Justice begins at home Psalm 1, together with Psalm 2 which follows, form a sort of introduction to the Psalter. The clear call here is the importance of each person seeking to follow an upright life in good company. A warning to the dissolute (which never includes us of course) tells us that, like charity, … Continue reading Psalm 1, 19 Sep 21

Psalm 19 declares the glory of the divine as seen in the creation. It smoothly progresses to how this declares the presence and influence of the creator, specifically the theme of the similarly-numbered Psalm 119, the importance of divine guidance to humankind — the ‘law’, to those who are so influenced, and our own ability … Continue reading Psalm 19, 12 Sep 21

The hills around Jerusalem. Mount Hermon. Image: google.com Note For Woden Valley: The chosen psalm this week is Psalm 84, together with elements of Psalm 24. Psalm 125 assures us that trust in God provides a well grounded, solid, and secure situation, like the mountains around Jerusalem, the holy place. 'So God stands around the … Continue reading Psalm 125, 5 Sep 21

How lovely is thy dwelling place, O Lord of hosts, to me.Psalm 84:1 So begins the setting for Psalm 84 in the Scottish Psalter of 1650. This tome in turn drew on the Calvin's Genevan psalter a century earlier -- in French of course -- but the song appears almost unchanged in Together in Song … Continue reading Psalm 84, 22 Aug 21

Psalms 45 is a song for a royal wedding. In this miniature King Richard II of England receives his bride, the princess Isabel, from her father, Charles VI, king of France. (Royal 14 D. vi, f. 268v British Library) Psalm 45, a tribute to the wedding of a king, is the closest we get to … Continue reading Psalm 45, 29 August 2021

You may remember that we heard this lovely inspirational song of ascents a little more than a month ago, at the end of June. Psalm 129 called for deliverance from Israel's enemies: Psalm 130 seeks deliverance from their own failings, and cries from the heart: 1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O … Continue reading Psalm 130, 8 August 21

Psalm 51 is such a towering and famous peak in the landscape of the history of the psalms. A quick look at the choral online directory CPDL gives you the picture -- I haven't counted how many entries appear on that Psalm 51 page. One hundred? Second on the list is that famous Miserere mei … Continue reading Psalm 51, 1 Aug 21

This psalm is almost identical to Psalm 53. It laments the loss of faith in divine rule, with associated corruption and oppression. The opening verse strikes the tone: Fools say in their hearts, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is no one who does good. However, the song concludes … Continue reading Psalm 14, 25 July 2021

No committees here. This psalm, like many others, focuses the spotlight on the responsibilities of rulers -- OK, in those days they were all kings -- not only the mortal kind but divine rule as well. Unlike the Greek gods, who were often imagined as having a foot in both human and heavenly camps, many … Continue reading Psalm 89, 18 July 21