'Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings', according to Psalm 8, comes not precocious wisdom and truth - as is the modern common usage of this phrase - but strength or a bulwark ordained in heaven. The very existence of each new child speaks of the power and wonder of creation. Then comes a familiar … Continue reading Psalm 8, Trinity Sunday 15 June 14
Category: Psalms
Psalm 68, 1 June 2014
The merry month of May, with its beautiful autumn leaves and the busy international music festival, departs. Only three weeks to the shortest day of the year when Keith, returning from the wilds of Celtic islands in another hemisphere, will lead a worship service at South Woden at the Winter Solstice. But for this Sunday, it's the first ten … Continue reading Psalm 68, 1 June 2014
Psalm 66, 25 May 14
This psalm is a cry of joy for divine guidance and deliverance. Come and hear, you who fear our maker, as I tell how God rescued my soul I cried to God and was answered; God's praise is ever on my lips (vv. 8, 9) The psalmist feels that he has been pulled through the … Continue reading Psalm 66, 25 May 14
Psalm 31, 18 May 14
We are familiar with Psalm 31 from Palm Sunday, although this time we read the first 5 verses and a little more in mid-psalm. This is a rich psalm, if that's not too trite a thing to say about the deep artistry and imagery of all of these songs. It combines feelings of confidence and security together … Continue reading Psalm 31, 18 May 14
Psalm 23, 11 May 14
The 'Shepherd Psalm' needs no introduction or commentary here, so none is offered. If you have the vague feeling that you have read that somewhere previously, it's just the post for 30 March, unashamedly copied almost holus-bolus. Music You may imagine this psalm to be irrevocably associated with Jessie Irving's famous tune CRIMOND. This week however, not the … Continue reading Psalm 23, 11 May 14
Psalm 116, 2 and 4 May 14
Just add a century from No 16 last week. Skipping over a whole hundred psalms! Amazing - and there are 50 more if you do not count that old No 151. Such a rich treasury of imagery, inspiration, prayer, encouragement and song. Psalm 116, like 30 and others, is a paean of thanks for deliverance … Continue reading Psalm 116, 2 and 4 May 14
Psalm 16, 27 April 14
Like the twenty-third, this is a psalm of trust and rest in divine presence, the source of goodness and guidance. The description of God as the psalmist's portion and cup evoke familiar imagery in themes that connect not only with Christian ritual but daily life. Less familiar but interesting is the image in verse 6: The boundary lines have … Continue reading Psalm 16, 27 April 14
Psalm 118 again, 20 Apr 14
Allelujah Revisiting psalm 118 on Easter Sunday we recall, but will not sing again, the tune of last week, 'This is the day, we will rejoice'. Indeed a day of rejoicing, festival and hallelujahs. (Like the ones above? No we won't sing those; and you may have noticed the illustration for the Arvo Pärt Berliner Messe … Continue reading Psalm 118 again, 20 Apr 14
Psalm 22, 18 April 14
Good Friday is traditionally and appropriately a minimalist quiet moment of reflection. As we saw last Sunday this psalm text, a harbinger of the dark moments in the story of Jesus, captures the mood perfectly. The setting will be that by Christopher Willcock in Together in Song No 9. Psalm South Singers: there's some nice harmonies in the … Continue reading Psalm 22, 18 April 14
Psalm 31, 13 April 14
You may have noticed that there are actually two psalms listed for Palm Sunday, the liturgies of the palms and that of the passion. A few days ago I posted on palms and Psalm 118 for this Sunday - but there's no rule against a double-dip. So we shall also enjoy Psalm 31, singing a response from Psalms … Continue reading Psalm 31, 13 April 14
Psalms in the South 