Gregory M Smith

Victory! Six Easter Psalms Gregory M Smith

Winston Churchill planned his own funeral. While some might think that a bit ghoulish -- Winston was confident that death wasn't the end. And he knew just how to convey that message. He planned stately hymns in St. Paul's Cathedral and an impressive liturgy. But at the end of the service, Churchill had an unusual event planned. Following the benediction, a bugler high in the dome of St. Paul's Cathedral on one side played Taps, the universal signal that the day is over. There was a long pause. Then a bugler on the other side played Reveille, the military wake-up call. Through those two buglers, Churchill was communicating that while we say "Good night" here, it's "Good morning" up there. You see, Churchill's confidence was no normal human bravado. His confidence was rooted in another's victory. Churchill knew that Jesus had purchased a victory over death, given to him, and secured through the resurrection. The Psalms use similar sounds to awaken the reality of God's victory in the ear of the attending worshippers. Each phrase, reference, and idea is a remembrance of how God has acted in the past -- and how He can be trusted to act in the future. The psalms are miniature Biblical theology lessons -- they recall the history of God and the nature of God for the purpose of encouraging the worshipper to trust the heart of God. Join us as in this six week devotional an small group Bible study to reflect on the Easter season through the lens of the victory God has secured through history before Christ and in Christ and continuing with Christ today.