The Fourth Sunday of Easter (Ps)

Psalm 78:53-72

      53       He led them in safety, so that they were not afraid,

      but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.

            54       And he brought them to his holy land,

      to the mountain which his right hand had won.

            55       He drove out nations before them;

      he apportioned them for a possession

      and settled the tribes of Israel in their tents.

            56       Yet they tested and rebelled against the Most High God

      and did not keep his testimonies,

            57       but turned away and acted treacherously like their fathers;

      they twisted like a deceitful bow.

            58       For they provoked him to anger with their high places;

      they moved him to jealousy with their idols.

            59       When God heard, he was full of wrath,

      and he utterly rejected Israel.

            60       He forsook his dwelling at Shiloh,

      the tent where he dwelt among mankind,

            61       and delivered his power to captivity,

      his glory to the hand of the foe.

            62       He gave his people over to the sword

      and vented his wrath on his heritage.

            63       Fire devoured their young men,

      and their young women had no marriage song.

            64       Their priests fell by the sword,

      and their widows made no lamentation.

            65       Then the Lord awoke as from sleep,

      like a strong man shouting because of wine.

            66       And he put his adversaries to rout;

      he put them to everlasting shame.

            67       He rejected the tent of Joseph;

      he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim,

            68       but he chose the tribe of Judah,

      Mount Zion, which he loves.

            69       He built his sanctuary like the high heavens,

      like the earth, which he has founded forever.

            70       He chose David his servant

      and took him from the sheepfolds;

            71       from following the nursing ewes he brought him

      to shepherd Jacob his people,

      Israel his inheritance.

            72       With upright heart he shepherded them

      and guided them with his skillful hand.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2001 (Ps 78:53–72). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

The Most High God dwelt in a tent with his people.  As they traveled from place to place, God went with them everywhere.  The people continued with God for a time.  They rebelled against their God.  God returned their wickedness with wrath and fire.  God finally chose the tribe of Judah and Mount Zion to dwell with his people in Love forever.  There on that mountain he is their shepherd and guides them.

God has dwelt among Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  God dwelt with the people he brought up out of the Land of Egypt.  All these people where farmers or herdsmen.  God's people dwelt in tents along side of him.  God's people took care of their animals and flocks.  They would know the agriculture of the land.

God brought his people together in the promised land.  People were scattered all about the world.  God called and gathered his people around the word and seed which gives them new life.  The people grow together lifting each other up.  Not taking nutrients from each other but providing nutrients or support for one another.

The Church gathers and grows together.  They remain around the word of God.  God once dwelt with his people in a tent as they traveled about the world.  God now dwells with his people through Christ himself.  Christ is presence everywhere two or three are gathered in his name.