Thursday 16th April Message

Thursday 16th April Message
by
April 16, 2020
in Minister's Daily Message
No Comments
1059
Dear Reader
I don’t where it originated but clapping has become, and is, a universal means of showing our appreciation and enjoyment following a performance of one kind or another. It’s a very happy sound. This evening we will again clap in appreciation for all who work hard in caring for others in the NHS. We applaud too other workers in other occupations who serve our communities throughout our entire country.
Perhaps, and I hope so, one deserved outcome from all the disruption and tragedy from the Coronavirus pandemic will be an elevation of our NHS and all who work there. Elevated above the hitherto political bickering and point scoring that we are used to hearing. Questions over its future and funding will never be treated in the same way again and its universal value recognised properly. It is a national treasure. Whatever your political persuasion we all live in a wonderful nation and should not in my view take anything, anywhere, and at any time for granted. We really are all in this together.
Our readings today are from the Psalms and ‘clapping’ is mentioned. The Psalms when you read them, seem to express many of our feelings and thoughts. The context in the readings might be somewhat different but the emotion and the sentiment pretty similar. We want to give thanks to God and clap. There is at times a feeling of joy and clapping is a way of showing it. We applaud all who care. We should clap for one another and perhaps in doing so our usual dour Presbyterian demeanour will take a knock. Maybe in church too we will be a bit more relaxed and show our appreciation to God and one another in clapping from time to time.
‘Clap your hands all you people, shout to God with the sound of triumph’.
Today I ask you to think on these things.
God bless you!

Jim

JBoag@churchofscotland.org.uk

PSALM 47

Clap your hands, all you nations;
shout to God with cries of joy.

For the Lord Most High is awesome,
the great King over all the earth.
He subdued nations under us,
peoples under our feet.
He chose our inheritance for us,
the pride of Jacob, whom he loved.

God has ascended amid shouts of joy,
the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets.
Sing praises to God, sing praises;
sing praises to our King, sing praises.
For God is the King of all the earth;
sing to him a psalm of praise.

God reigns over the nations;
God is seated on his holy throne.
The nobles of the nations assemble
as the people of the God of Abraham,
for the kings of the earth belong to God;
he is greatly exalted.

 

PSALM 98: 7-8

Let the sea resound, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it.
Let the rivers clap their hands,
let the mountains sing together for joy.

share

Recommended Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *