Your Turn for 06/24-25/2023 - Psalm 84:10-12
Welcome to the weekend, Seeds of Faith community!
Because this is a reflection on scripture using the SOAP method (Scripture-Observation-Application-Prayer), part of the purpose is sharing an example of what you might practice in your own scripture reading. So, the weekend invitation is to practice your own SOAP reflection.
Each weekend, I share a passage of scripture to work from. If you’re up for sharing in the comments, I’d love to see what you come up with. This week the prompt is Psalm 84:10-12, which you’ll find below. If you share, please copy and paste the sentence or phrase you are reflecting on.
Brief guidelines for a good practice:
The Basic Method. Pick a sentence or phrase in the scripture passage that stands out to you. Write down something you observe going on in that sentence or phrase. Reflect on how that observation gives insight that might apply to your faith and life. Write a short prayer about that.
Observe Well. Think about what the sentences and phrases are saying and not saying. Take care also not to extrapolate more than is there.
Stay Balanced. Focus on the particular scripture while keeping the whole witness of scripture (as well as you know it) in mind. Isolating a verse or passage from the whole can lead us to heresies, but reading each verse or passage deeply and well makes for a robust understanding of the whole. This is one purpose of the early creeds (Apostles’ and Nicene)—they summarize the major points of Christian scripture and doctrine so as to help us read individual biblical passages faithfully.
Psalm 84:10-12
10 Better is one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
from those whose walk is blameless.
12 Lord Almighty,
blessed is the one who trusts in you.
“But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Matthew 13:23)
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We all have choices about how and where we spend our time. This Psalm, one of my favorites, and these particular verses have been a driver for my personal growth and my choice of career. The joy of being in the house of the Lord and being with the people of God---wherever it is, however large or small, is immeasurable. In that place, whether in the city or country, the goodness and beauty of the God of our faith is there, and the worship of Him brings me both joy and peace.
O God, may I draw strength and inspiration in your presence and perseverance for daily living. Thank you for your steadfast love. Amen.
SCRIPTURE:
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
OBSERVATION:
This small verse resonates with me. Our Father lights our way; Jesus is the light of the world keeping away the darkness or evil, Satan. His shield is His faithfulness in protecting us, by enveloping us in His grace
APPLICATION:
Remember to praise our Heavenly Father! He is always there shining His light, showing us the path, the way. When we falter or need help, we only need our faith, His shield to protect us!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, let me be warmed by your sun and protected by your shield as I faithfully follow Jesus! Amen