‘In your righteousness set me free’ (2) Girl with lyre, Adolf von Hildebrand, c.1910. Alte National Gallery Berlin This psalm touches many of the common ideas sprinkled throughout the psalter; the essential goodness and caring nature of the creator, the rock, the strong fortress; the psalmist seeking succour ‘out of the depths’ of harsh experience; assurance … Continue reading Psalm 71, 30 Jan 22

Psalm 19 starts in an affirmative frame of mind. As we read on, phrases resonate in our experience and memories. Anyone who has sung Handel’s The Messiah will certainly recognise ‘Their sound is gone out‘ and have the tune of that chorus in mind (an exciting sing — even if it sometimes feels a little like practising your … Continue reading Psalm 19, 23 Jan ’22

‘Your justice like the great deep.’ (6) The Lectionary chooses the middle section of Psalm 36 which rejoices in love and justice. It omits the first four verses. One can see why but let us look briefly at that absent opening section. There is a voice of rebellion deep in the hearts of the wicked. (1) … Continue reading Psalm 36, 16 Jan 22

The voice of God is a constant and powerful theme in this psalm — thundering over the mighty waters, shaking the wilderness, breaking cedars or flashing forth in flames. True of any era, but the present pattern of wild weather as a result of climate change comes immediately to mind. The psalmist (said to be David) assures … Continue reading Psalm 29, 9 Jan 22

This psalm, like others in this final handful in the Psalter, is a song of praise, calling the faithful to rejoice in the creation and in the ubiquitous evidence of divine love and care. ‘Starry Night’ by V van Gogh. Wikimedia commons With sudden shifts of focus and a visionary sweep of the universe, the … Continue reading Psalm 147, 2 Jan 22

God gave creation a law that shall not pass away.' (6) Praise God from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and frost, stormy wind This popular psalm is in the middle of the final group of half a dozen songs of praise which bring the Psalter to a climax. In broadly … Continue reading Psalm 148, 26 Dec 21

The Revised Common Lectionary lists no psalm for Christmas Day itself. It makes up for it -- somewhat mysteriously, it must be said -- by offering three psalms for Christmas Eve 24th December, for three separate observances called Proper I, II and III. For those (few?) who follow this pattern, which does not include Woden … Continue reading Psalms 96, 97 and 98: the Nativity

Following the last two blog posts (Beyond the menace and Wellsprings) in which we have been looking over our shoulders to the past year or two, let us peer even further back into the dim distant dusty annals of early years of music and the psalms. While at the piano I might readily slip into … Continue reading Past glories: another review

Again this Sunday, no psalm is listed. So following last week's 'Beyond menace' review and as Christmas and a New Year approach, we take a moment to look at another aspect of the challenging experience of recent months, the choice of music. Wise men or just Singers in the South? Few psalm singers around the … Continue reading Wellsprings: another review

Psalms take a back seat during the season of Advent. This Sunday 5 Dec and next, the Lectionary lists no psalm. Then Christmas is upon us with its carols and readings for the nativity. Like Fagan in the musical 'Oliver', we take the opportunity of "reviewing the situation" after some unsettling times during the pandemic. … Continue reading Beyond the menace: a review