Abundant Goodness

Series: Life is Good

Scripture: Psalm 145:5-7

When I was in Seminary I spent time in a very large city (much larger than where I grew up) and they had a museum that displayed the Dead Sea Scrolls for a time.

Looking at the ancient texts that were discovered between 1947 and 1956 was fascinating. The very very old fragments contain were Biblical manuscripts found by a shepherd boy in 1947.

The result of seeing the scrolls surprised me. I didn’t expect much beyond learning something from a museum visit. I’d heard Billy Graham speak at Arrowhead Stadium when I was 12 years old and the Spirit of God swept through me like a hurricane. I didn’t expect that kind of experience the day we went to view the Dead Sea Scrolls.

I was wrong.

Of course we didn’t get to touch the scrolls but we could touch the glass. When I read today’s scripture I was reminded of my experience the day I saw the exhibit of the Scrolls.

In Psalm 145:5-7 we read, “On the glorious splendor of your majesty,
    and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.

They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds,
    and I will declare your greatness.

They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness
    and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.”

When I read the above passage and thought of the Dead Sea Scrolls I looked up the passages they found in the collection. Psalm 145:1-7 is part of the Dead Sea Scrolls collection. I didn’t know that when I planned the lesson.

I looked up where the collection is currently house and it turns out the Dead Sea Scrolls home is in the Shrine of the Book at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. The Dead Sea Scrolls are currently on display in the United States at the Museum of the Bible in Washington.

Things in Washington D.C. are currently in turmoil. We currently live in a time of uncertainty. I’ve been praying a lot for my country and according to the news reports there is discord all around.

I thought of the glorious splendor and majesty of God and his wondrous works.

I meditate on this text and it comforts me that this section of ancient text is located near all the discord and uncertainty.

I am reminded that the text is Holy. Not only are the Dead Sea Scroll texts set apart, all scripture is holy and set apart.

We meditate on God’s wondrous works. The discovery of the ancient texts was no accident. I choose to believe that God helped a shepherd boy find them in our time.

I meditate on God’s awesome deeds and we declare God’s greatness.

The fame of God’s abundant goodness sings aloud the righteousness of God.

I am reminded that God inspired a Leviticus Temple musician to write these words in the mid 5th Century B.C. (Sometime between 538 B.C. and 432 B.C.).

The scrolls found are estimated to be between 2000 to 2200 years old.

I am honored that I saw the scrolls. I can’t effectively explain how moved I was when I viewed the exhibit.

I can tell you that the Spirit moved me when I read the Hebrew words on those ancient texts.

Deborah

acrazyjourney.com