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Home , Kathisma, Psalm 121, Psalter, Song of Ascents

February 24, 2021 A

Today’s offering is a result of our researching the within the Bible with focus on . Most will be understandable to you but where wording is not common to most readers, a brief explanation is provided in parentheses. Enjoy this explanation that is not normally provided in churches and other places of worship. (Psalms 121:1-8) 1 I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? 2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. 3 He will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber. 4 Behold, the Protector of will neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is the shade on your right hand. 6 The sun will not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The LORD will guard you from all evil; He will preserve your soul. 8 The LORD will watch over your coming and going, both now and forevermore. There are two references to the Songs of Ascents in the (First major written collection of the Oral Torah), noting the correspondence between the fifteen songs and the temple's fifteen steps between the Israelite's court and the women's court. refers to a Talmudic legend that King composed or sang the fifteen songs to calm rising waters at the foundation of the temple. Song of steps, a title given to each of these fifteen psalms, 120-134 inclusive. The probable origin of this name is the circumstance that these psalms came to be sung by the people on the ascents or goings up to to attend the three great festivals (Deuteronomy 16:16). They were well fitted for being sung by the way from their peculiar form, and from the sentiments they express. "They are characterized by brevity, by a key-word, by epanaphora (i.e. repetition), and by their epigrammatic style(of the nature or in the style of an epigram; concise, clever, and amusing: "an epigrammatic style".) More than half of them are cheerful, and all of them hopeful." They are sometimes called "Pilgrim Songs." Four of them were written by David, one (127) by , and the rest are anonymous. It is traditional for some Jews to place a copy of Psalm 121 in the labor and delivery room to promote an easy labor by asking God for mercy. As well, it is placed on the baby's carriage and in the baby's room to protect the child and surround them in learning and with holy objects. In the Eastern Orthodox and those Eastern Catholic Churches which follow the , the Songs of Degrees make up the Eighteenth (division of the ) and are read on Friday evenings at (a service of evening prayer) throughout the . The Kathisma (literally, "seat", is a division of the Psalter, used by Eastern Orthodox Christians and Eastern Catholics who follow the Byzantine Rite) is divided into three sections (called stases) of five psalms each. During (represents the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness) the Eighteenth Kathisma is read every weekday (Monday through Friday evening) at Vespers, and on Monday through Wednesday of . In the Slavic usage this Kathisma is also read from the apodosis of the Exaltation of the Cross up to the forefeast (a period of time preceding certain major feasts of the Christian year) during which the Church anticipates the approaching festival. of the Nativity of Christ, and from the apodosis of Theophany (Theophany is essentially a theological term, and is used of any temporary, normally visible, manifestation of God) up to the Sunday of the Prodigal Son. The reason for this is that the nights are longer in winter, especially in the northern latitudes, so during this season three Kathismata will be chanted at instead of two, so to still have a reading from the Psalter at Vespers, the Eighteenth Kathisma is repeated.

May the love and of God our Father and His Son Jesus Christ be with you and provide Peace and Grace to you now and always. Follow the words of Jesus “ ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Invite your friends and family follow my .writings .available through online access at “believeinthelight.com”. Comments and suggestions are appreciated. And please encourage everyone to receive God’s peace by reading the Bible often.