Fifteenth Sunday After Trinity (B C P). Series

Psalm 92:1-6, Joshua 24:14-25, Galatians 6:11-18, Matthew 6:24-34.

A). THANKS AND PRAISE.

Psalm 92:1-6.

The designation “for the sabbath day” is both unique, and interesting. The sabbath was instituted in the first instance as a commemoration of Creation (cf. Exodus 20:11), but also in celebration of Redemption (cf. Deuteronomy 5:15). “O LORD, how great are thy works” (PSALM 92:5a) could refer to either, or both.

We open with the declaration, “It is good to give thanks to the LORD” (PSALM 92:1a). Perhaps our prayers are too often loaded down with petitions: but we should be thanking God for past benefits, even as we make our requests known to Him. Furthermore, if we are asking Him in faith believing, we can thank Him in anticipation of a favourable answer in accordance with His will.

“And to sing praises to thy name, O most high” (PSALM 92:1b). This is vocal, not silent. We can be vocal in the privacy of our own rooms, or as we go about manual labour. It is good, too, to be vocal with others (when we have opportunity).

Thus do we “show forth thy lovingkindness” EVERY morning, and “thy faithfulness” EVERY night (PSALM 92:2). Worship is not just for the sabbath day, after all. We may not have the benefit of the full Temple band (PSALM 92:3), but the sweetest praise of all comes from the contemplative heart of the believer, wherever and whenever we may lift up our voice in praise to the LORD.

“For thou, LORD, hast made me glad through thy work” (PSALM 92:4a). As the popular chorus suggests, ‘He has made me glad! He has made me glad! I will rejoice for He has made me glad.’

It is a singular work of God in the believer that makes them appreciate the multifarious “works” of Creation, Providence, and Redemption. This is what it is to “triumph in the works of thy hands” (PSALM 92:4b).

As well as marvelling at the greatness of the LORD’s works, the Psalmist admires the depth and profundity of the LORD’s thoughts (PSALM 92:5). ‘My thoughts are not your thoughts,’ declared the LORD (cf. Isaiah 55:8-9). The exclamation of Paul is ‘O the depth! How unsearchable!’ (cf. Romans 11:33).

The failure of the unbelieving mind to grasp the things of God is highlighted here (PSALM 92:6). Even as God sees the downfall of His enemies, so we see the downfall of ours (cf. Psalm 92:11), because His enemies and ours are one and the same (cf. John 15:20a).

B). A CALL TO RECOMMITMENT.

Joshua 24:14-25.

Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, descendants of both Abraham and Jacob, and there they presented themselves before the LORD (cf. Joshua 24:1). Joshua recited the history of the dealings of the LORD with their nation thus far: beginning with the call of Abram, right up to their present possession of the land by the grace of the LORD (cf. Joshua 24:2-13). It may take a while, but the LORD always keeps His promises!

After this recital, Joshua called for a response. “Because of all this, give reverence to the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the idol gods which your fathers served before the call of Abraham, and even more recently in Egypt, and serve ye the LORD” (JOSHUA 24:14). In this way both our references to Abraham and to Jacob are called to memory: forsake the moon worship which Abraham left behind and forsake the impotent ‘gods’ of Egypt which the Almighty LORD so convincingly defeated just one generation ago.

The call of Joshua is not so much an evangelistic appeal, as we might be inclined to interpret it, as a call to recommitment on the part of those who are already recipients of the benefits of the LORD. The choice presented by Joshua is not so much, ‘choose the LORD or these other gods’ as “IF you will not choose the LORD, then choose which of these non-deities you will serve: the gods of the past, which failed - or perhaps the gods of the Amorites, who you have dispossessed.” Put that way, the choice is ridiculous: “As for me and my house, we WILL serve the LORD” (JOSHUA 24:15)!

When it is put like that, the people respond accordingly: “Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods” (JOSHUA 24:16). However, the wording of their argument seems to take only utilitarian considerations into account (JOSHUA 24:17-18). It is easy to make recommitments when all seems to be going well: but what about those other times which may yet befall us?

Perhaps they resented the suggestion, but Joshua stood his ground: “You CANNOT serve the LORD” (JOSHUA 24:19-20). Remember, it is not just Joshua, but the LORD Himself who is so insistent, for the whole discourse begins: “Thus says the LORD God of Israel” (cf. Joshua 24:2). It is the duty of evangelists and preachers not only to ‘get decisions’ for Christ, but to warn people that they cannot even begin to go forward in the Christian life if they intend to go on in their own strength!