Date: 9^th May 2010 (Easter 6)

Preacher: Richard Dingley

Churches: Draycott & Rodney Stoke

Readings and psalm:

Acts 16, 9-15

Psalm 67

Revelation 21, 10; 22, 1-5

John 14, 23-29

Give us grace, O Lord, not only to hear your Word with our ears, but also to receive it into our hearts and to show it forth in our lives; for the glory of your great name. Amen.

Today I want to focus particularly on the Psalm we read together this morning. Psalm 67 is a literary and spiritual gem and was probably written by Hezekiah at the time of the Assyrian invasion. It was part of the Temple hymnal and is a song of joy in the purposes of God.

It is in three sections and although authorities differ as to how to divide it I prefer the scheme suggested by Maclaren: An introduction in verses 1 and 2, a conclusion in verses 6 and 7, while in the centre portion verses 3 and 5 are the same, like a chorus, leaving verse 4 with the central core message of the psalm.

It is though a challenging Psalm as well as one of rejoicing – it has within it that recurring theme in Scripture of “when” and “then”! The blessings of God are conditional. Worship has to lead us to action; blessing is linked to obedience. This is where, like the Hebrews of old and the Jews of today we often fail to make the connection and see it through!

So let’s take a closer look: the opening stanza gives us the purpose of God’s blessing. It is not so that we can glory in a sea of blessing within our own ghettos and simply worship and enjoy God the way we want to do - oh no! There is here an acknowledgement that our union with God has a purpose – the same continuing purpose that was announced to Abraham and has been the will of God ever since. God is interested in the whole of his creation and insists that we are required to tell those outside the church of the wonderful works of God. We have a missionary calling – a call to tell the world so ‘that God’s way may be known upon the earth and His saving health among ALL nations’. We are charged to be outward looking – not inward seeking: to go beyond our comfort zone into the big wide world: to become bold but at the same time vulnerable, to remain faithful to the calling to which we are called. We are not to leave the world in darkness while we enjoy the light of the Gospel. Far from it! We are called to share that light, to give those in darkness the light of the Gospel of Christ that they too may know the salvation that is in Jesus and his death for us.

Having said that the Psalmist invites all the people to praise God in verse 4. The central verse of the Psalm returns to that theme and asks God that all the nations be glad and sing for joy. Sing for joy because we have shared with them the wonders of salvation – ‘for God will judge the earth in righteousness and he will govern the nations of the earth’. How much better that he governs them and us as willing subjects rather than as rebellious people who are ignorant of or refuse to believe the Gospel of the love and peace that Jesus came to bring.

The ending, verses 6 & 7, give us the ‘then’ part of the challenge. It is only when we have shared the benefits of the forgiveness and new life that we have received as children of God and followers of Jesus that we read ‘Then’ the earth will yield her increase and God can really bless us, but not only us – but also those who have heard the word and believed because of our own lifestyle and words. All the ends of the earth can then join in the song! A tumult of praise to our saviour God!

So how does this Psalm fit in will today’s other readings? In the Gospel from St. John we were reminded of this same when and then, the link between obedience and blessing. Jesus tells his disciples that if we really love him we need to show it and we are to show it by being obedient to his commandments. We are to love not only in word but in deed and truth.

The reading in Acts gives us further insight into the missionary methods of God. Paul was searching where to go next with the Gospel. As so often happens as we seek the next step of our life’s journey every way we try, wherever we want to go, every door that we push, all seem closed; to be blocked by God. The doors Paul tried were closed: they simply would not open. The voice of confirmation was not there. But then, unexpectedly in a vision or dream he saw this man from Macedonia saying ‘Come over and help us’! This was God’s call; here was the open door, this message gave Paul the assurance of that word we listen for from God “This is the way – walk ye in it”. Paul was being led into Europe rather than continuing in Asia Minor, the church was to spread further, ‘into all the world’ Jesus said. I am so fond of this passage because it has played an important part in my call as a young Christian doctor to where my sphere of service should be. The needs of the world were and are huge. The resources of the church apparently few, and yet it has been said that ‘one with God is a majority’! I believe we are all called. That God has a plan for each of our lives. Here in Draycott we have this same calling to spread the news of the Gospel to those whom we meet on a daily basis; I am not good at it and dislike getting out of my comfort zone of withdrawn seclusion. But I believe I have my marching orders from my saviour, and when I do obey the guidance and strength Jesus promised does come – just sufficient for the work he has asked me to do at that time with no reserves for tomorrow! We each need to have confidence in the God who has spoken through Jesus and taken such dramatic and positive action to redeem us. I am afraid I often seem to fulfil God’s ‘Plan B’ in my life because I fail to trust him enough when he presents me with Plan A!

So perhaps the challenge of this Sunday’s readings come down to those words of the prophet Isaiah (6:8) “Here am I, send me!” That may be here in this village but it may, like Paul, lead to further and wider horizons in which to fulfil his calling.