I will fulfill my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people….
I will fulfill my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people.
“Life is hard.” Something my mother used to say, though she didn’t complain, and was indeed a hard worker. It is. Life is so full of challenges. And it doesn’t get easier as one gets older, although hopefully there’s more knowledge, wisdom and maturity so that one can handle the difficulties better.
The psalmist speaks of vows made to God, and how they would fulfill them in the presence of God’s people, that is in life, which for them at that time would likely involve offering the animal or other sacrifices required at the festivals in Jerusalem along with whatever extra they might do there.
For us today it seems to me to be a matter of living out our baptism into Christ, just as Romans 6 points out. So for me that means I need to put an end to all that is not in line with that. And right now it’s about struggling to accept the challenges, all of them together. And quit being down in the mouth about myself. Or any other wrong attitude.
We won’t arrive to any sinless perfection in this life. But we aren’t to excuse sin, either. We must go on confessing our sins to God, walk in the light as Christ is in the light (1 John 1-2). And simply not tolerate what we know is wrong. Toleration for sin in ourselves is not a virtue.
As we go on in real life in and through Jesus.
I love the Lord, for he heard my voice;
he heard my cry for mercy.
Because he turned his ear to me,
I will call on him as long as I live.The cords of death entangled me,
the anguish of the grave came over me;
I was overcome by distress and sorrow.
Then I called on the name of the Lord:
“Lord, save me!”The Lord is gracious and righteous;
our God is full of compassion.
The Lord protects the unwary;
when I was brought low, he saved me.Return to your rest, my soul,
for the Lord has been good to you.For you, Lord, have delivered me from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before the Lord
in the land of the living.I trusted in the Lord when I said,
“I am greatly afflicted”;
in my alarm I said,
“Everyone is a liar.”What shall I return to the Lord
for all his goodness to me?I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the Lord.
I will fulfill my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people.Precious in the sight of the Lord
is the death of his faithful servants.
Truly I am your servant, Lord;
I serve you just as my mother did;
you have freed me from my chains.I will sacrifice a thank offering to you
and call on the name of the Lord.
I will fulfill my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people,
in the courts of the house of the Lord—
in your midst, Jerusalem.Praise the Lord.
Jesus community 