their foes,
105:25 whose hearts he then turned to hate his people, to deal craftily with his servants.
105:26 He sent his servant Moses, and Aaron whom he had chosen.
105:45b Praise the LORD!

A reflection:

Psalm 105, as we know, is a long psalm that recounts the deeds of many key persons and families in Israel’s history and the ways God worked directly in their lives. Why would we, as the first verses suggest, give thanks for a God who enters individuals’ lives so deeply and changes them forever?

This God, so praised in this psalm, is a God who does not just rule over crops and weather , as most ancient deities did. This God did not just create the universe, as other deities did. This God is a God who liked to be in relationship with individual human beings and walked with them through life, blessing them as their lives went on. This God cared and cares for persons. This God blesses persons. This God will also bless us.

If you have never prayed much in your life but you think you’d like to know this God better, try talking with God yourself. Try it for 30 seconds sometime today. Even just say, “God, it’s me, Pat. You know me, right? The one who really likes popcorn? And I’m really having trouble understanding my friend. If you could help, that would be great.” Then listen for a moment. Listen to the wind, or the rain, or the squirrel chattering in the tree across your yard. God will be waiting, breathless, for you to say more. You will be waiting, breathless, for God to do something.  Even just that much interaction for less than a minute will matter to God. And to you. Tomorrow you could do it again. Soon nodding acquaintances become connected. And soon you will be connected to God in ways you can feel and know.

A prayer:

Lord God, Thank you for loving us. Thank you being Lord of the Universe and also God that we can talk with and listen for. Help us to notice you and begin listening for you because you love us.  Amen.