Congregation at Prayer

Catechesis Notes for the Week —Psalm 111—A Prayer of Praise of the Lord and Meditation upon His Works—Psalm 111 is a psalm of praise to the Lord for His saving works, His compassion and mercy, and for His enduring righteousness and justice in Christ which is the source of our salvation from sin. The psalmist extolls meditation upon the Lord’s works and Word: “the works of the Lord are great, studied by all who have pleasure in them.” Preaching according to the covenant or promise of salvation in Christ is held forth for His people to rejoice in: “He has declared to His people the power of His works…He has sent redemption to His people; He has commanded His covenant forever.” The catechism explanation to the First Commandment also reflects the teaching on faith in the last verse of the psalm: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.”

CP210328

CP210321

Catechesis Notes for the Week —Psalm 110—Psalm Announcing the Reign of Christ—Psalm 110 begins with David recounting a “conversation” between the God the Father and God the Son. Both are referred to by David as “Lord”— “the Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.’” The passage refers to what will be the consummation of Jesus’ work of trampling the enemies of Satan, sin, and death underfoot. He will sit at the Father’s right hand. On account of the faithful sacrifice of the Son of God (“David’s Lord”), the Lord (God the Father) would place all these enemies under Jesus’ feet. The verse recalls the first promise of the Gospel concerning the “Seed of the Woman” (the Virgin-born Son of Mary) who would “crush the Serpent’s head” with His “heel”. By the redeeming work of His cross, Satan is conquered and the Father places all His enemies under Jesus’ feet. The rest of the psalm depicts the wonderful establishment of Christ’s kingdom as a kingdom of salvation, beauty, and new life for Christians of every tribe and nation. God the Father declared Jesus to be “a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” Melchizedek appeared to Abraham in the Old Testament as a man who seemed to have no earthly lineage and yet Abraham paid tithes to him, indicating the superiority of his priesthood. Melchizedek is a type of Christ. His name means, “King of righteousness” and his office is fulfilled in Christ Jesus, the true King of Righteousness whose kingdom and priesthood would never end.

Catechesis Notes for the Week —Psalm 109:21-31—If the world hates us, the Lord will take care of us—Psalm 109 concludes with the psalmist placing his confidence in the Lord and His mercy when all the world and false accusers are set against him. The psalmist confesses that he is totally needy and as fleeting as a shadow. There is no soundness in him of his own making. He is dependent upon the Lord His God for help. When the world attacks him, the Lord upholds him. When the world curses him, the Lord blesses Him. No one else may believe that he is the Lord’s man, but the Lord’s mercy saves him and will vindicate him before his enemies. “I will greatly praise the Lord with my mouth; Yes, I will praise Him among the multitude. For He shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those who condemn him.”

CP210314

Catechesis Notes for the Week —Psalm 109:1-21—A Prayer for God to Judge False Witnesses—False witness includes any form of gossip, slander, or malicious statement that destroys another person and refuses to show mercy. The psalmist is attacked by false witnesses. Instead of lashing out against them, he commends them to God to judge them for what they have done and continue to do. It may seem off putting that the psalm would actually pray for God’s judgment upon his accusers. Would not the psalmist and God Himself desire their repentance? Yes! But such repentance often comes through the offender experiencing the same judgement his false witness gives to others. As we pray Psalm 109 we think of our Lord who was falsely accused, but appealed His cause to God. We remember Judas who vacated his apostolic office by his betrayal and impenitence. Finally, we remember His mercy which never fails to preserve and rescue our faith and life, even from the lying lips of those who speak against us.

CP210307