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
Tag: righteousness
Psalm 85, 6 Dec 20
‘Justice goes before God, and peace is a road for God’s feet.’ (13) What? Kanga on the keys on the Farrer oval? 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 … Continue reading Psalm 85, 6 Dec 20
Psalm 106, 11 Oct ’20
Without sounding too much like a cracked record, I must record that justice and equity as ideals and goals for both communities and individuals are major take-aways from Psalm 106, as well as 99 listed for the following Sunday. It only takes a few lines of this psalm before the word 'justice' leaps out of … Continue reading Psalm 106, 11 Oct ’20
Psalm 1, 13 May 18
The first Psalm is well placed as an introduction to the grand themes of the whole Psalter. It urges us to follow a life-style and consciousness reaching for the highest divine standards, revealed throughout the psalms as centring on love, justice and equity. Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked … Continue reading Psalm 1, 13 May 18
Psalm 118, 25 March 18
This psalm of thanks opens and closes with resounding acclamations of divine love and mercy that endure forever. In between are statements about trusting in God rather than in rulers (8), relief at delivery from evil and opposition (5, 10) access to goodness (19) and causes for rejoicing. Each year when this psalm arises on … Continue reading Psalm 118, 25 March 18
Psalm 111, 28 Jan 18
Psalm 111 is a song of praise in honour of the creative divine spirit whose very nature and deeds are awash in high standards of justice and goodness, "wrought in truth and equity".(8) These important attributes -- standing out like sustaining pillars throughout the Psalter and thus much remarked upon in this blog, much desired … Continue reading Psalm 111, 28 Jan 18
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 85, 7 December 2014
The first Australians have been conscious of and connected to the land in much stronger and deeper ways than more recent arrivals can comprehend or feel. 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. The first verses speak … Continue reading Psalm 85, 7 December 2014