Palms come in many shapes and sizes, like those who wave them. These ones at Percy Island, Queensland. Two psalms are listed in the two liturgies for Palm Sunday: Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 for the Palms, and Psalm 31:9-16 in the liturgy of the Passion. The two occasions celebrated are marked by quite different emotions. The … Continue reading Psalm 118 and 31, 28 March 2021
Tag: praise
Psalm 25, 21 Feb 21
Image: Wikicommons The second acrostic in the Psalter (in Hebrew at least), the 22 verses of Psalm 25 neatly fit the letters of the Hebrew alphabet. This week we hear the first ten verses, in which David turns his eyes firmly to a benevolent, but justly balanced, God. Here, David apparently shares none of our … Continue reading Psalm 25, 21 Feb 21
Psalm 111, 31 Jan 2021
Like the following sister psalm 112, this is a hymn of thanks and praise for gracious divine love, guidance and protection. An acrostic poem in the Hebrew, it may have been used for instruction. All the powerful key words of the psalter seem purposefully gathered in a pile. Besides those already mentioned from early verses, … Continue reading Psalm 111, 31 Jan 2021
Happy new year 2021
Wishing all readers and psalm singers a very happy 2021, full of hope, joy and music of the psalms, if not the spheres. A special thanks to our local Singers in the South who have over many years gathered faithfully to encounter your leader's flights of fancy; new musical styles, settings to challenge heart and … Continue reading Happy new year 2021
Psalm 147b, 3 Jan 2021
Welcome to 2021! Readers will no doubt relish the prospect of sunnier times ahead. If you wish, add a note below on your hopes and intentions for making life better for you and others. Sunnier times ahead. Image: Libby O'Loghlin How tied we are to our environment, complete with wild weather, floods, droughts, fires, global … Continue reading Psalm 147b, 3 Jan 2021
Psalm 148, 27 Dec 20
God gave creation a law that shall not pass away.' (6) "Praise God from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and frost, stormy wind" This popular psalm is in the middle of the final group of half a dozen songs of praise which bring the Psalter to a climax. In broadly … Continue reading Psalm 148, 27 Dec 20
Psalm 89, 20 Dec 20
Psalm 89 is quite long at over fifty verses. So it ranges across several themes, beginning with a song of praise: 1 I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord, forever; with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations. 2 I declare that your steadfast love is established forever; your faithfulness is as firm as … Continue reading Psalm 89, 20 Dec 20
Psalm 99, 18 Oct ’20
If you read last week's entry on Psalm 106 you will know that, for this author, justice and equity are foundational themes, if not prominent ones, in this psalm and many others. As in 106, the psalmist in the first few lines declares the greatness and goodness of the divine creative spirit. Then Psalm 99 … Continue reading Psalm 99, 18 Oct ’20
Psalm 19, 4 Oct ’20
All you dear friends who have sung with our Psalm Singers in the South or with The Gospel Folk in Canberra will recall the energy and joy of uniting in The rivers of Babylon, a song made famous by The Melodions and Bob Marley. This is a driving reggae version which includes the refrain: Let … Continue reading Psalm 19, 4 Oct ’20
Psalm 105(3), 30 August 2020
In this third occurrence of Psalm 105, after the first six verses we then move on to hear the experiences of Jacob and the descendants of Abraham as slaves and refugees in Egypt. 23 Then Israel came to Egypt; Jacob lived as an alien in the land of Ham. 24 And the Lord made his people very fruitful, and … Continue reading Psalm 105(3), 30 August 2020
Psalms in the South 