Psalm 106

In this morning's reading, Chronological Plan (www.biblegatway.com), we open with this Psalm.  A great exercise is to write down every person's name mentioned in the text...let't do that now.

Moses
Aaron
Dathan
Abiram
Phinehas

If you are not familiar with these stories, do some research, find them in the texts being referenced by this Psalm.  Now, here is the questions of reflection, "If God were to insert my name into this Psalm, who would I be?"  It's a pressing questions isn't it!  This is a great way to make sure that when we are reading Scripture that we keep it personal...it's supposed to be personal!

Are you the inconsistent leader like Moses?  Do you have great compassion for the people God has entrusted to you one day and despise their very existence the next?  Do you have moments of standing in great faith one day only to be swallowed up in doubt the next?  Do you act righteously one day and foolishly the next?

How about Aaron?  Are you a crowd pleaser?  Do you follow when you are supposed to lead?  Do you just go along when you know you are supposed to be a voice that says, "No, this is wrong!"  Do you fail to see the importance and the value of your calling because you can only see it in the shadow of someone else?

What about Dathan and Abiram?  Are you a continual voice of contention?  The challenge is that I'm sure they thought they were right!  I'm certain they were certain!  That's the vulnerability of cynicism, never seeing itself...I think Jesus had something to say about that..planks and specs maybe?  Are you the person in the Psalm that just can't stop pointing your finger, disrespectful, dishonoring, angry, looking for people to commiserate with you, always the person drawing people into complaining conversations about others?

Phinehas?  We find his name in sentences sharing space with words like courage and righteous.  If you take the time to find the account involving Phinehas (I'm not going to give it to you because I want you to enjoy the work of the search!) you will find that when no one seemed to know what to do or worse, weren't willing to act...Phinehas is there!

Who are you in the song today?

Pastor Fred