June 24, 2017 - Church at Worship

In our current sermon series, our focus is on the Old Testament book of Psalms. More Than Words is the title. A number of us, as colleagues, are joining together over the next several weeks to delve into the realities of these words, intended to be set to music, and what they mean to us today. The psalms contained in the biblical book bearing that title give expression to the deepest desires, pains, hopes, fears, joys, and sorrows of the human heart. I have often told people who are struggling with loss, defeat, fear, or any number of other trying human experiences to go to the book of Psalms, for in the Psalms they will find a way to express to God these intimate and deep emotions. On the other hand, in the Psalms, we also find a way to express the most lofty praise of the soul to God! Now a word about today’s psalm(s). (We look at two psalms which, in some of the ancient manuscripts were one.) So many songs are about longing. Longing to be with someone we love. Longing for a day and a time long since passed. Longing for a distant homeland. Longing for a better time. Turn on any radio station, click on many iTunes songs, and the theme of longing will soon croon out of the speakers. We human beings long for many things. I believe, though we may not always recognize it as such, that one of our principal longings is our longing for God. Underneath all the other longings is a pervasive desire for God. Such is expressed in the song(s) we consider today. See if these words do not give voice to the deepest longings of your heart . . . . Randy Roberts, senior pastor