What you see is what you get in this simple song of praise and awe. The poem is all about divine creativity, influence and majesty, poetically characterised as the voice of God. The voice That high-octane voice is declared to be in thunder, in the breaking down of cedars and shaking of lands; we hear of fire, flood and … Continue reading Psalm 29, 10 Jan 16
Tag: praise
Psalm 147, 3 Jan 16
The last half-dozen songs in the psalter are songs of praise and joy. Each one begins with a Hallelujah or call of praise to God. This one is longer than most. We start at verse 12, although to my mind the selection is best read in the context of the whole psalm. It rings as a little … Continue reading Psalm 147, 3 Jan 16
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
Psalms 96 to 98, Christmas 2015
A joyful package suitable to a joyful occasion, these three songs for Christmas Eve and Day sing out in praise of the creator, the source of goodness, and a responsive jubilant creation. Psalm 96 begins with the much-sung 'Sing to God a new song'. Sure enough, there are dozens of settings ancient and modern of this psalm -- … Continue reading Psalms 96 to 98, Christmas 2015
Benedictus (Zechariah), 6 Dec 2015
The lectionary in some seasons substitutes a canticle or other reading for the psalm. We can hardly feel short-changed: we sing most of the psalms over the three-year (weekly) cycle, compared with less than 10% of the rest of the Bible. Anne Richardson, of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, writes: All three of the non-Psalm options in … Continue reading Benedictus (Zechariah), 6 Dec 2015
Psalm 132 and 93, 22 Nov 15
If you want to concentrate on the Kingship of Christ, then you'd choose the second psalm listed, Psalm 93 (texts>): The LORD is king, robed in majesty, girded with strength. He has established the world; it shall never be moved; your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting. (93:1,2) The associated Old Testament … Continue reading Psalm 132 and 93, 22 Nov 15
Psalm 104, 18 Oct 15
Here you have classic arm-waving poetry, the poet overcome by the glory and power of the creation -- and Creator. His or her feelings are quite infectious: Bless God, O my soul. O my God, you are very great. You are clothed with honor and majesty, wrapped in light as with a garment. You stretch … Continue reading Psalm 104, 18 Oct 15
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 14 or 145, 26 July 2015
Some psalms are decidedly dark. Here's Psalm 14, which tells us about widespread foolishness, corruption and evil (as if we don't know -- and that hot on the heels of the companion Samuel reading bringing us the Great Psalmist's wicked trick on Uriah, to say nothing of the daily news). It's easy to duck these ones and look for a … Continue reading Psalm 14 or 145, 26 July 2015
Psalm 24, 12 July 2015
Lift up your heads O ye gates, and be ye lift up ye everlasting doors and the King of Glory shall come in ... Thus opens this chorus half way through the second half of G F Handel's oratorio The Messiah. Following the structure of the poem, Handel chose to use this text from Psalm … Continue reading Psalm 24, 12 July 2015
Psalms in the South 