A song of ascent If God be for us, who can be against us? This well-known verse is found not in the psalms but in Romans 8:31. It contains the same message as Psalm 124, and in particular the last verse which has become a standard line in many liturgies: Our help is in the name of … Continue reading Psalm 124, 30 Sep 18

The first Psalm is well placed as an introduction to the grand themes of the whole Psalter. It urges us to follow a life-style and consciousness reaching for the highest divine standards, revealed throughout the psalms as centring on love, justice and equity. Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked … Continue reading Psalm 1, 23 Sep 18

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. 3 They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. 4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the … Continue reading Psalm 19, 16 Sep ’18

Psalm 125 is a song of ascent, and therefore typically short and hopeful. The premise is that those who trust in God will stand firm like Mount Zion. Divine love encircles like the hills surrounding Jerusalem, protection around your holy place. Last week, Psalm 45 reminded us that the sceptre or hallmark of divine rule … Continue reading Psalm 125, 9 Sep ’18

Psalm 45, a tribute to the wedding of a king, is the closest we get to a love song in the Psalter. This poem by the sons of Korah is addressed first to the king, probably Solomon, then in a second voice to the bride. (v. 10) Hebrews 1 quotes a clutch of psalms, including … Continue reading Psalm 45, 2 Sep ’18

After last week’s discussion about avoiding ‘fear’ in the pursuit of wisdom, this psalm rings with warm, positive poetic images: 1 How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! 2 My soul longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God. 3 Even the … Continue reading Psalm 84, 26 Aug 18

Back story After too long away from the singing of the psalms at SWUC, most recently in Brisbane, your cantor / webmaster returns to his appointed place of duty at last. The recent visit to Brisbane is worth a short report as we attended a choral eucharist service at St John's Anglican cathedral in Brisbane, … Continue reading Psalm 111, 19 Aug ’18

This psalm is another song of ascent (psalms 120 to 134). It’s also the sixth of seven penitential psalms. The song is a statement of the mystery not only of the human condition, with all its faults and frustrations, but also of our access to grace. The psalm asks for forgiveness and redemption for Israel, though in modern context it … Continue reading Psalm 130, 12 Aug ’18

This psalm has been much sung and much quoted over the centuries. Many wonderful renaissance settings by Byrd, Lassus, Victoria ... all the big names and then some*. Old hands may remember the lines in the BCP: "O Lord open thou our lips; and our mouths shall show forth thy praise." [v.15. I remember chanting … Continue reading Psalm 51, 5 Aug ’18

Many of the psalms are quite dark. Psalm 13 is memorable for the cry: "How long (must I wait)?" This next Psalm 14, is a despairing plea -- that things are falling apart, there is no God, no-one does any good --  surely another soul-felt expression of grief at the state of the world, whether … Continue reading Psalm 14, 29 Jul 18