"You should explain your reasons to a childas if the child had to explain them to God."
~ Robert Brault
KISS (Keep It Simple, Sweetheart)
#knowingGod
Praise [hâlelu] YHWH, all you Gentiles!
Laud Him, all you peoples!
For His love-filled kindness [chêsêd] is great toward us,
And the certain truth [emeth] of YHWH is perpetual [olam].
Hâlelu YAH!
~ Psalm 117 (author, amplified)
YHWH passed before Moses and proclaimed,
"YHWH! YHWH is mighty, compassionate,
gracious, longsuffering,
abounding in love-filled kindness and truth,
preserving love-filled kindness for thousands ..."
~ Exodus 34:6-7 (author)
Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth
For your love is better than wine.
~ Song of Solomon 1:2 (NKJV)
Today's passage is Psalm 117, all two verses of the Bible's shortest chapter. Addressed to Gentiles, perhaps the author thought they'd have a short attention span—not unlike our internet generation.
Or, perhaps the author was presenting a short praise chorus to be sung repetitively, similar to what today's critics call 7-11 songs—seven words sung eleven times. But anyone around children knows that when you make truth short, simple, and say it enough times, they'll eventually get it.
If you're writing only two verses to foreigners exhorting them to praise your God, you'd better get in what's most important. This brief Psalm is reminiscent of the way the Lord describes Himself to Moses (Exodus passage above), with an emphasis on three vital characteristics:
Chêsêd is synonymous with chên (grace). It stems from a verb which means to stoop, as one in power does to demonstrate love and kindness to someone weaker. The post of one week ago examined that the Lord humbles Himself to even look upon us, let alone show us the love and kindness which seats His people in Heavenly Places.
Emeth is established truth. It stands in opposition to relativity which allows everyone to define truth as they see fit. The Lord is certain, unchanging, reliable. He does not conform to human stipulations for deity.
Olam means the vanishing point of time or distance. It does not mean infinity, but simply beyond human comprehension, or outside the boundaries of space and chronology we can ascertain—(evolutionists' attempts to define absurd theories as science be damned).
Abundance of love and kindness. Truth. Perpetual. Psalm 117 is a little kiss from the Lord.
Lord, how wonderful every verse of Your Word, like abundant kisses from You! Please enable us to treasure every word, as the loving gift You've made it.
Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
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Thank you Anne, this post helps in keeping with my spirit to delight in the Lord. I have such unbridled joy as of late. I can only attribute such solace and happiness from the Holy Spirit.
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing like the precious kisses from my Father. Each one draws me closer to Him.
ReplyDeleteWhat an astounding commentary on Psalm 117, Anne. Wow--that's all I can say!
ReplyDeleteI heard in a sermon recently, "Don't play philosophical games with the Living God." (Mark Driscoll). Amen. These words you use here: Emeth and Olam, remind me how often modern, "intelligent" people want to tell us not only what God is like, but how He's wrong and why. Oh, my heart aches because they cannot know of what they speak, and they do not see!
Thank you for this rich post this morning. I'll be back to read it again! May God bless you today.
My mind is stuck on perpetual (olam) Truth. I want to rest here. I want to ask God about this today.
ReplyDeletePraise be to Olam Truth.
~ Wendy
Thanks Anne... :-)
ReplyDelete"Abundance of love and kindness. Truth. Perpetual."
ReplyDeleteWell put! Thank you for this encouraging reminder of our awesome God.
My personal goal is to strive to be a father like God is our Father. This is challenging to immitate, but encouraging nonetheless.
Awesome
ReplyDeleteWonderful thoughts & truth. Although I had never heard KISS end with "sweetheart" -it's a very nice change. :)
ReplyDeleteWonderful verses, Anne. Gotta love the word of God!
ReplyDeleteT. Anne, my joy for your joy knows no bounds. I wish I could give you a hug and kiss your cheeks. Someday ...
ReplyDeleteDenise, I'm quite certain that's His intent.
Gwen, Wow! backatcha. What a glowing comment, even from you. I share your ache, not only for the ignorant outside the church, but for those within the church still trying to put our God in a box.
Wendy, if you like Olam, "perpetual," you may like a re-read of the post I did on this name of God back in July: Rock of Ages. I know you saw it already, but it remains one of my favorite Names of God posts I did that month.
Russell, thanks for being here. :D
Fatha Frank, it is indeed challenging to imitate our Father, to become Christlike. I too often kick myself for falling short. Then I remind myself that it's not about doing, but being—being in a loving relationship with Him so that He is the One doing, through me. May He bless you in being like Him!
Peter, I pray you are encouraged by your visits here.
Jason, I still remember the first time I heard K.I.S.S., from my younger sister, and she used "Sweetheart." I've never thought of it any other way. ;D
Ellie, "gotta love the Word of God" is spot on! Wait til next week. I've got the "12 Gifts of Christians" (or a similar title) planned. I'll be tying 12 words for Scripture to the diversity of gifts God's people are given. (No peeking at this, Peter.)