Pass The Peas

Pass The Peas

Psalm 65:1-4

SCRIPTURE: " Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed. O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come. Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away. Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple. Psalm 65:1-4

Introduction

When you have finished one year and begin a new one, what can you do for good luck in the year to come? Our society has a variety of good luck rituals. These are the things we do to bring ourselves good look. The gambler thinks blowing on the dice will bring him luck. Someone else wants to rub the hand of a "lucky" person to get some of their lucked rubbed onto themselves. There are others who wear rabbit’s feet on key chains for good luck.. Some even wear dimes around their ankles.

Looking for luck is universal. On New Year’s day it is said that a helping of black eyed peas on the plate guarantees good luck. Many people laugh at the custom, but serve the peas anyway, just in case there’s some truth in the old saying. The African-American community celebrates Jubilee Day on January 1st. It is the day that freed slaves in rebelling states on January 1, 1863. To commemorate jubilee day Black folks eat the food of slavery: Hog Jowls, Chitterlings, Hog Maws and and Tripe. It is said that those who forget where they came from and choose not to eat the memorial meal on Jubilee Day would have bad luck and be returned to slavery.

Depending on cultural backgrounds, different foods come with a new year: cabbage, herring, honey, sardines, and salt are seen as good luck signs in some areas of the country. The Japanese eat long noodles. The Greeks bake a special bread. In Spain, the custom is to eat 12 individual grapes in the 12 seconds leading up to the new year. Anthropologists say that eating certain foods to change one’s fortune dates back to ancient Babylonia.

Looking for luck, even those who claim not to believe, say "pass the peas!"

While some spend their time looking for luck by eating peas, dashing salt and killing hogs, there are others who don’t count on luck, they look to God for their blessings. He was the source of the blessings in years past and will be the source of blessings in the years to come.

Peas or no peas, God can bless those who love him!

Peas or no peas, God delivers for the faithful who call on him!

Peas or no peas, God continues to open doors for those who trust him!

As Christians we are overjoyed as we face the new year. We enter it with optimism because the God we serve is all powerful. He blessed us immensely last year, and he can do the same in the year to come. The good thing about our God is he doesn’t decide whether to bless us depending on whether or not we ate black eyed peas!

Exposition

This passage of scripture focuses on the children of Israel as they thanks to God for a great year and they look forward to renewed blessings in the year to come.

This passage is written at the conclusion of a great year. The people assembled themselves and looked back at the wondrous way God blessed them in the previous year and gave thanks. Success in biblical times depended heavily upon the rains. If there were no rains, then no matter how hard they worked their efforts would be in vain. There had been prosperity. The rains had come, poured down, as it were, from heaven.

At the end of the season, therefore, they assembled to consider the year ahead.

The meaning of the passage is associated with five words all of which begin with a "P" within the first four verses.

Praise (v1) waiteth for thee. As the people looked forward to the coming of a new season God is pictured as the future coming toward them, armed with good things. The people are pictured as standing waiting silently for the great things God was preparing, waiting to shower him with praise for his wonderful works. They did not perceive themselves as walking into an unknown in this passage. They saw God, whom they knew very well, coming toward them and they were ready to spend the year praising him for everything that comes..

Performed (v1). As they looked to future they remembered the vows they made during the difficult times of the preceding year. They remembered the silent promises they made to God in their moments of frustration. They remembered the decision to break bad habits, tear down false altars and remain true to God. Thus, they approached the new season with a renewed commitment to keep their promises to God and to live up to their various pledges.