September 2025 (Pentacost)

Dear Friends,  

Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; 4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. (Ps. 103:1-5 KJV)

During my convalescence from my recent back problems, I began praying this Psalm. No one knows its occasion, and that is fitting as it applies in almost any circumstance. It is in Hebrew that I read it, and it is very rich in the terms employed as they are used in other parts of the Scripture. The word translated “soul” is the same one used in Genesis 2:7 indicating that God’s breath made Adam a living being. It is from the breath of God, the Spirit, that the human being receives its spirit. Only the Spirit knows the things of God and brings forth that understanding in our spirit. That Spirit is now dwelling in us as the downpayment of the promise to be fulfilled for us at the consummation of all things. Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. (2 Cor. 1:22 KJV) That Spirit also testifies that God is also in union with us through Christ and richly blessing us in all things. Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: (Col. 1:26-27 KJV) In the New Testament we understand the fullness to which David was referring. All that is within us, our now reborn spirit together with the Holy Spirit, blesses the Holy Name of God. The Spirit reminds us of all the marvelous things God has done for us and continues to do for us. He forgives all our iniquities in the name and blood of Jesus. He heals all our diseases. He redeems us from destruction (the pit in Hebrew). He pours out His grace upon us continually in Jesus Christ. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. (or in Greek, grace upon grace in a steady stream) (Jn. 1:16 KJV) He gives us every good thing all of our lives. He even renews our youth when we are old. So many are His uncountable blessings to us that we do well to remember the immense benefits that he has poured out upon us in His grace. In our human frailty we may forget but the Spirit constantly reminds us and keeps us in tune with the Psalmist. We too bless the Name of the Lord with all that is within us.

That is how we begin this new school year. We are mindful of how God has blessed our seminary so richly through the years and we understand that God, through Jesus Christ and by the power of His Holy Spirit, will continue to do so. You have played such an important role in that blessing. You have graced us through these many years with your prayers and financial support. We look forward with great expectation to another marvelous year of His grace and we thank you for your many kindnesses toward us.

God’s Peace,

Jay Weidner