Meditation 222
Psalm 50: 1-6
Psalm 50 was one of the readings that was used at the Festival of Booths or Sukkot when the people of God used to gather at the temple in Jerusalem. Sukkot was the festival of the autumn harvest, and it was one of the three festivals that required the people to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the celebration. The other two festivals that were to be observed in Jerusalem were the festival of unleavened bread, and the festival of Pentecost. The Festival of Booths, or the autumn harvest, was a time to celebrate the way the glory of God shined forth before the people, and to give thanks for the harvest that was enjoyed. The people would bring their offerings to the temple, it was a service of praise that the people did not attend empty handed.
The words of psalm 50 were read to invite the people to praise God, and to take part in the temple activities. The priest would step forward and give these words “The mighty one, God the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth.” What a stirring invitation to worship! The phrase referring to God’s glory shining forth is a rare one in Hebrew Scriptures, and when it is used it points to the presence of God in a powerful and redeeming way—not just in an accompanying way. As the people brought forth their offerings from the harvest in thanksgiving for God’s good gifts to them, they were reminded of God’s power and saving might. They would be reminded of the stories of God’s glory and might being shown to the prophets and leaders in the writings of scripture. The words of this psalm would invite the people to worship God the Lord.
This psalm introduces us to the glory of God, which is the theme for this coming Sunday. This week we will look at the Transfiguration of Jesus, when a few of his disciples saw him in all his glory. The disciples were amazed and overwhelmed. They were not used to seeing the glory of God in this way. Similarly, we may miss the glory of God when it is right in front of us. The glory of God is not for show purposes only. The glory of God transforms. We may see the evidence of the glory of God in the life of an addict who can overcome the substance that used to control his or her life, we see evidence of the glory of God in a family where reconciliation has taken place, we see evidence of the glory of God in the nurse who sits with tears in her eyes holding the hand of a dying patient, because no one should die alone, even in days of pandemic. The glory of God may be revealed in the wonder of creation or in the wonder of life changing love.