Five Minute Friday :: Worship

My header is a [large] banner I designed from the opening of George Herbert's poem, King of Glory King of Peace. The actual banner is tall, but when I realized rotating it clockwise still would read well, look good, and be more compatible wirh this format, that's what I did.

• Here's the entire poem on hymnary

• Five Minute Friday :: Worship Linkup

After Nathan accused David and predicted the death of David's child, and the child born to David and Bathsheba died. This was before the birth of Solomon:

Then David arose from the earth, washed, anointed himself, and changed his clothes. Then he came into the house of the Lord and worshiped. And then he came to his own house, and when he asked, they sat bread before him, and he ate.
2 Samuel 12:20

Reverend Herbert's poetry announces, "Seven whole days, not one in seven, I will praise Thee."

In the wake of such extreme loss, David explained he'd fasted during the boy's illness, but since he couldn't bring the dead child back to life, it was time for worship.

Losses and disappointments of different dimensions are an ongoing part of earthbound existence. Sometimes we can change the outcome after a loss; many times we cannot. Why did Israel and why does the church set aside one day every week for worship—and for rest? To know life is a gift before it is a task? To acknowledge God as creator, giver, redeemer, renewer? To admit and rejoice in our dependence on God's mercy and love?

Cornel West reminds us, "We are people of hope. Why do we party on Friday night? Why do we go to church on Sunday?" God forgives, heals, mends, forgets, and resurrects.

"Loss is real." But new life from the dead is every bit a given – a gift! – in the reign of heaven on earth.

Seven whole days, not one in seven, I will praise Thee.

Amen? Amen!

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