Worship Notes for Sunday, July 29, 2012
Psalm 131 brings us to the rest and the deep and abiding peace inherent in the restoration of all things. The Call to Worship from Psalm 29 ascribes great praise to the Lord for His glory and holiness while reminding us that He blesses His people with peace. We continue by singing Psalm 29, Now Unto Jehovah—“Jehovah with peace ever blesseth His own.” We follow by singing Comfort, Comfort Ye My People, “speak ye peace thus saith our God.” Speak of the peace that awaits Jerusalem—literally the “completeness” or “peace.”The New Testament Reading from Philippians 4 speaks of the peace of God that surpasses “all understanding” and the God of peace who will be with us as we practice godliness and holiness. The Prayer of Confession from James 3 confronts us with our “bitter jealousy and selfish ambition” that inhibits true peace; thus we pray for the “wisdom from above” to bring forth a harvest of righteousness from seeds sown in peace.
We sing of the quieting of the soul in our next hymn, Be Still My Soul. Our first Communion Hymn is from Psalm 72, O God to Thine Anointed King, and it speaks of the abundant peace of the reign of Christ. We follow that with It Is Well as an application of that coming peace within our own hearts and lives.
The final hymn, Lead on, O King Eternal, reminds us that by deeds of love and mercy the Kingdom of Peace is known.
