The tenth of the Psalms of Ascent (text) regrets the oppression of the people of God. The psalmist recognises that God is the source of goodness but seeks shame on the oppressor. At the distance of some millenia, it's easy to suggest sniffily that he or she should have been more forgiving of Israel's enemies. However, the psalm was … Continue reading Psalm 129
Tag: ascent
Psalm 120, Ascents
This is the first of a group of fifteen psalms from 120 to 134 called the Songs of Ascent. Most of them are quite short, between 5 and 8 verses; one (132) is longer but is surrounded (131, 133, 134) by poems of just three verses each. Originating perhaps as pilgrim songs, they are sometimes … Continue reading Psalm 120, Ascents
Psalm 134
This short psalm, another 'skip' as it does not appear in the RCL, is a song of ascent, or gradual. Hence the illustration, one I have used for songs of ascent over several years. It took my fancy since it looks like inspiring countryside and a great view, but a perhaps a tough and indirect climb. Who has climbed … Continue reading Psalm 134
Psalm 148, 27 Dec 2015
Those denizens of the deep (Ps.148:7) pop up again after, it seems, so little time. It's exactly a year since our last post on this effusive psalm of praise. At that time, I chose those monsters from the deep for the illustration. Now, with a certain blockbuster movie just released worldwide, maybe I should look upward and choose … Continue reading Psalm 148, 27 Dec 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 123, 5 July 2015
Psalm 123 (text here>) is a song of ascent, sometimes called degrees or graduals. These short and hopeful songs are grouped as Psalms 120 to 134. This one, with only four verses, is short and bitter-sweet. Two themes are mingled: the psalmist declares (1) trust in divine love and protection, while (2) hoping for mercy … Continue reading Psalm 123, 5 July 2015
Psalm 130, 28 June 2015
Life in many places has often been pretty rough over the years; people fight, wars arise over land, resources or power grabs. Days are very dark for ordinary people feeling the consequences of conflict. When things fall apart like that, community rulers try new ways of patching them up and preventing recurrence. The charter shown here is one such attempt. … Continue reading Psalm 130, 28 June 2015
Psalm 133, 12 April 2015
A beautiful old Anglo-Saxon manuscript in the British Library from the 8th Century, shown above, records the psalms in Latin in an insular uncial script (capital letters) in common use around 700 CE. The British Library's description of this manuscript, titled Cotton MS Vespasian A 1, is simply: A Roman Psalter (‘The Vespasian Psalter’), including prefaces, canticles, … Continue reading Psalm 133, 12 April 2015
Psalm 25, 22 Feb 15
The readings this week start with Noah and that rainbow covenant in Genesis, running through to John baptising Jesus and being arrested for his trouble. Quite a span. In the heart of this series nestles the psalm, one of the acrostic psalms in which each verse starts with one of the 22 letters of the … Continue reading Psalm 25, 22 Feb 15
Psalm 126, 14 Dec 14
Sowing can be back-breaking work. If you are down in the dumps at the time, burdened by worries, tough conditions and long days, 'sowing in tears' as in this psalm, the harvest seems a doubtful and distant prospect. But this is one of the psalms of Ascent. So there's an inspiring promise there, one that … Continue reading Psalm 126, 14 Dec 14
Psalms in the South 