PODCAST

Surrounded by Love

December 18th, 2011

RG AUDIO 121811Psalm 33

Why do we ask God to “be with us”? If God is always everywhere, why do we pray that God will be with us: as we begin a worship service, go about our day, travel, or do an important task?

Psalm 33 lives in this tension. Verse 5 affirms that “the earth is full of his unfailing love,” and yet the concluding request is: “May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord” (33:22a).

Two themes permeate this psalm. The first is God’s expansiveness. Note the repetition of words that describe God’s comprehensive power and concern. The second theme is our joyful trust in God, and it also emerges through repetition.

We don’t always feel as if God’s love fills the earth—at least not our two square feet of earth. Even so, let your unfailing love surround us now, Lord.”