Let the phrases of my mouth and the meditation of my coronary heart
be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14 NRSV
I used to be nicely into my twenties after I discovered that these phrases above had been from a psalm and never only a prayer that pastors and clergymen all prayed earlier than they began preaching. I had heard it so typically that I believed it was one thing that was handed down at ordinations or throughout seminary training. I actually believed they had been taught: “That is how you start a sermon.” I heard so many mega-church pastors and theobros start their sermons and talks this manner that I developed an aversion to them. As quickly as somebody makes use of these phrases to start a sermon, I’m on full alert. (Judgey-mcjudgerson reporting for responsibility!) As I’m nothing if not expert in oppositional defiance, I made a decision I might by no means begin a sermon with these phrases. And since I’m additionally cussed, I’ve held to it, a few years and plenty of sermons later.
However, there are a lot of, many devoted preachers and academics who start their talks and sermons with these phrases as nicely, individuals I respect and whose phrases I worth. So I believed that at the moment was the day to confront no matter ick I nonetheless have remaining about these verses.
As a result of I don’t suppose they’re meant for asserting some form of piety, realized or not.
And the one strategy to be taught what they’re meant to do is to take them in context.
These phrases are the ultimate verse of Psalm 19.
They’re the ending of a tune of reward to God, not the start.
The psalmist shouldn’t be asking for God to be current within the phrases they’re about to say, they’re asking for God to just accept the tune after they’ve sung it.
I sat with this for some time at the moment.
Questioning how typically I pray for God to just accept no matter it’s I’ve supplied every day.
It doesn’t occur quite a bit that’s for certain.
Does it need to be a tune, like it’s for David?
Or a sermon in entrance of a crowd?
What about after I open the door for somebody whose arms are full?
Let this providing be acceptable, O Lord.
What about that point after I stopped to odor the lilacs whereas strolling in my neighborhood?
Let this providing be acceptable, O Lord.
What about after I didn’t reply to that imply e mail with one other imply e mail?
Let this providing be acceptable, O Lord.
What if all of us mentioned some model of this on a regular basis?
“Let the phrases I communicate and the tune in my coronary heart all be accepted as an providing to God.”
The phrases “My Rock and Redeemer” are vital right here, too.
They suggest some issues about God that I don’t wish to skip over.
