Psalm 50:1-6

“The mighty one, God the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.” vs. 1

At their best, the people of Israel believed that they had a covenant relationship with the Lord, that God had chosen them to be a blessing to the world. Periodically their priestly leaders would use psalms like this one as a type of covenant renewal. God was invoked as the Mighty One, the ruler and judge of all the earth, and the people were reminded of their call to worship and obey. For many of us the closest equivalent would be an affirmation of baptism, a time in which we remember the gracious acts of God, and our own promises to live and worship among God’s faithful people, to proclaim the gospel, to serve according the example of Jesus, and to work for peace and justice throughout the world. Those are significant promises, ones that are important to review and remember. And even if we don’t imagine God as a fierce and condemning judge, vows made before God are not to be taken lightly. When we swear before God to live in a particular way it means something, and breaking our baptismal promises is at least as consequential as breaking our marriage vows. Even if the relationship with God isn’t broken, it will certainly be damaged, and its repair will usually mean significant repentance. Fortunately God is always faithful, and when there is honest confession, forgiveness and cleansing will always follow, and the relationship will be restored.

Thought for the Day: When do I affirm my baptism?