URCNA Synod -13, Point of Personal Privilege

It sometimes happens during a major ecclesiastical assembly that a delegate will request a "point of personal privilege." Generally the delegate wishes to convey some personal sentiment that doesn't directly address the issue at hand, but is nevertheless important for the body to hear.

Before I leave the campus where Synod was held and spend a long day driving and flying home, and before I write more reports about Synod actions, I'd like to take my own moment of personal privilege.

Over the last ten plus years, I've observed as a writer for Christian Renewal major ecclesiastical assemblies of the RCUS, the OPC, the CRC, and the URCNA. On the basis of carefully studied reports and extensive communication with officers and other attendees, I've written about major assemblies of other federations, such as the CanRC, the RPCNA, the PCA, and the RCA (to name just a few that come to mind).

It's been interesting to compare and contrast the different atmosphere and functioning at these assemblies. I have often spoken and written of the URCNA as a child whose growing maturity I witnessed at the previous two Synods. This year it seemed to me that the URCNA was an awkward teenager, stumbling over its own feet.

Fraternal observer Rev. Peter Kloosterman, from the RCNZ (or "RCNZed" as he says), used the same teen analogy when he addressed the brothers at Synod. Additionally, he made some great points about teens' desire for independence and their tendency to see the crisis of the moment as the crisis of their lifetime.

This "awkward teen" Synod went through some of the most excruciating growing pains I've ever witnessed at a major assembly. Those who have attended CRC Synods know that they function like a well-oiled machine. OPC and RCUS assemblies function efficiently also, but have entirely different dynamics. This Synod did not function well through no fault of the Chairman, who repeatedly brought speakers back to the subject at hand, explained exactly where Synod was in its deliberations, and frequently had to spend time telling advisory committee reporters how to do their job.

Synod took a baby step to address this issue by asking that the convening consistory choose experienced men as chairmen and reporters for committees and provide them with resources to help them efficiently perform their tasks. But the real responsibility lies with each delegate. Prior to Synod, each delegate ought to be familiar with Robert's Rules of Order as well as the agenda. Delegates know their pre-advice committee assignments ahead of time; they ought to be very familiar with the issues they will be addressing. Reporters must know how to type up a helpful report that summarizes the issues and presents recommendations with grounds. They ought to know how to present it on the floor and do so quickly.

Reporters shouldn't have to constantly ask, "Do you want me to read this, Mr. Chairman?" Delegates should clearly state that they rise to speak either for or against an issue. I've never heard so many delegates preface remarks with "I'm not sure..." or "I just question..." If a delegate questions wording, he ought to come forward with a proposed amendment that Synod can vote up or down. He shouldn't stand at the mic while delegates try to figure out how to say what he himself isn't quite sure he wants to say.

Part of this awkwardness is because the URCNA is a young federation, part of it may be because the URCNA only meets once every three years, and part of it may be that many delegates have never attended a Synod before. But whatever the reasons, it is not an efficient way to conduct the business of the church and delegates ought to take the responsibility to become better educated in church polity and to be better prepared before rising to speak.

Synod was blessed for four extraordinary officers: Chairman Ralph Pontier, Vice Chair Ronald Scheuers, First Clerk Doug Barnes, and Second Clerk Bradd Nymeyer. These men fulfilled their roles admirably. Revs. Pontier, Scheuers, and Nymeyer often demonstrated the amazing amount of church order and polity knowledge they store in their minds.

There were many other good things about this year's Synod. Synod did some very good work that will greatly benefit the churches. As usual the cammaraderie among delegates who came from all over North America, as well as fraternal observers from all over the world, was amazing. Some of these men are very isolated in their ministry or mission work. Some struggle against overwhelming obstacles. It was a blessing for all attendees to gather with like-minded brothers to do the business of Christ's church.

URCNA Synod-12, Federal Vision

The issue of most interest to me was the report from the committee studying Federal Vision and Justification. As I mentioned in my earlier post on the "Nine Points" that were adopted by Synod Schererville 2007, I have been following this issue since observing the RCUS Synod at which their report was adopted. I witnessed the discussion at Classis Michigan regarding an overture to adopt that statement for the URCNA, and I sat in on the pre-advice committee at Synod Schererville.


Recognizing the theological knowledge and ecclesiastical acumen of the men appointed to the study committee, I was not surprised when it produced what I considered to be a very fine report. Having seen the strong level of commitment to the gospel demonstrated repeatedly at URCNA classis and other meetings, I anticipated very little opposition to the report. My heart warmed at the compassionate manner in which the pre-advice committee at Synod 2010 handled the concerns expressed in an overture that sought to avoid creating extra-confessional documents of a binding nature. My spirit rejoiced at the careful attention to biblical truth and the spirit of cooperation evidenced with the pre-advice committee.


When the recommendations from the pre-advice committee came before the body, I was confident of strong support.


Synod adopted the following without dissent: "That Synod urge all office-bearers to repudiate Federal Vision teachings where they are not in harmony with the following articles from the Three Forms of Unity (which was followed by a listing of nine confessional quotations that were drawn directly from the overture).


Synod then affirmed 15 teachings of Scripture and the Three Forms of Unity, most of which were nearly the same as those that appeared in the study committee's report (pages 491-492 of the Proposed Agenda).


Only the first two affirmations had been rewritten in the pre-advice committee to reflect the referenced confessional teaching with wording that sought to address the language and emphases of Federal Vision teachings. The first two affirmations had originally been direct quotations from the confessions, and the pre-advice committee sought to carefully separate the direct confessional teachings from the affirmations applying those teachings.


The first two affirmations as revised:


1. In God's unchangeable purpose, He elects His chosen ones to salvation and effectively draws them into fellowship with Christ through His Word and Spirit, granting them true faith in Christ, justifying, sanctifying and preserving them in Christ's fellowship until He glorifies them (Canons of Dort, 1.7).


2. The election of God is of one kind only, and is to everlasting life, and not to a mutable relationship dependent on the good work of man, which can be forfeited (Canons of Dort, 1.8). Those who finally fall away have not forfeited their election, but demonstrate they never were elect, though members of the covenant community (Canons of Dort, 5.7).


Several minor editorial changes were made to some of the other affirmations, but none of those changed the substance of the affirmation. Those few edits only made the finished product clearer and stronger.


The following four grounds were adopted with the recommendation:


1. Clearly distinguishing direct quotations from the Confessions from the formulations of the 15 points respects the binding nature of our Confessions as our doctrinal standards. The Scriptures, Ecumenical Creeds, and Three Forms of Unity alone may serve as grounds in matters of discipline.

2. Moving the affirmations as proposed in Overture 1 diminishes the weight of the statements addressing the Federal Vision errors.

3. Overture 1's proposal to move these affirmations to summary statements would disrupt the coherence and logical flow of the report.

4. The churches have a responsibility to address contemporary theological errors in a language that is applicable to those errors.

The motion regarding the recommendation with its grounds and 15 affirmations carried without dissent. Immediately after the vote, delegates broke into spontaneous applause.

There was some debate about the next recommendation, which asked Synod to "reaffirm the reminder" of Synod Schererville and quoted its statement about encouraging individuals to follow proper Church Order procedure when an office-bearer is suspected of "deviating from or obscuring the doctrine of salvation as summarized in our Confesssions...."

Some delegates questioned the wisdom of reaffirming reminders. They felt that this minimized the original statement. The introductory phrase was deleted and Synod passed only the quotation from the Acts of Synod 2007, Art. 67.4.

A recommendation regarding what actions Synod should take to widely distribute the report passed without dissent.

A recommendation to publish the study committee report was defeated; however, a new motion that gives the convening consistory permission to allow a secondary organization to publish the study report was adopted.

The final recommendation to thank the study committee for its excellent work passed without dissent.

After the vote, Chairman Pontier used a point of personal privilege to express his hope that "we can address those with whom we have differences in a way that will promote the truth and the glory of God and will not create shame and disgrace because we are biting and devouring one another."

It is good to be reminded of the need for compassionate and careful handling of accusations against others. Some of those who oppose Federal Vision teachings can quickly become inflamed and accusatory. It's important to be sure of the offense before accusations are made. Doctrinal accuracy is of paramount importance, but doctrinal accuracy can be implemented in a compassionate manner that reflects the love of Christ.
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URCNA Synod-11, Doctrinal Commitment

Synod Schererville 2007 had appointed a study committee to explore the issue of doctrinal commitment necessary for membership and that committee reported to this year's Synod.

The six-member committee was evenly split into Position 1 (Membership Access with Stipulations) and Position 2 (Membership Access with Full Assent). The Advisory Committee presented a Majority and Minority reports. After some discussion, the motion was made and carried to recommit the matter to the study committee, members of which were present at Synod and expressed their hope that they could come to a more unified decision before presenting a revised report to the next Synod.

A motion to add a seventh member to the study committee was defeated.

For more on this and other synodical decisions, see the next issue of Christian Renewal.

URCNA Synod-10, Missions

Earlier in its deliberations, Synod had voted to "evaluate the need for a part-time/full-time or 'volunteer' URCNA mission coordinator position and to appoint a study committee to evaluate the need for a mission coordinator.

Last evening Synod adopted a mandate for the study committee "to develop a proposed set of federational mission policies and guidelines." The committee is to take into consideration the possibility of a missions coordinator position and was given several recommendations to guide its direction. Those appointed to the committee are: Rev. Michael Brown (chair), Rev. Jody Lucero (Clerk), Rev. William Boekestein, Rev. Harry Bout, Elder Paul Wagenmaker, Rev. Richard Anjema, and Rev. Kevin Efflandt. Alternates are: Rev. Steve Arrick, Rev. Alan Vander Pol, Rev. Reuben Sernas, and Elder Harry Kooistra.

Many delegates privately expressed the encouragement and joy they felt about the URCNA moving toward a more unified front on the mission field.

More reports and details will be available in the next issue of Christian Renewal.

URCNA Synod-9, The Nine Points

Appeal #1 came from Hills URC and took issue with the procedure used by Synod Schererville 2007 when it adopted the item of pastoral advice that has become known as the "Nine Points."

The appeal and presenters made clear that the theological content of the "Nine Points" was not the issue; the procedure was. The gist of the appeal was these points did not come from a consistory and that the churches did not have an opportunity to study the theological statements prior to Synod 2007.

This item was of interest to me since I observed the work of the advisory committee that eventually recommended these points at Synod 2007. The same advisory committee recommended the establishment of the study committee whose report on the Federal Vision comes before Synod 2010.

The advisory committee recommeded sustaining the appeal, believing that proper procedure had not been followed. Delegates were divided over the issue; some argued for the importance of following appropriate procedure and allowing consistories to study such statements prior to their adoption. Others argued that this piece of pastoral advice was crucial for the federation.

Because Chairman Pontier wished to speak to the issue, he turned the chair over to Vice-Chair Scheuers.

"I believe that in this case we have to recognize that we procedurally erred," Rev. Pontier said. "We're not rejecting the doctrine."

When Vice-Chair Scheuers wished to speak to the issue at the end of debate, he resigned the chair to Second Clerk Nymeyer.

"If Synod can't give pastoral advice on an issue, we might as well just send in our votes," said Rev. Scheuers. "I would plead with you that we not accede to the recommendation."

The recommendation, and therefore the appeal, was defeated. The Nine Points remain as pastoral advice for the churches.

URCNA Synod Reports-8, Ecumenical relations (CERCU)

This morning Synod decided to enter into Phase 2, Ecclesiastical Fellowship, with the Reformed Church of Quebec (ERQ), but tabled indefinitely a recommendation to move to Phase 2 with the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA). According to synodical guidelines, a motion to table indefinitely can be made when it is "wise and prudent to avoid a direct vote on a matter without deciding either positively or negatively."

Although both denominations currently ordain women deacons, the practice has been steadily decreasing in the ERQ. Ordaining women deacons has been a longstanding (about a hundred years) practice in the RPCNA, however, and delegates seemed to desire more information about the RPCNA's current practice before making a decision. Tabling indefinitely seemed like a good way to hold off on the decision without casting a negative vote.

Synod also voted to consider all those member denominations of NAPARC with which the URCNA is not already in either Phase 1 or Phase 2 relations to be in Phase 1, Corresponding Relations. Those five federations are: Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, Heritage Reformed Congregations, Korean American Presbyterian Church, Presbyterian Church in America, and Presbyterian Reformed Church.

Be sure to read the full report in the next issue of Christian Renewal.

URCNA Synod -7, Website oversight

As the evening wore on, delegates flew through recommendations regarding website oversight. Rev. Talman Wagenmaker, reporter for the pre-advice committee, read the committee's recommendations so quickly that Chairman Pontier asked if he could preach a two-hour sermon in twenty minutes.

His quick, but articulate, reading set the pace for Synod's actions on the 15 recommendations.

Regarding a webmaster, Synod declared that the Stated Clerk and the Webmaster "may or may not" be the same person. Synod granted the Website Oversight Committee (WOC) authority to "establish and maintain" the duties of the Webmaster "with the approval of the Oversight Consistory." Synod also granted the WOC authority to appoint a webmaster, with the approval of the Oversight Consistory, if Synod does not appoint a webmaster. The webmaster must be a voting member of the WOC. Synod set the webmaster's annual remuneration at $3,000 and specified that it not be taken from the website fund.

Chairman Pontier expressed warm appreciation to Mr. Bill Konynenbelt for his years of service to the committee and Synod gave him a round of hearty applause.

Synod also thanked Grace URC of Waupon for its consistory's oversight of the WOC, voted not to set a term limit for a consistory's service as the Oversight Consistory, and reappointed Grace's consistory as the Oversight Consistory until the next Synod.

Each Classis has been submitting $200 per year to the WOC fund and Synod agreed to the WOC's request to reduce that to $100 per year since the WOC has a current balance sufficient for three years.

Synod thanked Covenant URC of Kalamazoo for transferring ownership of the urcna.com and urcna.net internet domains.

The WOC produces a directory for download, available as a PDF on the password-protected side of the website. Synod mandated that the WOC continue this practice.

The Oversight Consistory had requested a name change to the "Partnering Consistory," but Synod did not approve that change. The name will remain "Oversight Consistory."

The duties of the Oversight Consistory were refined to include acting as a "legal entity" when necessary and acting as the "responsible ecclesiastical assembly" between Synods.

Finally, Synod asked the Liturgical Forms Committee to come up with new introductions for the Canons of Dort, Confession of Faith, and Heidelberg Catechism on the website.

More information on Synod London 2010 will appear in the next issue of Christian Renewal.

URCNA Synod-6, Theological Education, Overture 13

The issue of concluding the work of the unity committees (the three committees that have been working toward unity with the CanRC) was tabled temporarily until after dealing with the report regarding the Theological Education Committee.

Synod declared that the Theological Education Committee's mandate has been fulfilled and dismissed the Committee with thanks. Synod did not adopt the "hybrid" model proposed by the Theological Education Committee.

Synod then returned to the discussion about concluding the work of the unity committees. Now that the work of the Theological Education Committee has been concluded, the wording was changed to the "remaining" unity committees (the songbook and joint church order committees). But an earlier action continued the work of the PJCO.

A motion was made to reconsider the seven recommendations made earlier today regarding the PJCO as the declared answer to Overture #13. That motion failed.

Recommendation 5 was back on the floor. The vote on it failed. This means that Overture #13 was not answered.

It was moved that the Synod pick up Overture #13, and then that Synod recommit this matter to the pre-advice committee. The matter of Overture #5 was also recommitted to the committee.

For more on these issues, see upcoming articles in Christian Renewal.

URCNA Synod-5, PJCO, Overtures 3, 5, 13 & 18

Discussion on the floor of Synod finished the report of the advisory committee dealing with the songbook and liturgical forms. It is now discussing the Proposed Joint Church Order.

Those recommendations asked that Synod "accept for continued study" the PJCO 2010, that Synod instruct the churches that suggested changes to the PJCO 2010 should be addressed by way of overtures to Synod, and that Synod reappoint the current committee to continue working with the Canadian Reformed sub-committee to address unfinished matters.

Synod then declared this its answer to Overture #18. There were concerns expressed that delegates were not aware that approving the recommendations was considered the answer to Overture #18. Chairman Pontier ruled that reporters must read entire recommendations to avoid future misunderstanding.

Regarding the Majority and Minority reports from the PJCO, Synod voted to withhold action on these reports since the PJCO has not yet been adopted.

Synod acceded to Overture #3 regarding a change to Article 66 of the Church Order, dealing with two-thirds ratification required before changes take effect. Ratification will be at a time frame determined by Synod.

Overture #13 had requested the conclusion of the current mandate of the unity committees. Synod adopted a recommendation reaffirming "our conviction that the Canadian Reformed Churches are a federation of true and faithful churches of Christ, whom we love and respect as fellow-workers in the kingdom."

Synod encourages churches to facilitate further opportunities of interaction with Canadian Reformed Church by implementing "the essential work" of building "organic, heartfelt unity."

Synod accedes to a recommendation stating that "challenges and concerns remain" regarding the relationship with Canadian Reformed Churches.

Several delegates have spoken against the recommendation that Synod NOT accede to the request of Overture #13. So far only three speakers in favor of the recommendation. Discussion has ceased on this matter until after the order of the day.

More later.

URCNA Synod-4

I'm typing from the auditorium where the second plenary session of the day will begin soon. This morning Synod met briefly before delegates were dismissed into their advisory committees. Several committees have now presented reports that will be considered this afternoon and--no doubt--late into the evening.

URCNA Synod-3, Canadian Night

When Synod went back to plenary session this evening, Chairman Ralph Pontier joked that the initial reports coming from Advisory Committees would be designated in honor of our Canadian hosts and the country in which we were meeting, for example, "Six, eh" (6-A).

It's not unusual for these initial reports to be referred back to committee for additional work and that happened to a recommendation advocating the formation of a study committee to evaluate the need for a part-time/full-time or volunteer missions coordinator. Synod asked the committee to formulate a mandate for the study committee and include budget recommendations.

The recommendation to extend terms of service for CECCA members was tabled temporarily until an overture dealing with rules of procedure has been addressed, since that overture could have implications for the recommendation.

The Advisory Committee recommended and Synod acceded to the request to relieve Cornerstone URC of Hudsonville, MI, from the responsibilities associated with publishing a federational missions newsletter. The Stated Clerk will draft a letter thanking Mr. Don Van Dyke and Mrs. Cheryl Doll as well as the council of Cornerstone for their work on "The Trumpet." Synod immediately sought a replacement and accepted West Sayville's offer to take over the responsibility of publishing a federational mission newsletter.

Discussion ramped up when the Advisory Committee dealing with the Report of the Psalter Hymnal Committee recommended: "Synod 2010 affirms that the official songbook will be purchased and used by all URCNA churches."

Several verbs proposed as amendments to replace "will be" were ruled out of order by the chair since they significantly altered the intent of the recommendation. Rev. Joel Dykstra judged that the recommendation "contravenes Art. 39 of the Church Order." The Chair ruled that it did not do so and that his motion was out of order.

Jon Bouwers offered the amendment that was finally accepted: "Synod 2010 affirmd production of a new songbook which will be purchased and used by all the churches."

After less than two hours of work, delegates paused in their consideration of Advisory Committee recommendations to hear the CanRC fraternal delegate, Rev. Den Hollander, urge the brothers to "continue to keep the unity of the Spirit" and keep focused on "continued commitment to ecclesiastical unity."

Following his speech, Dr. Gerhard Visscher and Dr. Jason Van Vliet (professors at the Theological College of the Canadian Reformed Churches) answered questions that had been previously submitted from URCNA churches and then answered questions from the floor.

Chairman Pontier concluded the evening by relating that he'd had very little interaction with Canadian Reformed people for the first thirty years of his ministry until he accepted the call to Neerlandia. Now his auto mechanic, his plumber, and the clerks in the store are all warm, godly people who are members of Canadian Reformed congregations.

Synod will meet again in a brief plenary session at 8:00 AM, followed by Advisory Committee meetings for the remainder of the morning. Regular plenary session is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon.

URCNA Synod-2, Getting Down to Business

Rev. Royal opened Synod this morning at 8:00 with reading from Hebrews 12 and leading the assembly in singing "O For A Thousand Tongues to Sing." Because some motions were made addressing procedural issues, it took a while for Synod to be declared constituted, but it eventually was and four new congregations were welcomed into the federation. The body ratified the previously provisional memberships of Covenant in Carbondale, PA; Trinity in Visalia, CA; First in Oak Lawn, IL; and Redeemer in Regina, SK.

Adopting the provisional agenda generated some discussion regarding appeals that had not been put on it. Motions carried to consider two appeals that had not been included on the agenda. Motions were made to remove certain overtures from the agenda, but those motions were defeated. The provisional agenda was adopted with the addition of the two appeals.

CERCU's request to allow Canadian Reformed brothers the privilege of the floor for an hour this evenings was approved.

Officers were finally elected at about 10:30. Rev. Ralph Pontier is chairman; Rev. Ronald Scheuers is vice-chairman; Rev. Doug Barnes is first clerk; Rev. Bradd Nymeyer is second clerk.

The new officers took their places before the assembly and the chair dismissed the advisory committees to their respective meetings places.

Since I was present at the RCUS Synod that adopted that body's report on Justification, at the Classis Michigan meeting that passed the overture to adopt that report, and at Synod Schererville when it responded to the overture, I was interested to follow the progress of the study report on the Federal Vision and sat in on that committee as it deliberated for its first hour of work.

I don't believe it's appropriate to comment on its actions while the committee is still working out its recommendations to Synod, but I can say that there appears to be unity of purpose.

More later, the Lord willing.

URCNA Synod-1

After a weary day of traveling, I'm in my room at the URCNA Synod 2010 and I have internet access. Unfortunately, somewhere along the way (four hour drive yesterday, security check, two flights, and over two hour drive today), my wireless mouse bit the dust. Thankfully, I have a new laptop with a keyboard that works far better than my old one. Unfortunately, I had an entire blog typed up when I realized that blogger had inexplicably reversed the order of my blogs on my dashboard and I had inadvertently posted on my personal family blog. Even more unfortunately, none of the several methods I have tried will allow me to simply copy and paste the information into the correct blog. So I'm starting over.

The best thing about Synod is the fellowship with friend that one hasn't seen in some time, sometimes years, and meeting electronic aquaintances. It's great fun to put a face with a name. I've already had several opportunities to greet old and new friends.

The next best thing about Synod is the singing. My own praise swells when I hear all those strong male voices laud God.

At tonight's service, Rev. Dennis Royal spoke on "The Wide-Open Gates of Zion" from Psalm 87. He began by stressing the necessity of the church for salvation and noted how the Psalm anticipates Pentecost, when Babel was reversed. He said that although those 3,000 converts may have seemed like a small pebble rippling the surface of the sea of humanity, Christ's church has turned into a tsunami.

He noted that the United Reformed Churches of North America (URCNA) began with a passion for preaching and expressed the prayer that God would maintain that commitment.

He alerted hearers to the beautiful imagery of all our "springs" being in Christ and urged delegates to remember, "God loves His Zion. He loves His true church. Keep this foremost in your mind; it's His church."

I've been awake since 3:45; it's now after 10:30, which is far too late for me to hope to type coherently--particularly without a mouse!

Delegates begin meeting tomorrow morning at 8:00. Most of the day will likely be spent in advisory committee meetings. Please pray for delegates as they meet to deliberate on important issues in that part of Christ's church we know and love as the URCNA.

David's last prayer - Psalm 72

It's with a measure of sadness that I share from Psalm 72, which is the last Psalm of David and concludes the second section of the Psalms.

The note before the Psalm says that it is "Of Solomon." Perhaps Solomon wrote this Psalm as a reflection of his father David's teaching and prayers. It transitions from David's rule to Solomon's and anticipates the perfect kingship of Christ.

It begins with verses that reflect Solomon's request for wisdom to rule God's people:

Give the king your justice, O God,
and your righteousness to the royal son!
May he judge your people with righteousness,
and your poor with justice!
Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people,
and the hills, in righteousness!
May he defend the cause of the poor of the people,
give deliverance to the children of the needy,
and crush the oppressor! (1-4)

The Psalm continues with lovely poetic descriptions of a king and kingdom blessed by God:

May they fear you while the sun endures,
and as long as the moon, throughout all generations!
May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass,
like showers that water the earth!
In his days may the righteous flourish,
and peace abound, till the moon be no more!

May he have dominion from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth!
May desert tribes bow down before him,
and his enemies lick the dust!
May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands
render him tribute;
may the kings of Sheba and Seba
bring gifts!
May all kings fall down before him,
all nations serve him!

For he delivers the needy when he calls,
the poor and him who has no helper.
He has pity on the weak and the needy,
and saves the lives of the needy.
From oppression and violence he redeems their life,
and precious is their blood in his sight.

Long may he live;
may gold of Sheba be given to him!
May prayer be made for him continually,
and blessings invoked for him all the day!
May there be abundance of grain in the land;
on the tops of the mountains may it wave;
may its fruit be like Lebanon;
and may people blossom in the cities
like the grass of the field!
May his name endure forever,
his fame continue as long as the sun!
May people be blessed in him,
all nations call him blessed! (5-18)

David 's kingdom was established by God and Solomon's reign was the golden age for God's people, but Christ alone will have dominion from sea to sea and to the ends of the earth. Eventually all the desert tribes will bow down before him and all his enemies will lick the dust (8). All kings will fall down before him and all nations will serve him (11). He is the one who saves the poor and needy, who redeems their lives (12-14). King David and King Solomon, in all their power and slendor, foreshadowed the great King Christ.

This may be my last post on the Psalms for a while. Next week I hope to take a break from blogging on Psalms to write my observations about the URCNA Synod 2010, being held from July 26-30 in London, Ontario.

There's no better way to conclude this group of meditations on the Psalms than with the conclusion of Psalm 72, a paean of praise that ascribes blessing and glory to God:

Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
who alone does wondrous things.
Blessed be his glorious name forever;
may the whole earth be filled with his glory!
Amen and Amen!



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Covenantal Faithfulness - Psalm 71

Psalm 71, the next in this series of meditations, is amazingly appropriate for my family right now. Some of us are dealing with extremely difficult situations to which this Psalm aptly speaks.

The Psalm, whose subheading is "Forsake Me Not When My Strength Is Spent," speaks of God as our rock and fortress and seeks His deliverance and rescue:

In you, O LORD, do I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame!
In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;
incline your ear to me, and save me!
Be to me a rock of refuge,
to which I may continually come;
you have given the command to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress (1-3).

Please note: God has already given the "command to save." His deliverance is sure. He is our rock that is higher than the strife of battle. He is our fortress that cannot be breached.

In his plea for rescue from ungodly men, the Psalmist acknowledges God as his hope and trust from a young age:

Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,
from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man.
For you, O Lord, are my hope,
my trust, O LORD, from my youth.
Upon you I have leaned from before my birth;
you are he who took me from my mother’s womb.
My praise is continually of you (4-6).

Even though the Psalmist has been despised by many, God has been his refuge throughout his life and will continue to be his refuge into old age. He begs God not to desert him when he is weak:

I have been as a portent to many,
but you are my strong refuge.
My mouth is filled with your praise,
and with your glory all the day.
Do not cast me off in the time of old age;
forsake me not when my strength is spent (7-9).

His enemies plot against him and believe that no one will rescue him (10-11), but the Psalmist puts his hope in the Lord. He pleads with God to rescue him quickly, and he makes a commitment to praise the Almighty God who alone is righteous:

O God, be not far from me;
O my God, make haste to help me!
But I will hope continually
and will praise you yet more and more.
My mouth will tell of your righteous acts,
of your deeds of salvation all the day,
for their number is past my knowledge.
With the mighty deeds of the Lord GOD I will come;
I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone (12, 14-16).

The Psalmist then expresses the beauty of God's covenant faithfulness and promises to continue proclaiming God's greatness to the next generation:

O God, from my youth you have taught me,
and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.
So even to old age and gray hairs,
O God, do not forsake me,
until I proclaim your might to another generation,
your power to all those to come (17-18).

God's righteousness and his marvelous works are without equal:

Your righteousness, O God,
reaches the high heavens.
You who have done great things,
O God, who is like you? (19)

The Psalmist trusts God to bring him through this difficulty because He has been faithful through many afflictions, equipping him not merely to survive, but to revive:

You who have made me see many troubles and calamities
will revive me again;
from the depths of the earth
you will bring me up again.
You will increase my greatness
and comfort me again (20-21).

The Psalmist pledges to use all the talents God has given him to praise Him and daily proclaim His great salvation:

I will also praise you with the harp
for your faithfulness, O my God;
I will sing praises to you with the lyre,
O Holy One of Israel.
My lips will shout for joy,
when I sing praises to you;
my soul also, which you have redeemed.
And my tongue will talk of your righteous help all the day long,
for they have been put to shame and disappointed
who sought to do me hurt (22-24).

I cannot play the harp or lyre, but I can sing, shout, and speak. And I can write. May each of us use whatever gifts God has given us to praise Him and convey His great faithfulness!

Make Haste - Psalms 69 & 70

Psalm 70 is like the Reader's Digest condensed version of Psalm 69. Psalm 69 has 36 verses and Psalm 70 has 5, but each Psalm is a plea for God's swift rescue.

Psalm 69 begins with a vivid metaphor:

Save me, O God!
For the waters have come up to my neck.
I sink in deep mire,
where there is no foothold;
I have come into deep waters,
and the flood sweeps over me.
I am weary with my crying out;
my throat is parched.
My eyes grow dim
with waiting for my God (1-3).

Those who hate the Psalmist without cause are more than the hairs of his head; they are mighty and attack him with lies (4).

But the Psalmist puts his trust in God in a confession that repeats the initial imagery:

But as for me, my prayer is to you, O LORD.
At an acceptable time, O God,
in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.
Deliver me
from sinking in the mire;
let me be delivered from my enemies
and from the deep waters.
Let not the flood sweep over me,
or the deep swallow me up,
or the pit close its mouth over me (13-15).

He knows that God will deliver him at a time that is "acceptable"; God's deliverance may not always be as soon as we would like, but His timing is perfect.

God's love does not fail and His mercy is not meager:

Answer me, O LORD, for your steadfast love is good;
according to your abundant mercy, turn to me.
Hide not your face from your servant;
for I am in distress; make haste to answer me.
Draw near to my soul, redeem me;
ransom me because of my enemies! (16-18)

God knows exactly how we suffer and exactly who causes pain in our lives:

You know my reproach,
and my shame and my dishonor;
my foes are all known to you.
Reproaches have broken my heart,
so that I am in despair.
I looked for pity, but there was none,
and for comforters, but I found none (19-20).

But even in the midst of pain and suffering, we can have hope in the salvation that comes from God alone:

But I am afflicted and in pain;
let your salvation, O God, set me on high! (29)

When we feel overwhelmed by situations or pain in our lives, we can remind ourselves of our high standing due to God’s salvation. But he not only saves us for eternity; he is with us now in our struggles. He will equip us to get through them and he will deliver us from them all in his perfect timing.

Praising and thanking God please him more than sacrificial work (verses 30-31). Our praises will help others rejoice and will revive their hearts (32).

Psalm 69 concludes with a resounding call to praise and an affirmation of God's provision:

Let heaven and earth praise him,
the seas and everything that moves in them.
For God will save Zion
and build up the cities of Judah,
and people shall dwell there and possess it;
the offspring of his servants shall inherit it,
and those who love his name shall dwell in it (34-36).

God hears our needy cries and delivers us from the chains of distressing circumstances. Let all creation praise God, for he saves his people and places them in his cities!

Psalm 70 is a pithy plea for deliverance from enemies:

Make haste, O God, to deliver me!
O LORD, make haste to help me!
Let them be put to shame and confusion
who seek my life!
Let them be turned back and brought to dishonor
who delight in my hurt!
Let them turn back because of their shame
who say, "Aha, Aha!"

May all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you!
May those who love your salvation
say evermore, "God is great!"
But I am poor and needy;
hasten to me, O God!
You are my help and my deliverer;
O LORD, do not delay!

There are times when others revel in our misfortune, plot against us, and undermine our efforts. No matter how bleak our situations seem, God is in control. And God is great. He will enable the suffering believer to rejoice.

The Psalmist emphasizes the contrast between God and himself. We are poor and we are needy. But God is our help and deliverer. Hasten to our aid, O God! Do not delay!

God shall arise - Psalm 68

With 35 verses, Psalm 68 is much longer than recent Psalms in this meditation series so I'll simply highlight some of the things that struck me this morning.

With words that are the basis for the rousing lyrics of #124 from the blue Psalter Hymnal, "Let God Arise, and by His Might" (and others in the Psalter), Psalm 68 begins:

God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered;
and those who hate him shall flee before him!
As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away;
as wax melts before fire,
so the wicked shall perish before God! (1-2).

God's enemies are those who hate God and his people, but this Psalm seems to indicate that it's possible also to think of chronic problems such as pain, grief, and anxiety as God's enemies.

Father of the fatherless and protector of widows
is God in his holy habitation.
God settles the solitary in a home;
he leads out the prioners to prosperity,
but the rebellious dwell in a parched land (5-6).

These verses demonstrate that God's enemies include grief and lonliness as well as persecution. But those who rebel against God will wander aimlessly in the desert of despair.

God's people who rebelled against him wandered in the desert, but the next several verses recount how God cared for them in their wanderings and how he brought them victory in their battles.

The next verses speak about the "mountain of Bashan" that looks "with hatred" at the "mount that God desired for his abode" (15-16). The Psalm them affirms God's power and sovereignty:

The chariots of God are twice ten thousand,
thousands upon thousands;
the Lord is among them; Sinai is now in the sanctuary (17).

That powerful and sovereign God is not limited to one holy mountain; Sinai is now in the sanctuary.

God came to his people in thunder and cloud on Sinai when he gave them the law, but he now comes near to his people in worship. He made this possible through the finished work of Christ:

You ascended on high,
leading a host of captives in your train
and receiving gifts from me,
even among the rebellious, that the Lord God may dwell there (18).

If that sounds familiar, it's probably because you've heard it cited in Ephesians 4:8. Because Christ has died, risen, and ascended into heaven, we can say with the Psalmist:

Blessed be the Lord,
who daily bears us up;
God is our salvation,
and to God, the Lord, belong deliverances from death (19-20).

The Psalm continues with assurances of victory over enemies and praises for corporate worship (24-27) before again requesting God's action:

Summon your power, O God,
the power, O God, by which you have worked for us (28).

Then it exhorts the people of the earth to praise and worship God:

O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God;
sing praises to the Lord,
to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens;
behold, he send out his voice, his mighty voice (32-33).

The conclusion is a forceful call to acknowledge God's power and sovereignty:

Ascribe power to God,
whose majesty is over Israel,
and whose power is in the skies.
Awesome is God from his sanctuary;
the God of Israel--he is the one who gives power and strength to his people.
Blessed be God! (34-35).

The name of this blog is "Ascribelog" because its goal is to ascribe glory and power to God. No words can better convey that than those of Psalm 68.

Blessing and Promise - Psalm 67

After years of sporadic work, I'm finally coming down to the wire with my book on early infant loss. I've made and missed many self-imposed deadlines on it, but my prayer now is to submit it before the end of July.

It has been an extremely difficult book to write, not only due to the heart-wrenching stories shared by those who grieved the loss of an infant, but also because of my own fears and failings. These emotional issues, coupled with practical aspects (finding time, organizing material, determining language), repeatedly stalled the process and brought me to previously unknown levels of dependence, humility, and trust.

I am continually amazed how God providentially provides just the right scripture for situations in my life. As I assess my infant loss book's progress this morning, I am touched by the praise-filled words of the next Psalm in my meditational blog series, Psalm 67 (ESV):

May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us,
that your way may be known on earth,
your saving power among all nations.
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you!

Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you judge the peoples with equity
and guide the nations upon earth.
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you!

The earth has yielded its increase;
God, our God, shall bless us.
God shall bless us;
let all the ends of the earth fear him!

This short Psalm begins with the Aaronic blessing from Numbers 6:24-26, but it doesn't seek God's blessing simply for its own sake. It seeks God's blessing so that God's "way may be known on earth" and his "saving power among all nations" (2).

The Psalm then asks God to bring all people to praise him, to be glad and sing for joy, because God is the supreme justice who judges "with equity" and "guides the nations" (3-5).

Psalm 67 ends with an affirmation of God's blessing through the earth's "yielded...increase" (6). That abundant increase is obvious when driving beside fields of tall corn with deep green leaves, past blooming roadsides lined with white Queen Anne's lace, blue chicory, and pink sweet clover. These bright reminders assure us that God has already granted his blessing in this earth.

And his blessing is also promised for the future: "God shall bless us" (7a, emphasis added). Looking this morning at what I've written in my book on infant loss and how close I am to its completion, God's promise seems extraordinarily personal.

We can each see ways God's evidences his blessing on our earth and in our lives. Truly, we can rejoice with the Psalmist and ask God to "let allt he ends of the earth fear him!" (7b).

High Praise - Psalm 66

Wow! What a great Psalm! You seriously need to stop reading this, get a Bible, and read the entire Psalm for yourself right now. You can come back to this later.

Okay. Finished reading? Isn't that an awesome Psalm? The meter literally rocks. The praise is exuberant.

Shout for joy to God, all the earth;
sing the glory of his name;
give to him glorious praise!

From those two opening verses, it just keeps getting better. I love the way the ESV translates verse 3:

Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds!
So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.

I love the image of cringing enemies groveling before God.

The Psalm refers to God's awesome parting of the Red Sea so his people could pass through on dry land. It reminds readers that God still keeps his eyes on the nations, so the rebellious should not exalt themselves (5-7). Then another paean of praise:

Bless our God, O peoples;
let the sound of his praise be heard,
who has kept our soul among the living
and has not let our feet slip (8-9).

The Psalmist acknowledges that life is not a bed of mountain roses (a thornless variety)! God has "tested us" and "tried us as silver is tried" (10). He has brought us "into the net" and "laid a crushing burden on our backs" (11). He let men "ride over our heads" and "we went through fire and through water," yet he "brought us out to a place of abundance" (12).

This list of trials reminds me of many personal struggles, and I'm sure you can think of a few, too. I also am glad to find the biblical reference to passing through fire and water, which reminds me of Gandalf's words when he describes his epic battle with the balrog. I absolutely love how the Lord of the Rings movies retain some of the biblical language from the books and place it in the mouths of unbelievers.

Notice that God is in control of all the struggles mentioned. He is the One who has tried us in these ways. But he is also the One who brings us through the burning and the drowning to a place of abundance.

Because he has done these marvelous things, the Psalmist will fulfill the vows he uttered to God in his distress (13-15). He cannot remain silent about God's goodness and faithfulness:

Come and hear, all you who fear God,
and I will tell what he has done for my soul.
I cried to him with my mouth,
and high praise was on my tongue (16-17).

I love that phrase: high praise! When we consider God's goodness to us, how he has rescued our souls from eternal death and how he constantly rescues us from the dangers and trials of life, our only appropriate response is high praise.

The Psalmist reminds us of the need for recognizing and repenting from sin:

If I had cherished iniquity in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened (18).

Because the Psalmist was repentant, the Lord listened to his cries:

But truly God has listened;
he has attended to the voice of my prayer (19).

The Psalm concludes with a rousing refrain of high praise:

Blessed by God,
because he has not rejected my prayer
or removed his steadfast love from me! (20)

We often struggle with chronic concerns that drag on for years without a remedy. We all mourn the loss of loved ones through years of draining grief. Sometimes it seems our prayers for change or joy go unanswered. But God has not rejected our prayers; he has not removed his steadfast love from us. Even when his deliverance appears to be delayed, he hears and answers prayer. He loves and cares for us. He will bring us to the point where we can sing a rousing psalm of high praise!

Established Mountains & Watered Earth - Psalm 65

A sliver of moon glimmers in the bright blue above Rocky Mountain National Park. Long's Peak catches the morning sun while shadows lie over the meadow.

By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness,

O God of our salvation,

the hope of all the ends of the earth

and of the farthest seas;

the one who by his strength established the mountains...

Psalm 65:5-6a

What an appropriate reading this morning while mountain memories are fresh in my mind!

Mountains always draw my thoughts upward to their Creator. I don't understand how anyone can view mountains and not believe in a Creator God.

As we drove through the wheat fields of Colorado, deep blue mountains materialized on the western horizon. We saw spacious skies, amber waves of grain, and purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain. Truly, God has shed his grace on America!

You visit the earth and water it;
you greatly enrich it;
the river of God is full of water;
you provide their grain,
you water its furrows abundantly,
settling its ridges,
softening it with showers,
and blessing its growth.
Psalm 65:9-10

God provides the grain and blesses its growth. He waters the earth through rainbow-crowned irrigation jets, sudden mountain showers, and tumbling cataracts from melting mountain snow.

The river of God's goodness is full of water.

Blessed is the one you choose and bring near,
to dwell in your courts!
We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house,
the holiness of your temple!

The pastures of the wilderness overflow,
the hills gird themselves with joy,
the meadows clothe themselves with flocks,
the valleys deck themselves with grain,
the shout and sing together for joy.
Psalm 65:4, 12-13

Dry and Weary Land - Psalm 63

It seems more than coincindental that I return from a trip to Colorado to find myself ready to blog about Psalm 63.

O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water (verse 1).

The Psalmist compares his longing for God to longing for water and strength while in a dry and weary land. This description makes me think of driving through sections of Colorado that are sparse grasslands growing mostly sagebrush and cacti. Crops grow only in irrigated circles. That is a "dry and weary land" that increases thirst and saps energy.

The Psalmist is refreshed when he beholds God's "glory and power" in the sanctuary. Worship is refreshment. God's steadfast love moves the Psalmist to praise.

God's love is so satisfying that the Psalmist finds more than mere fluid:

My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
when I remember you upon my bed,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me (verses 5-8).

Because God has always provided more than we needed, we can meditate on His goodness when we lie awake at night. We can stop tossing and turning, instead resting calmly in God's goodness and praising Him for His faithfulness. Because He shelters us under His protecting wings, we can sing for joy. We can cling to Him, knowing that the bond does not depend on our own strength, but on God's unfailing sustenance. He will never let us go.

The Psalm concludes by affirming the destruction of those who seek our harm in contrast to the joy of those who trust in God: "...all who swear by him shall exult, for the mouths of liars will be stopped" (verse 11).

It may seem as if those who misrepresent us to others are gaining a victory over us, but we can trust God to finally and effectively stop the mouths of liars. God is a God of love and truth. He will not allow lies to triumph.

While we travel through the dry and weary land of this world, we can trust God to be with us and we can rejoice in His constant care.