Psalm 147:12-20 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 147:12-20 on biblegateway.com
Verse 12Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion!
Verse 13For he strengthens the bars of your gates; he blesses your children within you.
Verse 14He grants peace within your borders; he fills you with the finest of wheat.
Verse 15He sends out his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly.
Verse 16He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes.
Verse 17He hurls down hail like crumbs- who can stand before his cold?
Verse 18He sends out his word, and melts them; he makes his wind blow, and the waters flow.
Verse 19He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and ordinances to Israel.
Verse 20He has not dealt thus with any other nation; they do not know his ordinances. Praise the Lord!
Devotion
The psalmist speaks of statutes and ordinances. Ordinances are authoritative orders or decrees. The Ten Commandments are often what we think of when someone mentions God's laws or ordinances. And that is appropriate. But God speaks more than ten "words" to us. When God speaks creation is made, justice is served, salvation is at hand. When God speaks it is an authoritative order that cannot be ignored.
We might try to ignore these decrees. We are able to ignore injustice with the best of them. Yet God will not allow us to remain settled in our denial. God speaks and we are drawn out into the world. God speaks and we are compelled to join in speaking words of truth in the face of corrupt power. God speaks and the Word made flesh draws us into a love that will not be denied.
Prayer
Lord God, you have spoken through the prophets and now you speak through Christ who calls us to pursue the way of peace. Bless us with your ordinances; speak and we will obey. Amen.