Friday 20 August 2021

Psalm 47

Background

As a child I must have been somewhat annoying sometimes! I well remember my parents asking me from time to time, "What has got into you?" I have no recollection of the things I said or did to elicit such a question, but I remember it well.

 "What has got into you?"was asked in exasperation when my mum or dad simply couldn’t understand why I was acting in a particular way. In that sense, the question was used from a negative point of view.

 Here in his letter to the Colossians, Paul speaks of something rather more positive which we should actively seek to have within us – "Christ in you, the hope of glory." (v. 27)

 Paul writes from the perspective of personal experience and his own ministry as a servant of the Church. ‘I became its servant according to God’s commission.’ (v. 25) And the purpose of this life of service is that through his "toil and struggle" (v. 29) the gospel of Christ may be made known to everyone.

 Paul points to the "riches of the glory of this mystery" (v. 27). I wonder what Paul thought those riches were? He does not give us a full answer here, only speaking of the hope of glory, Christ in you. But elsewhere he reflects on the attributes which he may well have had in mind here as being the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

What has got into you? Well let your answer be a truthful reflection of the ways of Jesus and his characteristics: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

To Ponder:

• Listen to Graham Kendrick's song ‘Holy Overshadowing’. The chorus goes:
  "You are my shield, and my glory
  You are the lifter of my head
  And though the storms may rage around me
  I’ll be safe within
  Beneath the holy overshadowing." [copyright Graham Kendrick, 2017]
• What does the hope of glory mean to you?
• How can the Church as a body reflect and exhibit God’s glory?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, hope of glory, take root in my life and let your ways flourish. Let my life reflect yours for your glory’s sake. Amen.