Dr. Michelle Keane Domeisen ’12/’16, Pittsburgh Seminary Board Member

Psalm 33

1 Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous.
         Praise befits the upright.
2 Praise the LORD with the lyre;
         make melody to him with the harp of ten strings.
3 Sing to him a new song;
         play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.
4 For the word of the LORD is upright,
         and all his work is done in faithfulness.
5 He loves righteousness and justice;
         the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD.
6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made,
         and all their host by the breath of his mouth.
7 He gathered the waters of the sea as in a bottle;
         he put the deeps in storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear the LORD;
         let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
9 For he spoke, and it came to be;
         he commanded, and it stood firm.
10 The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
         he frustrates the plans of the peoples.
11 The counsel of the LORD stands forever,
         the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
12 Happy is the nation whose God is the LORD,
         the people whom he has chosen as his heritage.
13 The LORD looks down from heaven;
         he sees all humankind.
14 From where he sits enthroned he watches
         all the inhabitants of the earth —
15 he who fashions the hearts of them all,
         and observes all their deeds.
16 A king is not saved by his great army;
         a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
17 The war horse is a vain hope for victory,
         and by its great might it cannot save.
18 Truly the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him,
         on those who hope in his steadfast love,
19 to deliver their soul from death,
         and to keep them alive in famine.
20 Our soul waits for the LORD;
         he is our help and shield.
21 Our heart is glad in him,
         because we trust in his holy name.
22 Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us,
         even as we hope in you.

Devotional

Yes, our lives are busy, and during this holiday season they seem to reel even more out of control. God’s power and dominion loom so much larger in our lives than any chore we have to do at Christmas. During this season of anticipation, we take time to stand in awe of God as we wait in joyful hope for the Incarnation. God’s about to do a new thing this season, and we must stand in attention.

The Psalmist points to God’s omnipotence while also saying that His word is perfect. He speaks and it happens. Knowing this, our souls wait for Him because we need Him, we trust Him, we can’t live without Him. Without His word and love, we have no hope. We immerse ourselves in the expectation of His inbreaking because the life-giving breath of God is about to be birthed in us. And that is the best gift we could receive this Christmas.

Prayer

Precious Lord, it is with great humility that we turn our attention from the demands of this season to focus on you. We need you, we trust you, we hope in you. Let your steadfast love be upon us. It is in your most holy name that we pray these words. You, the Alpha and the Omega, from ages unto ages.

Dr. Michelle Keane Domeisen ’12/’16, Pittsburgh Seminary Board Member

Psalm 33

1 Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous.
         Praise befits the upright.
2 Praise the LORD with the lyre;
         make melody to him with the harp of ten strings.
3 Sing to him a new song;
         play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.
4 For the word of the LORD is upright,
         and all his work is done in faithfulness.
5 He loves righteousness and justice;
         the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD.
6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made,
         and all their host by the breath of his mouth.
7 He gathered the waters of the sea as in a bottle;
         he put the deeps in storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear the LORD;
         let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
9 For he spoke, and it came to be;
         he commanded, and it stood firm.
10 The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
         he frustrates the plans of the peoples.
11 The counsel of the LORD stands forever,
         the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
12 Happy is the nation whose God is the LORD,
         the people whom he has chosen as his heritage.
13 The LORD looks down from heaven;
         he sees all humankind.
14 From where he sits enthroned he watches
         all the inhabitants of the earth —
15 he who fashions the hearts of them all,
         and observes all their deeds.
16 A king is not saved by his great army;
         a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
17 The war horse is a vain hope for victory,
         and by its great might it cannot save.
18 Truly the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him,
         on those who hope in his steadfast love,
19 to deliver their soul from death,
         and to keep them alive in famine.
20 Our soul waits for the LORD;
         he is our help and shield.
21 Our heart is glad in him,
         because we trust in his holy name.
22 Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us,
         even as we hope in you.

Devotional

Yes, our lives are busy, and during this holiday season they seem to reel even more out of control. God’s power and dominion loom so much larger in our lives than any chore we have to do at Christmas. During this season of anticipation, we take time to stand in awe of God as we wait in joyful hope for the Incarnation. God’s about to do a new thing this season, and we must stand in attention.

The Psalmist points to God’s omnipotence while also saying that His word is perfect. He speaks and it happens. Knowing this, our souls wait for Him because we need Him, we trust Him, we can’t live without Him. Without His word and love, we have no hope. We immerse ourselves in the expectation of His inbreaking because the life-giving breath of God is about to be birthed in us. And that is the best gift we could receive this Christmas.

Prayer

Precious Lord, it is with great humility that we turn our attention from the demands of this season to focus on you. We need you, we trust you, we hope in you. Let your steadfast love be upon us. It is in your most holy name that we pray these words. You, the Alpha and the Omega, from ages unto ages.