loved and chosen

Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good;

sing to his name, for it is pleasant!

For the LORD has chosen Jacob for himself,

Israel as his own possession.

Psalm 135:3-4

God is indeed good. His grace is wonderful, shown for us forever. He is worthy of our praise and it is beautiful to offer praises to Him! God is good. This I know.

At the time this psalm was written, God’s covenant with Israel was the way His goodness was personally known. Every Israelite was in a unique position, member of a covenant community, chosen by God Himself. He kept them, fed them, protected them, and provided all that they needed. They were His chosen people. They lived to worship and obey the God Who had chosen them out of all of the peoples of the earth to display His glory and might. And so when these chosen people gathered at His temple to worship Him, they reminded themselves of God’s great love and goodness. They honored His covenant. God is good!

And in Christ, right now, God has called out a people for Himself. A new chosen people, holy and beloved, blessed by God with all heavenly blessings in Christ Jesus, are now called to worship Jesus and display His transformative gospel glory to a watching world. We sing the praises of our Savior. We know that the Lord is good. We gather to proclaim His goodness and we scatter into our world to make Jesus known to all people. And from all the peoples of the earth, God is calling even more to come be His chosen people for the glory of the Risen Son.

Lord,

As one of many brothers and sisters “loved by God” and “chosen in Him” (1 Thessalonians 1:4), I have the privilege of living in a unique way, in a community of people You have set apart to praise You and proclaim Your gospel. Help us make Your praises and Your power known!

Amen