Tag Archives: Psalm 61

Picture for the Year

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Usually I choose a word for the year.
Or, rather, I wait for a word to choose me.
In a surprising twist,
it’s a picture that has grabbed me.
My word of the year is a picture.
This is my picture of the year.

“He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge.”
Psalm 91:4

This Bible verse always makes me want to sneeze.
The idea of being covered with feathers is not appealing to me.
But this is different.
I’m drawn to this visual representation of safety and security.
I see protection and care and warmth there.
I don’t feel sneeze-y when I look at it.

I don’t know what 2025 will bring,
but I know where I need to be.
Right there, huddled close to my Father’s heart.

I long to dwell in your tent forever
and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.
Psalm 61:4

O Come!

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The Hebrew language doesn’t have exclamation points,
but it does have “O”s.

“Be exalted, O God,” (Psalm 57:11) could be written “Be exalted, God!!!!!”
“Hear my cry, O God,” (Psalm 61:1) is the same as “Hear my cry, God!!!!”

The “O” is used to add earnestness to an appeal
and to show strong emotion.

In Hebrew, a repeated word is supposed to make us
stand up and take notice.
A word used three times in a row is supposed to make us
fall down on our faces.

“Holy, HOLY, HOLY is the Lord God Almighty.” (Revelation 4:8)

In the hymn “O Come All Ye Faithful,” the word “come” is used 7 times in the first stanza. The repetitive word is supposed to grab our attention. The chorus implements the triple-word-rule with each phrase growing more fervent.

O come let us adore Him.
O come let us adore Him.
O come let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

Put another way:
Come, let us adore Him!!
Come ON, let us adore Him!!!
Oh for heaven’s sake, COME ON NOW, let us adore Him!!!!

That’s my invitation to you on the 12 days leading up to Christmas.
Come and adore Him with me every day through Christmas Eve!
O come!

Three-minute devotionals will be aired on WCNP 89.5 daily at 8:30 a.m., 11:15 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. (give or take a few minutes) starting on Friday, December 13th. You can also find them on the WCNP Facebook page or at www.wcnpfm.org.

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