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Remembering

             A psalm. A song. For the dedication of the temple.  Of David.

I will exalt you, Lord, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me. Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me. You, Lord, brought me up from the realm of the dead; you spared me from going down to the pit.

Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people; praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

When I felt secure, I said, “I will never be shaken.” Lord, when you favored me, you made my royal mountain stand firm; but when you hid your face, I was dismayed. To you, Lord, I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy: “What is gained if I am silenced, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it proclaim your faithfulness? Hear, Lord, and be merciful to me; Lord, be my help.”

You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,  that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever. (Psalm 30)

Today’s praise was for the dedication of the temple. Maybe in their culture it’s what one expected for a dedication song. I don’t see it. But that’s OK. It’s praise, no matter what the occasion. What I do see in it is an answer to the lament of Psalm 6, in which David asked God, “Among the dead no one proclaims your name. Who praises you from the grave?” He asks it again here, then tells of God turning his wailing into dancing, removing his sackcloth, and otherwise giving David a heart of joy.

Most of us aren’t composers. We can’t write songs or even poetry that wouldn’t embarrass us. But we can keep journals. And these psalms give us patterns that are acceptable. We can write journal entries of wisdom learned, laments, curses, and praises. And we can look for connections between them. They don’t have to be long, or even especially well written. They don’t have to be daily. They just need to have meaning, give the means of remembering, and deal honestly with your thoughts and feelings, your highs and lows, and your relationships with yourself, with others, and especially with God. David gives us good examples.

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