Psalm 22 is usually associated -- largely due to the quote, 'My God, why hast thou forsaken me?' -- with the shadows of Good Friday and such times of lamentation about our estate. Here, it follows a similar hand-wring from the book of Job. So someone is trying to get our attention. Well there's plenty … Continue reading Psalm 22 and 90, 11 Oct 15
Front fencing 4
It's a while since I introduced the Front Fencing series. I think this is no. 4. An early morning mist hides the far reaches of the canal linking the Somme to the Oise rivers. By the time we take our bikes ashore in Pont l'Éveque near Noyon and ride a few kilometers to the Cistercian … Continue reading Front fencing 4
Psalm 1, 20 September 2015
Psalm 1 is a classic, and a sort of introduction to the psalms. Apart from the clear call for an upright life -- and the inevitable warning to the dissolute, which never includes us -- its fluid poetry is the stuff psalms are made of: Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the … Continue reading Psalm 1, 20 September 2015
Psalm 125, 6 Sep 2015
Last week's psalm, asking who may abide on the holy hill, sounded like a song of ascent -- I tossed in Mt Taylor to support that idea. It may have been tagged #ascent had it been written in twitterland, but the formal classification encloses Psalms 120 to 134 -- right after that longest psalm. So this week's 125 … Continue reading Psalm 125, 6 Sep 2015
Psalm 15, 30 August 2015
Psalm 15 (text here>) this week, probably used as an entrance liturgy or gradual, asks who may dwell in God's 'tent' or 'holy hill'. The remaining verses provide a checklist of rather challenging qualifiers, from the grand 'live blameless' to the nitty gritty of 'take no bribes'. The challenge is really encouraging the reader continually to seek to connect with sources … Continue reading Psalm 15, 30 August 2015
Psalm 84, 23 August 2015
After last week's furrowed brows about 'fear', this psalm rings with those warm, positive poetic images that stick in the memory: 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 … Continue reading Psalm 84, 23 August 2015
Psalm 111, 16 August 2015
Psalm 111 this week is quite short but dense. It's full of big statements such as: Great are the deeds of God, studied by all who delight in them. Full of honour and majesty is the work of God, whose goodness endures forever (verses 2 and 3) A previous post on Psalm 111 focused on themes of wisdom and … Continue reading Psalm 111, 16 August 2015
Psalm 51; a tale
The recent recurrence on 2 August of Psalm 51, of which much has been written in this blog, reminds us of another popular story. In Latin, the psalm begins 'Miserere' meaning 'Have mercy' (for more, see for example the post for 15 March 2015>). A quite stunning and famous setting by Gregorio Allegri was written for two choirs in about … Continue reading Psalm 51; a tale
Psalms 130 and 23, 9 August 2015
Psalm 130 pops up again this Sunday, just 6 weeks after we listened to Sinead's Out of the depths. We are going to repeat that same song -- its beautiful simplicity sustains the message perfectly. The visit by The Gospel Folk brings not only their inspiring songs but also the excuse to focus the gathering on music. … Continue reading Psalms 130 and 23, 9 August 2015
Psalm 51, 2 August 2015
Psalm 51 is one of the so-called 'Penitential Psalms', the fourth in fact. It begins: Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. It goes on in this tone until a glimmer of … Continue reading Psalm 51, 2 August 2015
Psalms in the South 