By Ammon Allen-Doucot, a sophomore Bible and religion major from Hartford, Conn.

Scripture: Psalm 148 (NRSV)

This week’s theme is “Out of Egypt,” which plays into the overall theme of the mystery of God’s dwelling. In my faith life, there has never been a doubt that of all the places one can find God, the most conveniently located is within our own bodies. Even so, it is not always easy to see the Holy Spirit hiding behind our eyes, wrapped around our tongue, or supporting our hands, and yet it is there.

Psalm 148 exalts not only God’s omnipresence, but the authority of God over things like beasts in the depths, the moon and sun, the stars and the rulers of the earth. “Out of Egypt” is a reference to the enslavement of the Hebrew people before Moses led them to freedom in Exodus.

So with that in mind we can take a look at what enslaves us, whether it is a grudge against one another, or material desires that distract us from wealth of the spirit, or even a growing apathy that comes from a weary soul that has been working too long without rest, we must see and know God’s dominion. God’s dominion that exists over the very stars in the sky. God’s dominion that will last longer than flawed human institutions. God’s dominion which led a people from enslavement and promised them paradise. God’s dominion which holds us now and promises freedom from all that which enslaves us.

Scripture: Psalm 148 (NRSV)

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights!

²Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his host!

³Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars!

⁴Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens!

⁵Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created.

⁶He established them forever and ever; he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.

⁷Praise the Lord from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps,

⁸fire and hail, snow and frost, stormy wind fulfilling his command!

⁹Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars!

¹⁰Wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds!

¹¹Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth!

¹²Young men and women alike, old and young together!

¹³Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his glory is above earth and heaven.

¹⁴He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his faithful, for the people of Israel who are close to him. Praise the Lord!