Remember and Rejoice
In Psalm 105, we read:
O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name,
make known his deeds among the peoples.
Sing to him, sing praises to him;
tell of all his wonderful works.
Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
Not only here in the psalm—but really throughout all of Scripture—there is a sense of enthusiasm, a spark of life that can’t be kept in. In a large sense, our Scriptures are stories and poetry that name what God is doing and give praise for what God has done.
Notice the verbs in the psalm: give thanks, make known, sing, glory, rejoice…
It’s widely believed that this psalm was written while the community of faith was living in exile in Babylon. It’s poetry—and may very well have been sung or chanted in worship from a very early time.
In fact, if we were to read the psalm to the end, it retells the story from Abraham through the Exodus—out of Egypt—God carrying, God rescuing, God saving. We were hungry and you provided. We were oppressed and you set us free. We were thirsty and you brought water from a rock. You carried us out with joy and singing.
I have to imagine that there were people in exile who heard these words—this poetry, this song—who were feeling anxious… who were worried about the future… wondering, “What kind of world will our children grow up in? Will this diagnosis, this disease, this divorce, this problem have the last word?”
And I have to imagine that when this psalm was read aloud or sung in community, people would hear its overwhelming tone of joy. They would hear the witness of the faithful across generations. And they would remember: we worship a God who rescues, redeems, and saves.
And that is my prayer for you today: that you would remember the times God has rescued you, carried you, and blessed you. May you remember the stories and songs of faith. And may you hold fast to hope.
Let us pray: Give us open eyes and open hearts, that we might notice the beauty of your hand at work in our lives and in this world—even now. Amen.
Daily Message Author: Joe Albright
Rev. Joe Albright is a graduate of Flagler College and Columbia Theological Seminary. Together, he and his wife Robbie have five children. He loves spending time on the ocean and especially enjoys surfing and fishing. Before entering the ministry, Joe taught high school Spanish in Cape Hatteras North Carolina and Lawrence Tavern, Jamaica. He has pastored churches in Sarasota and Jacksonville, Florida and is currently serving Trinity Presbyterian Church in Palm Coast. Full Bio “I believe deeply in the power of the Gospel to bring hope, love, and new life. I have seen firsthand how this beautiful ministry of hope has touched people’s lives. It gives me great joy to serve Dial Hope as Lead Pastor.”
