"Always Just, Always Near"
a condensed version of the sermon delivered by Rev. Kirk Moore on Sunday, November 11, 2007 at Union Congregational Church in Somonauk, Illinois.

PODCAST of "Always Just, Always Near"

I really do love the Psalms. They express such raw emotions and deep, contemplative thought from people who struggled to serve God, understand God, and to love God.

And so often the emotions are angry, sad and confused:

• (Psalm 40:17 NRSV) As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God.
• (Psalm 109:22-23 NRSV) For I am poor and needy, and my heart is pierced within me. {23} I am gone like a shadow at evening; I am shaken off like a locust.

Sometimes the emotions are hopeful:

• (Psalm 9:18 NLT) For the needy will not be forgotten forever; the hopes of the poor will not always be crushed.
• (Psalm 22:26 NRSV) The poor shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the LORD. May your hearts live forever!
• (Psalm 74:21 NRSV) Do not let the downtrodden be put to shame; let the poor and needy praise your name.

And, at least once in awhile, the emotions are happy – celebratory (That’s a fun word to day – celebratory!)

• (Psalm 63:5 NRSV) My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast, and my mouth praises you with joyful lips.
• (Psalm 96:11-12 NRSV) Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; {12} let the field exult, and everything in it. Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy.
• (Psalm 122:1 NRSV) I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD!"

Psalm 145 is one of those celebratory Psalms. This week our Bible reading is Psalm 145:1-5 and 17-21:

I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever.

Every day I will bless you, and praise your name forever and ever.

Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; his greatness is unsearchable.

One generation shall laud your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.

On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.

The LORD is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings.

The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

He fulfills the desire of all who fear him; he also hears their cry, and saves them.

The LORD watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.

My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, and all flesh will bless his holy name forever and ever.

Wow.

Praise and adoration. Good feelings – and then that "destroys the wicked" part ruins the jubilation – at least for me.

The psalmists had real, raw emotions – poured out poetically. They reflect the mood swings of a people trying to "get it." As we try to get it – sometimes we are angry. Sometimes we are hopeful. Sometimes we just want to celebrate.

Why do we seek destruction, too?

This week, a colleague of mine suggested that maybe the "destroys the wicked" part is better understood from a position of powerlessness instead of one of power – as in those who are being oppressed see hope in the destruction of the ones who are oppressing them. I can see how that might work to understand this Psalm, but I also think that this song isn’t written from a perspective of powerlessness. It’s identified as a Psalm of David (Yes – David and Goliath, David and Bathsheba and King David) and the whole psalm is written as an acrostic poem. Each line begins with the next letter in the Hebrew alphabet. (It doesn’t work out well in English translation.) I think this Psalm is written by an educated person who comes from a place of power – not powerlessness.

So – back to the point: Why in the midst of something uplifting and wonderful do we see something demoralizing and negative?

Today is stewardship Sunday. And there is much to celebrate.

This week’s Psalm reading has something in it that may not catch your attention at first. It celebrates a God who the writer experiences as "Always just" and "Always near." As you hear it it feels like the words of someone who has been blessed immensely by God.

But the blessings that are being described aren’t really from God to the writer – they’re from the writer to God.

Can you do that? Can you bless God? Does God even sneeze?

Never mind – Yes – we can bless God. To bless can mean to worship or praise, to grant goodness and favor, and to raise up those kinds of things in another. When we talk about blessing directed towards God, it implies reverence or adoration directed in thanks to God.

• Bless God’s Holy Name.
• Uplifting and wonderful.

Why take that and remember something demoralizing and negative? There is much to celebrate!

Our congregation is alive and growing

We are growing in Spirit

• Learning to share our faith in Jesus with others
• Studying the Bible – either in a weekly Bible study, on Sunday mornings before our worship service or right here during our worship service.
• Singing praises to God with songs we know and songs we’re learning.
• Moving forward in our faith each day.

We are growing in strength

• Our relationships with one another are flourishing – and we’re learning more about each other during soup suppers, fellowship events and Sunday morning coffees
• We’re reaching out beyond the pews to help others in need – perhaps by sharing a meal with someone who’s been in the hospital, by offering a ride to someone who needs transportation or even by giving our time and money to help those who never seem to have enough
• We’re tightening the ties that bind us – while at the same time welcoming all into the family.

We’re growing in numbers

• We’ve run out of bulletins and parking lot space several times this year
• We’re fast approaching a "standing room only" sanctuary on several Sunday mornings.
• We’re welcoming visitors and inviting more to come and experience worship at Union Congregational Church, United Church of Christ in Somonauk.

And there’s more to do – but instead of looking at where we’re short – let’s look at the opportunities

• We can dig deeper into our Bibles through personal bible study, a new "World’s most Dangerous Bible study" group that will start meeting in 2008, and maybe even through online Bible study groups like the one at i.ucc.org.
• We can re-introduce some soul-lifting contemporary praise music in our worship services.
• We can reach deep to generously support all the monthly benevolence offerings we collect on behalf of so many wonderful ministries.
• We can step up together in our giving to this mission, this growth project and this caring community we call Union Congregational Church, United Church of Christ
• We can remember that every Sunday is "Bring a friend" Sunday.
• We can be sure to warmly welcome everyone who comes through our doors with love, encouragement and care.

We can bless the stillspeaking God – realizing that God is one who gives us an abundance of love and a scarcity of fear and rejection. We can bless the stillspeaking God – who is generous to us and calls us to be generous in love to one another. We can bless the stillspeaking God – who is justice and who is presence and who calls us to live lives seeking justice and to live lives that are a loving presence to each other and to all. We can bless the stillspeaking God – and we can trust that no matter what – God is always just – always near.

Close with prayer.

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