Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23 (CEB)
1 Praise the Lord!
Give thanks to the Lord because he is good,
because his faithful love endures forever.
2 Who could possibly repeat all of the Lord’s mighty acts
or publicly recount all his praise?
3 The people who uphold justice,
who always do what is right, are truly happy!
4 Remember me, Lord, with the favor you show your people.
Visit me with your saving help
5 so I can experience the good things your chosen ones experience,
so I can rejoice in the joy of your nation,
so I can praise along with your possession.
6 We have sinned—right along with our ancestors.
We’ve done what is wrong.
We’ve acted wickedly.
19 They made a calf at Horeb,
bowing down to a metal idol.
20 They traded their glorious God
for an image of a bull that eats grass.
21 They forgot the God who saved them—
the one who had done great things in Egypt,
22 wondrous works in the land of Ham,
awesome deeds at the Reed Sea.
23 So God determined that he would destroy them—
except for the fact that Moses, his chosen one,
stood in the way, right in front of him,
and turned God’s destructive anger away.
Prayer
Holy God, you are faithful to us, but sometimes we struggle to be faithful in return. We make idols of our accomplishments — being the busiest, having the best grades, crafting the most perfect online presence. Refocus us, Lord. Help us to sift through the noise of everyone and everything that vies for our attention. Even as we set goals and celebrate successes, may our hearts be grounded in your gifts of mercy and love. Amen.
Written by Rev. Allison Wehrung, UKirk Ole Miss (Oxford, MS)