The Song of Mary, her joyful response to the angels' declaration that she would bear a special child (are they not all?), is timely and most appropriate in the Advent season. The Magnificat, as it is known from the first words of the song in Latin, has frequently been sung by women and girls during … Continue reading Magnificat, 17 Dec ’17
Tag: justice
Psalm 85, 10 Dec ’17
The first Australians have been conscious of and connected to the land in much stronger and deeper ways than more recent arrivals can comprehend. Their livelihood was far more intimately bound up with their natural environment. Features in their traditional territorial landscapes have longstanding narrative and spiritual importance. Somehow, this atmosphere permeates Psalm 85, declaring … Continue reading Psalm 85, 10 Dec ’17
Psalm 99, 22 Oct ’17
'O mighty ruler, lover of justice, you have established equity.' (v. 4) At last, Psalm 99! This is worth waiting for. The verse quoted above with its key words of ‘justice’ and ‘equity’ is one of the most vital and important statements in the Psalter. It says that justice and equity are pillars of creation, … Continue reading Psalm 99, 22 Oct ’17
Psalm 106
'Happy are those who act with justice, who do what is right.' (3) Psalm 106 drawing to a close the powerful Book IV of the Psalter is related to the previous song. The story of Exodus is again rehearsed at some length but with a stronger flavour of an awareness of human weakness. A warning … Continue reading Psalm 106
Psalm 78, 1 Oct ’17
'With upright heart God tended them, guided them.' (72) This long psalm of Asaph in 72 verses covers many of the high points in the Torah, including the plagues and the exodus, subsequent trials and the calling of King David, great tales also to be found in Psalm 114 and elsewhere. Psalm 78 is a … Continue reading Psalm 78, 1 Oct ’17
Psalm 149, 10 Sep 17
'God takes pleasure in people.' (4) This is the penultimate psalm in the book, short and bitter-sweet. Four verses of praise, singing and dancing, including the important statement of love quoted above; four verses of wreaking vengeance on enemies; and in the middle, it appears, a good lie down! Let the faithful rejoice in triumph; … Continue reading Psalm 149, 10 Sep 17
Psalm 145, 6 Aug 17
For comment on the primary psalm reading for this week, see a previous post on Psalm 17 Thank you so much to our male voice quintet who presented Psalm 105 last Sunday. What lovely sounds. We hear the same refrain, with different verses, in coming Sundays. Psalm 145, the alternative reading for this week, is … Continue reading Psalm 145, 6 Aug 17
Psalm 118, Easter 16 Apr 17
On both Palm Sunday and on Easter Sunday we are invited to hear Psalm 118. There’s a lot to this psalm so the revisit on successive Sundays is worthwhile. Many phrases are familiar, bringing to mind songs that have featured them: steadfast love; open the gates; the cornerstone; this is the day; one who comes … Continue reading Psalm 118, Easter 16 Apr 17
Psalm 2, 26 Feb17
Psalm 2 complements the first psalm as a joint introduction to the Psalter with the assurance that the divine Spirit, with inevitably associated moral and behavioural constructs inferred from the Torah, is supreme above temporal rulers of the world. While this theme has ancient roots in the stories of creation and the establishment of the tribes … Continue reading Psalm 2, 26 Feb17
Psalm 119E, 19 Feb 17
Note: An introduction to Psalm 119 was posted last week. He, ח This fifth section (33-40) reads like a plea from a faltering student for assistance in following a path that is definitely right but steep or poorly defined. The psalmist seeks divine tuition in the way of right statutes, understanding of the law, and the … Continue reading Psalm 119E, 19 Feb 17
Psalms in the South 