1 of 35 SCHOOL OF THE WORD www.tarsus.ie The Psalms Psalm 19 Sequence • Finding the Psalms • Numbering the Psalms • Patterns in the Psalter • Enjoying a Psalm • Making links: OT and NT • Back to the Psalm • Use in the lectionary Finding the Psalms • In the Bible, between Job and Proverbs • There are 150 Psalms, in five “collections” • Each collection has a conventional closure / ending • Psalm 1 - a great opening • Psalm 150 - a resounding conclusion Numbering the Psalms
Hebrew Numbering Greek and Latin Numbering 1-8 1-8 9-10 9 11-113 10-112 114-115 113 116 114-115 117-146 116-145 147 146-147 148-150 148-150 Most Bibles Liturgical Numbering
Patterns in the Psalter • The Davidic Psalms (3–41, 51–71) • The Asaph Psalms (50, 73–83) • The Psalms of the Sons of Korah (42, 44–49, 84–85, 87–88) • The Psalms of Ascents (120–134) • The Hallel Psalms (113–118, 146–150) • The ‘YHWH is King’ Psalms (47, 93, 96–99) • Currently, five “books”, each ending with a doxology • Pss 1-41 (41:13); 42-72 (72:18-19); 73-89 (89:52); 90-106 (106:48); 107-150 (150) Ps 41:13 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. 2 of 35 Amen and Amen. Ps 72:18 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. 19 Blessed be his glorious name forever; may his glory fill the whole earth. Amen and Amen.
Ps 89:52 Blessed be the Lord forever. Amen and Amen. Ps 106:48 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. And let all the people say, “Amen.” Praise the Lord! Ps 150:1 Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary! Praise him in the sky, which testifies to his strength! 2 Praise him for his mighty acts! Praise him for his surpassing greatness! 3 Praise him with the blast of the horn! Praise him with the lyre and the harp! 4 Praise him with the tambourine and with dancing! Praise him with stringed instruments and the flute! 5 Praise him with loud cymbals! Praise him with clanging cymbals! 6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
Enjoying a Psalm • Images and metaphors • Parallelism (two lines together) • Recognising the types of psalm • Old Testament background 3 of 35 • New Testament “links” Ps 19:0 For the music director; a psalm of David. 1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the sky displays his handiwork. 2 Day after day it speaks out; night after night it reveals his greatness. 3 There is no actual speech or word, nor is its voice literally heard. 4 Yet its voice echoes throughout the earth; its words carry to the distant horizon. In the sky he has pitched a tent for the sun. 5 Like a bridegroom it emerges from its chamber; like a strong man it enjoys running its course. 6 It emerges from the distant horizon, and goes from one end of the sky to the other; nothing can escape its heat. 7 The law of the Lord is perfect and preserves one’s life. The rules set down by the Lord are reliable and impart wisdom to the inexperienced. 8 The Lord’s precepts are fair and make one joyful. The Lord’s commands are pure and give insight for life. 9 The commands to fear the Lord are right and endure forever. The judgments given by the Lord are trustworthy and absolutely just. 10 They are of greater value than gold, than even a great amount of pure gold; they bring greater delight than honey, than even the sweetest honey from a honeycomb. 11 Yes, your servant finds moral guidance there; those who obey them receive a rich reward. 12 Who can know all his errors? Please do not punish me for sins I am unaware of. 13 Moreover, keep me from committing flagrant sins; do not allow such sins to control me. Then I will be blameless, and innocent of blatant rebellion. 14 May my words and my thoughts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my sheltering rock and my redeemer. Noticing things… • First of all: the parallelism - take out the pen… • Then: the images used – let’s make a list • Other observations… • Any questions? • One of the Psalms associated with David. • The core is an ancient nature poem (vv. 4b-6). • Then, it was take up into Israelite devotion (vv. 1-4a). • A second later wisdom prayer was created (vv. 7-14). • These were eventually joined with a purpose. • V. 14 gathers in the overall message, a kind of antiphon 4 of 35 Layout Title: a psalm of David (v. 0) First canticle: a hymn to the Creator (1-6) (a) The song of the heavens (1-4b) — the proclamation of creation (b) The song to the sun (4c-6) — the cosmic proclamation to the sun Second canticle: a hymn to the Torah (7-13) (a) The litany of the Torah (7-10) — six descriptions of its splendour (b) The servant of the Torah (11-13) — love and fault Closing coda: v. 14. Making links: OT Hymn to creation (vv. 1-6) Genesis 1 Psalm 8 Psalm 104 Job 38 Sirach 43 — making an excellent link with the Wisdom tradition Sir 43:1 The pride of the higher realms is the clear vault of the sky, as glorious to behold as the sight of the heavens. 2 The sun, when it appears, proclaims as it rises what a marvellous instrument it is, the work of the Most High. 3 At noon it parches the land, and who can withstand its burning heat? 4 A man tending a furnace works in burning heat, but three times as hot is the sun scorching the mountains; it breathes out fiery vapours, and its bright rays blind the eyes. 5 Great is the Lord who made it; at his orders it hurries on its course. 27 We could say more but could never say enough; let the final word be: “He is the all.” 28 Where can we find the strength to praise him? For he is greater than all his works. 29 Awesome is the Lord and very great, and marvellous is his power. 30 Glorify the Lord and exalt him as much as you can, for he surpasses even that. When you exalt him, summon all your strength, and do not grow weary, for you cannot praise him enough. 31 Who has seen him and can describe him? Or who can extol him as he is? 32 Many things greater than these lie hidden, for I have seen but few of his works. 33 For the Lord has made all things, and to the godly he has given wisdom. Hymn to the Torah (7-14) Deuteronomy 6:4-6 Psalm 1 Psalm 119…we might not look at all of it! Sirach 24 Ps 119:97 (Mem) O how I love your law! All day long I meditate on it. 5 of 35 98 Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for I am always aware of them. 99 I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your rules. 100 I am more discerning than those older than I, for I observe your precepts. 101 I stay away from the evil path, so that I might keep your instructions. 102 I do not turn aside from your regulations, for you teach me. 103 Your words are sweeter in my mouth than honey! 104 Your precepts give me discernment. Therefore I hate all deceitful actions. Making links: NT Psalm 19 as a whole Matthew 5-7 2 Corinthians 4:6 John 1:1-18 Ephesians 1:1-12 Colossians 1:15-20 Back to the Psalm
Vv. 1-6 Vv. 7-14 Sun = God’s gift Torah - God’s gift Sun gives light Torah gives light The sun is “universal” Torah is also “universal” Physical world illuminated Moral world illuminated The sun is stable Torah is more stable
Psalm praising God’s revelation / disclosure First of all, in creation: vv. 1-6 Then, in God’s gift of the Torah: vv. 7-10 Finally, in the life of the person praying: vv. 11-14 First of all, “God” Then, the “Lord” = YHWH Finally, “my rock, my redeemer” A harvest of quirkiness Gracious God, how can creation sing your praises, except with the red wings of blackbirds flashing across blue sky, and the cook and splash of frogs playing hide-and-seek in the ponds? How can the firmament proclaim your handiwork, except in the wagging tail of a puppy, and the focussed attention of a toddler 6 of 35 smoking in the wonder of it all? How can the heavens proclaim your glory, except through a morning sun rising upon gold-green grass lighting up the face of lovers as earth spins them once more into a new day? Your beauty and goodness, O Immanent One requires Earth’s diversity and our own wildness, breaking down — and out of — the monotony of prescribed patterns, choosing rather to take our place in the dancing procession of differentness, the variegated life of Christ finding expressing in this body of the church and the bodies of our kin-creatures Make a harvest, O Holy One of our quirkiness that we might be your radiant presence Amen. Back to Psalm 19 Use in the Lectionary
Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11 29-B 3rd Sunday of Lent Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11 41-ABC Easter Vigil (resp. 6) Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11 105-C 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (opt. 2) Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 15 69-C 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Ps 19:8, 10, 12-13, 14 137-B 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time 7 of 35 SCHOOL OF THE WORD www.tarsus.ie The Psalms Psalm 139 Enjoying Psalm • Images and metaphors • Parallelism (two lines together) • Recognising the types of psalm • Old Testament background
• New Testament “links” Psalm 139 For the music director, a psalm of David.
1 O LORD, you examine me and know. 2 You know when I sit down and when I get up; even from far away you understand my motives. 3 You carefully observe me when I travel or when I lie down to rest; you are aware of everything I do. 4 Certainly my tongue does not frame a word without you, O LORD, being thoroughly aware of it. 5 You squeeze me in from behind and in front; you place your hand on me. 6 Your knowledge is beyond my comprehension; it is so far beyond me, I am unable to fathom it. 7 Where can I go to escape your spirit? Where can I flee to escape your presence? 8 If I were to ascend to heaven, you would be there. If I were to sprawl out in Sheol, there you would be. 9 If I were to fly away on the wings of the dawn, and settle down on the other side of the sea, 10 even there your hand would guide me, 8 of 35 your right hand would grab hold of me. 11 If I were to say, “Certainly the darkness will cover me, and the light will turn to night all around me,” 12 even the darkness is not too dark for you to see, and the night is as bright as day; darkness and light are the same to you. 13 Certainly you made my mind and heart; you wove me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I will give you thanks because your deeds are awesome and amazing. You knew me thoroughly; 15 my bones were not hidden from you, when I was made in secret and sewed together in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw me when I was inside the womb. All the days ordained for me were recorded in your scroll before one of them came into existence. 17 How difficult it is for me to fathom your thoughts about me, O God! How vast is their sum total! 18 If I tried to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. Even if I finished counting them, I would still have to contend with you. 19 If only you would kill the wicked, O God! Get away from me, you violent men! 20 They rebel against you and act deceitfully; your enemies lie. 21 O LORD, do I not hate those who hate you, and despise those who oppose you? 22 I absolutely hate them, they have become my enemies! 23 Examine me, and probe my thoughts! Test me, and know my concerns! 24 See if there is any idolatrous tendency in me, and lead me in the reliable ancient path! Noticing things • First of all: the parallelism - take out the pen… • Then: the images used - let’s make a list • Other observations… • Any questions? Layout Part 1 vv. 1-6 (God knows everything) vv. 1-3 “you know” vv. 3-6 “you know” Part 2 vv. 7-12 (God is everywhere) vv. 7-10 in space vv.11-12 in time Part 3 vv. 13-18 (God’s creation of humans) vv.13-15 creation vv. 16-18 God’s knowledge Part 4 vv. 19-24 (God’s judgment) vv. 19-22 on the wicked vv. 23-24 on the person praying Links with the OT Job 10:18 “Why did you bring me forth from the womb? Would that I had died before any eye had seen me, 9 of 35 19 and were as though I had not been, carried from the womb to the grave. 20 Are not the days of my life few? Let me alone, that I may find a little comfort 21 before I go, never to return, to the land of gloom and deep darkness, 22 the land of gloom and chaos, where light is like darkness.” Job 23:8 “If I go forward, he is not there; or backward, I cannot perceive him; 9 on the left he hides, and I cannot behold him; I turn to the right, but I cannot see him. 10 But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I shall come out like gold. 11 My foot has held fast to his steps; I have kept his way and have not turned aside. 12 I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured in my bosom the words of his mouth.” Jer 17:10 I the Lord test the mind and search the heart, to give to all according to their ways, according to the fruit of their doings.
Jer 20:12 O Lord of hosts, you test the righteous, you see the heart and the mind; let me see your retribution upon them, for to you I have committed my cause. Ps 22:10 I have been dependent on you since birth; from the time I came out of my mother’s womb you have been my God. 11 Do not remain far away from me, for trouble is near and I have no one to help me. Ps 71:6 I have leaned on you since birth; you pulled me from my mother’s womb. I praise you continually.
Isa 44:2 This is what the Lord, the one who made you, says– the one who formed you in the womb and helps you: “Don’t be afraid, my servant Jacob, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen! Isa 44:24 This is what the Lord, your protector, says, the one who formed you in the womb: “I am the Lord, who made everything, who alone stretched out the sky, who fashioned the earth all by myself.” Links with the NT But just as it is written, “Things that no eye has seen, or ear heard, or mind imagined, are the things God has prepared for those who love him.” God has revealed these to us by the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the things of a man except the man’s spirit within him? So too, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things that are freely given to us by God. (1 Cor 2:9–12) 10 of 35
And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes on behalf of the saints according to God’s will. (Rom 8:27) The House of Heaven (Francis Thomson) I fled Him, down the nights and down the days; I fled Him, down the arches of the years; I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways Of my own mind; and in the midst of tears I hid from Him, and under running laughter. Up vistaed hopes I sped; And shot, precipitated, Adown Titanic glooms of chasmed fears, From those strong Feet that followed, followed after.
But with unhurrying chase, And unperturbed pace, Deliberate speed, majestic instancy,
They beat - and a Voice beat More instant than the Feet - 'All things betray thee, who betrayest Me’. St Augustine Late has I loved you, Beauty so ancient and so new, late have I loved you! Lo, you were within but I outside, seeking there for you, and upon the shapely things you have made I wished headlong I, misshapen. You were with me, but I was not with you. They held me back far from you, those things which would have no wing were they not in you. You called, shouted, broke through my deafness; you flared, blazed, banished my blindness; you lavished your fragrance, I gasped and now I pant for you; I tasted you, and I hunger and thirst; you touched me and burned for your peace. Denis O’Driscoll Missing God His grace is no longer called for before meals: farmed fish multiply without His intercession. Bread production rises through disease-resistant grains devised scientifically to mitigate His faults. Yet, though we rebelled against Him like adolescents, uplifted to see an oppressive father banished – a bearded hermit – to the desert, we confess to missing Him at times. Miss Him during the civil wedding when, at the blossomy altar of the registrar’s desk, we wait in vain to be fed a line containing words like ‘everlasting’ and ‘divine’. 11 of 35 Miss Him when the TV scientist explains the cosmos through equations, leaving our planet to revolve on its axis aimlessly, a wheel skidding in snow. Miss Him when the radio catches a snatch of plainchant from some echoey priory; when the gospel choir raises its collective voice to ask Shall We Gather at the River? or the forces of the oratorio converge on I Know That My Redeemer Liveth and our contracted hearts lose a beat. Miss Him when a choked voice at the crematorium recites the poem about fearing no more the heat of the sun. Miss Him when we stand in judgement on a lank Crucifixion in an art museum, its stripe-like ribs testifying to rank. Miss Him when the gamma-rays recorded on the satellite graph seem arranged into a celestial score, the music of the spheres, the Ave Verum Corpus of the observatory lab. Miss Him when we stumble on the breast lump for the first time and an involuntary prayer escapes our lips; when a shadow crosses our bodies on an x-ray screen; when we receive a transfusion of foaming blood sacrificed anonymously to save life. Miss Him when we exclaim His name spontaneously in awe or anger as a woman in a birth ward calls to her long-dead mother. Miss Him when the linen-covered dining table holds warm bread rolls, shiny glasses of red wine. Miss Him when a dove swoops from the orange grove in a tourist village just as the monastery bell begins to take its toll. Miss Him when our journey leads us under leaves of Gothic tracery, an arch of overlapping branches that meet like hands in Michelangelo’s Creation. Miss Him when, trudging past a church, we catch a residual blast of incense, a perfume on par with the fresh-baked loaf which Milosz compared to happiness. Miss Him when our newly-fitted kitchen comes in Shaker-style and we order a matching set of Mother Ann Lee chairs. 12 of 35
Miss Him when we listen to the prophecy of astronomers that the visible galaxies will recede as the universe expands. Miss Him when the sunset makes its presence felt in the stained glass window of the fake antique lounge bar. Miss Him the way an uncoupled glider riding the evening thermals misses its tug. Miss Him, as the lovers shrugging shoulders outside the cheap hotel ponder what their next move should be. Even feel nostalgic, odd days, for His Second Coming, like standing in the brick dome of a dovecote after the birds have flown. Conversation 13 of 35 SCHOOL OF THE WORD WWW.TARSUS.IE
THE PSALMS PSALM 23 Enjoying a Psalm • Images and metaphors • Parallelism (two lines together) • Recognising the types of psalm • Old Testament background • New Testament “links” Psalm 23 (NET)
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He takes me to lush pastures, he leads me to refreshing water. 3 He restores my strength. He leads me down the right paths for the sake of his reputation. 4 Even when I must walk through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff reassure me. 5 You prepare a feast before me in plain sight of my enemies. You refresh my head with oil; my cup is completely full. 6 Surely your goodness and faithfulness will pursue me all my days, and I will live in the LORD’s house for the rest of my life. Psalm 23 (Robert Alter)
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. 2 In grass meadows He makes me lie down, by quiet waters He guides me. 3 My life He brings back. He leads me on pathways of justice for His name’s sake. 4 Though I walk in the vale of death’s shadows, I fear no harm, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff — it is they that console me. 5 You set out a table before me in the face of my foes. You moisten my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Let goodness and kindness pursue me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for many long days. Noticing things • First of all: the parallelism - take out the pen… • Then: the images used - let’s make a list • Other observations… • Any questions? 14 of 35 Metaphor of the shepherd
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. 2 In grass meadows He makes me lie down, by quiet waters He guides me. 3 My life He bring back. He leads me on pathways of justice for His name’s sake. 4 Though I walk in the vale of death’s shadows, I fear no harm, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff — it is they that console me. The song of the shepherd (1-4) unfolding in the following moments — a thematic declaration: YHWH is my shepherd (1a) — a pastoral description of rest (1b-3a) — a pastoral description of travel (3b-4c) — a thematic declaration (4d) Metaphor of the guest 5 You set out a table before me in the face of my foes. You moisten my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Let goodness and kindness pursue me all the days of my life, and I shall swell in the house of the Lord for many long days. The song of the guest (5-6) unfolding in the following moments — a thematic declaration: before me a table (5a) — a general description of hospitality (5b-5d) — a specific description of sacred hospitality (6)
1 The LORD is my shepherd, 5 You set out a table before me I shall not want. in the face of my foes. 2 In grass meadows He makes me lie You moisten my head with oil; down, my cup overflows. by quiet waters He guides 6 Let GOODNESS and KINDNESS pursue me. me 3 My life (nephes) He brings back. all the days of my life (hay) He leads me on pathways of JUSTICE for His name’s sake. and I shall dwell in the house of the 4 Though I walk in the vale of death’s LORD shadows, for many long days. I fear no harm, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff — it is they that console me. 15 of 35 Middle Eastern Background It shall come to pass that he brings coolness upon the heart. Men shall say: “He is the headman of all men. Evil is not in his heart. Through his herd may be small, still he has spend the day caring for them. Admonitions of Ipu-Wer 2300-2050 BC In the Babylonian creation epic, Marduk is celebrated as the fertility god of the land, and in this role is called faithful shepherd. The epic is also political, elevating Marduk in the Semitic pantheon as shepherd of all the gods. The Semitic sun god Utu/Shamash, the universal judge and guardian of justice, acquired a great following of the Mesopotamian masses and was called the “Shepherd of the lower world, guardian of the upper”, and it is from this god that Hammurabi is depicted receiving his law code.
Old Testament Associations Ps 28:9 Deliver your people! Empower the nation that belongs to you! Care for them like a shepherd and carry them in your arms at all times! Ps 95:7 For he is our God; we are the people of his pasture, the sheep he owns. Today, if only you would obey him!
Ps 100:3 Acknowledge that the LORD is God! He made us and we belong to him; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Then Jesse called Abinadab and presented him to Samuel. But Samuel said, “The LORD has not chosen this one, either.” Then Jesse presented Shammah. But Samuel said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.” Jesse presented seven of his sons to Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen any of these.” Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Is that all of the young men?” Jesse replied, “There is still the youngest one, but he’s taking care of the flock.” Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we cannot turn our attention to other things until he comes here.” So Jesse had him brought in. Now he was ruddy, with attractive eyes and a handsome appearance. The LORD said, “Go and anoint him. This is the one!” So Samuel took the horn full of olive oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers. The Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day onward. (1 Sam 16:8–13)
For this is what the sovereign LORD says: Look, I myself will search for my sheep and seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his scattered sheep, so I will seek out my flock. I will rescue them from all the places where they have been scattered on a cloudy, dark day. I will bring them out from among the peoples and gather them from foreign countries; I will bring them to their own land. I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the streams and all the inhabited places of the land. In a good pasture I will feed them; the mountain heights of Israel will be their pasture. There they will lie down in a lush pasture, and they will feed on rich grass on the mountains of Israel. I myself will feed my sheep and I myself will make them lie down, declares the sovereign LORD. (Ezek 34:10–15) 16 of 35 Isaiah 40:10 Look, the sovereign LORD comes as a victorious warrior; his military power establishes his rule. Look, his reward is with him; his prize goes before him. 11 Like a shepherd he tends his flock; he gathers up the lambs with his arm; he carries them close to his heart; he leads the ewes along. New Testament Associations ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are in no way least among the rulers of Judah, for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” (Matt 2:6) When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were bewildered and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. (Matt 9:36) Then Jesus said to them, “This night you will all fall away because of me, for it is written: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ (Matt 26:31) So Jesus told them this parable: “Which one of you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go look for the one that is lost until he finds it? Then when he has found it, he places it on his shoulders, rejoicing. Returning home, he calls together his friends and neighbours, telling them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost.’ I tell you, in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need to repent. (Luke 15:3–7) “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not a shepherd and does not own sheep, sees the wolf coming and abandons the sheep and runs away. So the wolf attacks the sheep and scatters them. Because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep, he runs away. “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me– just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not come from this sheepfold. I must bring them too, and they will listen to my voice, so that there will be one flock and one shepherd.” (John 10:11–16) Then one of the elders asked me, “These dressed in long white robes—who are they and where have they come from?” So I said to him, “My lord, you know the answer.” Then he said to me, “These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb! For this reason they are before the throne of God, and they serve him day and night in his temple, and the one seated on the throne will shelter them. They will never go hungry or be thirsty again, and the sun will not beat down on them, nor any burning heat, because the Lamb in the middle of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (Rev 7:13–17) Commentary 1a The Lord is my shepherd • Opening words of the best loved Psalm. • In Hebrew: The Lord shepherds me (i.e. it is a verb rather than a noun. The Greek and Latin - verbs). • As always: Lord = YHWH. • “Shepherding” is a metaphor, pointing to some lived experience of the person praying. 1b I shall not want. 17 of 35
• The tense used points to a generalised, on-going experience of protection. “I am lacking nothing” or “I will go on lacking nothing.” • The metaphor is not so evident here because this is the voice of the person praying. • The next few lines will expand on this. 2 In grass meadows He makes me lie down, by quiet waters He guides me. • He makes me or allows me to lie down. • The voice is still generalising. • Quiet waters could also be refreshing waters. • Shepherds typically watered their sheep from well, not from pools. 3 My life He brings back. He leads me on pathways of justice for His name’s sake. • My life (nephesh) could also be simply “me”. • Again, the tense suggest what is typical or usual. • Paths of justice could also be “right paths”. • Name means reputation or esteem. • God is faithful because that is God’s very nature. 4a Though I walk in the vale of death’s shadows, I fear no harm, for You are with me; • Lit. shadow of death or deathly darkness or just darkness. • A dark ravine suggests dangerous and threatening situation of some kind. • Harm - to be taken literally for sheep, but metaphorically for some ethical or moral danger for the person praying. 4b Your rod and Your staff — it is they that console me. • This is the final instance of the pastoral imagery. • Console - to be taken literally for humans. • In the case of sheep, it means to calm their nerves and reassure them. • The underlying reality is the emotional stability God provides the psalmist during life- threatening situations. 5a You set out a table before me in the face of my foes. • Hospitality: behind it stands the image of a royal banquet. • “In the face of my foes” means (a) that the danger was very near and (b) that the person praying is under the protection of God’s hospitality. 5b You moisten my head with oil; my cup overflows. • The oil is a symbol of welcome and takes place before the guest sits down (!) — a very pleasing gesture in the super dry climate of the Middle East. • In that context, it could easily be translated “you refresh.” • Overflow: it means full to the brim — not necessarily spilling over as many translations have it. (Just too messy!) 6 Let goodness and kindness pursue me all the days of my life, 18 of 35 and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for many long days. • Goodness is “tōb” in Hebrew. Cf. Ps 68:10. • Kindness is the rich word “hesed,” meanings God’s covenantal faithfulness. In Psalms it is often rendered as “loving kindness” or “steadfast love” because of the practical benefit to the person at prayer. • The house of the Lord sustains the metaphor of hospitality but also points to the Temple in Jerusalem. • Often translated as “for ever”, the last phrase does not point to eternal life but to length of days. • Terms which cross over • Sense of danger in both parts • Change from “he” to “you” • Psalm of trust • Rhythm of lament • Covenant qualities of God Conversation 19 of 35 SCHOOL OF THE WORD www.tarsus.ie The Psalms Psalm 114 Sequence • How to read a Psalm • Parallelism (again) • Old Testament Background • Use in the Jewish liturgy • New Testament links • Conversation Kind of parallelism • Synonymous • Antithetic • Chiastic • Staircase Synonymous Ps 112:1 Praise the Lord! How blessed is the one who obeys the Lord, who takes great delight in keeping his commands. 2 His descendants will be powerful on the earth; the godly will be blessed. 3 His house contains wealth and riches; his integrity endures. Amos 5:23 Take away from me your noisy songs; I don’t want to hear the music of your stringed instruments. 24 Justice must flow like torrents of water, righteous actions like a stream that never dries up. Antithetic Prov 10:1 The Proverbs of Solomon: A wise child makes a father rejoice, but a foolish child is a grief to his mother.
Psalm 1:6 Certainly the LORD guards the way of the godly, but the way of the wicked ends in destruction. Chiastic Jer 4:5 The LORD said, “Announce this in Judah and in Jerusalem proclaim it: Staircase Judg 5:12 Wake up, wake up, Deborah! Wake up, wake up, sing a song! Get up, Barak! Capture your prisoners of war, son of Abinoam! A final example Isa 2:4 He will judge disputes between nations; he will settle cases for many peoples. They will beat their swords into ploughshares, 20 of 35 and their spears into pruning hooks. Nations will not take up the sword against other nations, and they will no longer train for war. Psalm 114 1 When Israel left Egypt, when the family of Jacob left a foreign nation behind, 2 Judah became his sanctuary, Israel his kingdom. 3 The sea looked and fled; the Jordan River turned back. 4 The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs. 5 Why do you flee, O sea? Why do you turn back, O Jordan River? 6 Why do you skip like rams, O mountains, like lambs, O hills? 7 Tremble, O earth, before the Lord– before the God of Jacob, 8 who turned a rock into a pool of water, a hard rock into springs of water! A bit of work • Notice the parallelism • Ask about the Old Testament background The Exodus Exod 14:21 Moses stretched out his hand toward the sea, and the LORD drove the sea apart by a strong east wind all that night, and he made the sea into dry land, and the water was divided. 22 So the Israelites went through the middle of the sea on dry ground, the water forming a wall for them on their right and on their left. Exod 14:23 The Egyptians chased them and followed them into the middle of the sea– all the horses of Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen. 24 In the morning watch the LORD looked down on the Egyptian army through the pillar of fire and cloud, and he threw the Egyptian army into a panic. 25 He jammed the wheels of their chariots so that they had difficulty driving, and the Egyptians said, “Let’s flee from Israel, for the LORD fights for them against Egypt!” Exod 14:29 But the Israelites walked on dry ground in the middle of the sea, the water forming a wall for them on their right and on their left. The Entry Josh 3:14 So when the people left their tents to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. 15 When the ones carrying the ark reached the Jordan and the feet of the priests carrying the ark touched the surface of the water– (the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest time)– 16 the water coming downstream toward them stopped flowing. It piled up far upstream at Adam (the city near Zarethan); there was no water at all flowing to the sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea). The people crossed the river opposite Jericho. 17 The priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firmly on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan. All Israel crossed over on dry ground until the entire nation was on the other side. Meribah Num 20:2 And there was no water for the community, and so they gathered themselves together against Moses and Aaron. 3 The people contended with Moses, saying, “If only we had died when our brothers died before the LORD! 4 Why have you brought up the LORD’s community into this wilderness? So that we and our cattle should die here? 5 Why have you brought us up from Egypt only to bring us to this dreadful place? It is no place for grain, or figs, or vines, or pomegranates; nor is there any water to drink!” 21 of 35 Num 20:6 So Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the entrance to the tent of meeting. They then threw themselves down with their faces to the ground, and the glory of the LORD appeared to them. 7 Then the LORD spoke to Moses: 8 “Take the staff and assemble the community, you and Aaron your brother, and then speak to the rock before their eyes. It will pour forth its water, and you will bring water out of the rock for them, and so you will give the community and their beasts water to drink.”
Num 20:9 So Moses took the staff from before the LORD, just as he commanded him. 10 Then Moses and Aaron gathered the community together in front of the rock, and he said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring water out of this rock for you?” 11 Then Moses raised his hand, and struck the rock twice with his staff. And water came out abundantly. So the community drank, and their beasts drank too.
Num 20:12 Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust me enough to show me as holy before the Israelites, therefore you will not bring this community into the land I have given them.” Num 20:13 These are the waters of Meribah, because the Israelites contended with the LORD, and his holiness was maintained among them. Creation and exodus Exod 19:5 And now, if you will diligently listen to me and keep my covenant, then you will be my special possession out of all the nations, for all the earth is mine, 6 and you will be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you will speak to the Israelites.” Putting the Psalm in narrative sequence 1 When Israel left Egypt, when the family of Jacob left a foreign nation behind, Exodus 3a The sea looked and fled; Red Sea 5b Why do you flee, O sea? 4a The mountains skipped like rams, Sinai 6a Why do you skip like rams, O mountains, 7 Tremble, O earth, before the Lord– Meribah before the God of Jacob, 8 who turned a rock into a pool of water, a hard rock into springs of water! 3b the Jordan River turned back. Jordan 5a Why do you turn back, O Jordan River? 4b the hills like lambs. Hills of Judah 6b like lambs, O hills? 2 Judah became his sanctuary, Jerusalem Israel his kingdom. Why the mix-up? A: Event: exodus/entry B: Repercussions: recounted in the past B’: Repercussions: interpreted in the present A’: Event: God's leadership as the climax NB all regarded as a single even of salvation NB this is the great Passover Psalm NB Jewish theology of memorial Use in the Jewish Liturgy Mishnah Pesah. 10:5 In every generation a person is duty-bound to regard himself as if he personally has gone forth from Egypt, since it is said, And you shall tell your son in that day saying, it is because of that which the Lord did for me when I came forth out of Egypt (Ex. 13:8). 22 of 35 Therefore we are duty-bound to thank, praise, glorify, honour, exalt, extol, and bless him who did for our forefathers and for us all these miracles. He brought us forth from slavery to freedom, anguish to joy, mourning to festival, darkness to great light, subjugation to redemption, so we should say before him, Hallelujah. New Testament Links 1 Cor 11:23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night in which he was betrayed took bread, 24 and after he had given thanks he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, he also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, every time you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For every time you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. • Our “exodus” is the cross and resurrection • Our “Passover” is Jesus • Our “liberation” is from death • Your boasting is not a good thing. Do you not know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? Clean out the old yeast so that you may be a new batch, as you really are unleavened. For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us celebrate the festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (1 Cor 5:6–8) Conversation 23 of 35 SCHOOL OF THE WORD www.tarsus.ie The Psalms Psalm 104 Sequence • Starting with poetry • Reading Psalm 104 • To work: parallelism and images/metaphors • Rhythm • Place of Psalm 104 • Layout of Psalm 104 • Old Testament links • New Testament links • Commentary • Summary • Potential for today • Conversation Starting with poetry Duvet, by Pádraig J. Daly, OSA Reading Psalm 104 (NET)
1 Praise the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, you are magnificent. You are robed in splendour and majesty. 2 He covers himself with light as if it were a garment. He stretches out the skies like a tent curtain, 3 and lays the beams of the upper rooms of his palace on the rain clouds. He makes the clouds his chariot, and travels along on the wings of the wind. 4 He makes the winds his messengers, and the flaming fire his attendant. 5 He established the earth on its foundations; it will never be upended. 6 The watery deep covered it like a garment; the waters reached above the mountains. 7 Your shout made the waters retreat; at the sound of your thunderous voice they hurried off– 8 as the mountains rose up, and the valleys went down– to the place you appointed for them. 9 You set up a boundary for them that they could not cross, so that they would not cover the earth again. 10 He turns springs into streams; they flow between the mountains. 11 They provide water for all the animals in the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. 12 The birds of the sky live beside them; they chirp among the bushes. 13 He waters the mountains from the upper rooms of his palace; the earth is full of the fruit you cause to grow. 14 He provides grass for the cattle, and crops for people to cultivate, so they can produce food from the ground, 15 as well as wine that makes people feel so good, and so they can have oil to make their faces shine, as well as food that sustains people’s lives. 24 of 35 16 The trees of the LORD receive all the rain they need, the cedars of Lebanon which he planted, 17 where the birds make nests, near the evergreens in which the herons live. 18 The wild goats live in the high mountains; the rock badgers find safety in the cliffs. 19 He made the moon to mark the months, and the sun sets according to a regular schedule. 20 You make it dark and night comes, during which all the beasts of the forest prowl around. 21 The lions roar for prey, seeking their food from God. 22 When the sun rises, they withdraw and sleep in their dens. 23 Men then go out to do their work, and labor away until evening. 24 How many living things you have made, O LORD! You have exhibited great skill in making all of them; the earth is full of the living things you have made. 25 Over here is the deep, wide sea, which teems with innumerable swimming creatures, living things both small and large. 26 The ships travel there, and over here swims the whale you made to play in it. 27 All of your creatures wait for you to provide them with food on a regular basis. 28 You give food to them and they receive it; you open your hand and they are filled with food. 29 When you ignore them, they panic. When you take away their life’s breath, they die and return to dust. 30 When you send your life-giving breath, they are created, and you replenish the surface of the ground. 31 May the splendour of the LORD endure! May the LORD find pleasure in the living things he has made! 32 He looks down on the earth and it shakes; he touches the mountains and they start to smoulder. 33 I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God as long as I exist! 34 May my thoughts be pleasing to him! I will rejoice in the LORD. 35 May sinners disappear from the earth, and the wicked vanish! Praise the LORD, O my soul! Praise the LORD! 25 of 35 Imagery and metaphors
Clothing Shelter Volcanoes Construction Wisdom Music Government Commander of the sea Etc. Food and drink Life-giver
Rhythm Free, accentual rhythms
Psalm 104 Genesis 1 1-3 light 3-5 light 3-4 firmament 6-8 firmament 5-9 land and sea 9-10 land and sea 10-18 vegetation 11-13 vegetation
addition 1: living creatures addition 2: nourishment
19-23 night and day 14-19 night and day
addition 1: living creatures addition 2: nourishment
25-26 the sea and its creatures 20-23 living creatures and the sea (create) 24-28 living creatures and the land (create)
27-28 nourishment (eat) 29-30 nourishment (eat)
29-30 living creatures and the land (create)
Praise and trust (3 beats followed by 3 beats) Lament (3 beats followed by 2 beats) Not rigidly adhered to Psalm 104: praise rhythm 30 When you send fórth your spírit, they are creáted; and you renéw the fáce of the gróund. Place of Psalm 104 Psalms 103 + 104 Links: Bless the Lord, O my should (Psalm 103:1, 22; Psalm 104:1, 35—only occurrences —“works”) • Psalm 103: the cosmic reign of God (salvation) • Psalm 104: all God’s works praise the creator (creation) • Thus creation and salvation belong together Psalms 104+105+106 • The Hallelujah shout. • It is found in this context in Psalms 104:35; 105:45; 106:1, 48 26 of 35
It is intended to construct a triad of Psalms 104–106—probably an overarching history from the beginning of creation to the present time of Psalm 106.
Layout of Psalm 104 Levels: line, couplet, stanza, poem Antiphon (1a)
A. Strophe 1 – the heavens and God’s presence (1b-4)
B. Strophe 2 – the earth and the seas (5-9)
C. Strophe 3 – water on the earth, fertility, life (10-18) Nourishment for animals and plants (10-13) Nourishment for human beings (14-15) Nourishment for animals and plants (16-18) D. Strophe 4 – time (19-24) B’ Strophe 5 – the sea (25-26)
C. Strophe 6 – life, enough to eat, the spirit (27-30)
A’ Strophe 7 – the heavens and God’s presence (31-35b) Antiphon (35c) Old Testament links • Genesis 1 • Psalm 8 • Sirach 44 • Widely available ancient Near Eastern material both Egyptian and Canaanite • E.g. Egyptian hymns to the sun god 27 of 35 • E.g. Canaanite myths of creation as a battle Links with Genesis 1 • Psalm 8 Ps 8:5 Yet you have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honour. • Genesis Gen 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness New Testament links • Importance of making New Testament links • First step: citations and allusions • Second step: serendipity! • Ps 104:4 Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his servants flames of fire.” (Heb 1:7) • Ps 104:12 [It] is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” (Mt 13:32; Mk 4:32; Lk 13:19)
• Ps 104:27 Who then is the faithful and wise slave, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give the other slaves their allowance of food at the proper time? (Mt 24:45) NB links: 2 Cor 4:6 For God, who said “Let light shine out of darkness,” is the one who shined in our hearts to give us the light of the glorious knowledge of God in the face of Christ. John 1:1-18; Col 1:15-20; Eph 1:3-14 Commentary by stanzas (see slides) Summary • God’s Sustaining of the Cosmos • Grateful Appreciation of Creation • The Creature’s Praise and Thanksgiving • The Gift of the Spirit Potential for today • Wonder before the universes • Praise of the creator • Wonder at the variety of life forms • Sense of connectedness with it all • Sense of responsibility towards it all Conversation
PSALM 104 NRSV
1 Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, you are very great. You are clothed with honour and majesty, 28 of 35 2 wrapped in light as with a garment. You stretch out the heavens like a tent, 3 you set the beams of your chambers on the waters, you make the clouds your chariot, you ride on the wings of the wind, 4 you make the winds your messengers, fire and flame your ministers.
5 You set the earth on its foundations, so that it shall never be shaken. 6 You cover it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains. 7 At your rebuke they flee; at the sound of your thunder they take to flight. 8 They rose up to the mountains, ran down to the valleys to the place that you appointed for them. 9 You set a boundary that they may not pass, so that they might not again cover the earth. 10 You make springs gush forth in the valleys; they flow between the hills, 11 giving drink to every wild animal; the wild asses quench their thirst. 12 By the streams the birds of the air have their habitation; they sing among the branches. 13 From your lofty abode you water the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.
14 You cause the grass to grow for the cattle, and plants for people to use, to bring forth food from the earth, 15 and wine to gladden the human heart, oil to make the face shine, and bread to strengthen the human heart. 16 The trees of the LORD are watered abundantly, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted. 17 In them the birds build their nests; the stork has its home in the fir trees. 18 The high mountains are for the wild goats; the rocks are a refuge for the coneys. 19 You have made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting. 20 You make darkness, and it is night, when all the animals of the forest come creeping out. 21 The young lions roar for their prey, seeking their food from God. 22 When the sun rises, they withdraw and lie down in their dens. 23 People go out to their work and to their labor until the evening.
24 O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. 25 Yonder is the sea, great and wide, creeping things innumerable are there, living things both small and great. 26 There go the ships, and Leviathan that you formed to sport in it.