Psalm 50: True Worship
Part A In the beginning was God and God spoke! All worship starts here Then God called together a people from every corner of the globe Our God comes near and he is not silent Glimpse his glory feel his fire This is worship! Ah, but then it gets harder Will you stay to hear God’s judgment? Will you stick around to be criticised? The problem is, we keep reducing worship to a transaction We bring to God our time and offerings but just enough That will do, God That is not true worship “Mine are the cattle on a thousand hills” says the Lord “What I desire is simply you” says the Lord “all of you, your gratitude and your need all your heart.” That is true worship. Part B Human worship relies on right and wrong true or false in or out. Psalm 50 echoes these categories God names some people “righteous” and the rest “wicked” And we will know the wicked, of course, because they mix with bad people they reject our traditions they tell lies about God and twist old truth into strange new meanings they stir up conflict. Only then we recognize Jesus among the accused. True worship lets Jesus undermine our categories. Will you stick around to hear him judge you and call you to repent and forgive forgive especially yourself? Will you let Jesus tear you apart? He will reveal to you the salvation of God but will you recognize it? He will draw you into the place where all you can do is cry THANK YOU! |
Psalm 50: The courtroom drama
The Judge takes his seat and the court falls silent. God is the Judge and all people are Accused. The Judge is not happy, in fact he is angry! He is angry with us, all of us! He thunders: “You people, you know how I love you. Everything you have is a gift from me and what do you give in return? A little of this and a little of that. Do I need more money? No, it’s all mine! Everything is mine, but what I really want is you! all of you! everything you have and are! Don’t muck around with me. Following Christ is not a hobby, it is all or nothing! You can live in prison or live free – you have to choose!” |
Note on the photo:
Detail from 'Western Light', a painting by Brian Strong
Detail from 'Western Light', a painting by Brian Strong