Re: Turn

Albert Bogle December 31, 2024 4 4

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Listen to this daily worship

Psalm 148 (NRSVA)

1 

Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
    praise him in the heights!

2 

Praise him, all his angels;
    praise him, all his host!

3 

Praise him, sun and moon;
    praise him, all you shining stars!

4 

Praise him, you highest heavens,
    and you waters above the heavens!

5 

Let them praise the name of the Lord,
    for he commanded and they were created.

6 

He established them for ever and ever;
    he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.

7 

Praise the Lord from the earth,
    you sea monsters and all deeps,

8 

fire and hail, snow and frost,
    stormy wind fulfilling his command!

9 

Mountains and all hills,
    fruit trees and all cedars!

10 

Wild animals and all cattle,
    creeping things and flying birds!

11 

Kings of the earth and all peoples,
    princes and all rulers of the earth!

12 

Young men and women alike,
    old and young together!

13 

Let them praise the name of the Lord,
    for his name alone is exalted;
    his glory is above earth and heaven.

14 

He has raised up a horn for his people,
    praise for all his faithful,
    for the people of Israel who are close to him.
Praise the Lord!

What is it about we Scots when it comes to the end of the year? We certainly know how to party!  Hogmanay comes and so many people who live abroad, want to return home, to bring in the bells, in praise of Scotland and whatever that means.  We say, (often tongue in check), “here’s tae us, wha’s like us”, knowing full well when it comes to so many things our hopes will be dashed?  Yet, that optimism never seems to leave us and I think that is a good thing, because hope is the source of expectation. 

Here in our psalm today we find a reason to sing a Hogmanay Hallelujah, this time in praise of the one who created all the natural beauty we see in Scotland and indeed all around the world. This psalm is an invitation to all of creation to join in the party, in praise of God our creator and our redeemer. I think Louis  Armstrong expressed it well when he sang “What a wonderful world”

“I see skies of blue
And clouds of white
The bright blessed day
The dark sacred night
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world”

(From What a wonderful world by George David Weiss/Robert Thiele)

Prayer:

Dear God,

We join together to lift a Hogmanay Hallelujah to you and proclaim — what a wonderful God!

Amen.