DOCSLIB.ORG

Psalm 111 Reader

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Psalm 111 Reader St. John’s United Church Service – January 31, 2021 Scripture: Psalm 111 Reader: Jane Wynne Reflection: Rev. Karen Verveda SCRIPTURE READING: Psalm 111 Alleluia! I will thank you, O God, with all my heart in the meeting of the just and their assembly. Great are your works, to be pondered by all who love them. Majestic and glorious are your works, and your justice stands firm forever. You make us remember your wonders— you are compassion and love. You give food to those who revere you, keeping your Covenant ever in mind. You reveal to your people the power of your actions by giving them the lands of the nations as their inheritance. The works of your hands are truth and justice, and all your precepts are sure, standing firm forever and ever, and carried out uprightly and faithfully. You have sent deliverance to your people and established your Covenant forever. Your Name is holy and awe-inspiring! Reverence for you, O God, is the beginning of wisdom— those who have it prove themselves wise. Your praise will last forever! REFLECTION: In addition to being an acrostic poem Psalm 111 is one of several Hallel Psalms so named because they begin with the Hebrew words, Hallel – praise 1 and Yah – a shortened version of Yahweh, one of the Hebrew names for God. Which also tells us a little bit more about the origins of the word – Hallelujah! And as Richard mentioned, this psalm calls us to a whole-hearted hallelujah. And yet, I was reminded this week, in a few different ways, that there are times in our lives when Hallel gets stuck in our throat and we can’t even call God’s name. One person I read reflecting on today’s psalm described going through such a time. One of his grandchildren, Molly, whom he describes as a sweet, super athletic 14 year old has just been told that she needs a pacemaker. A pacemaker!?! It seems that her heart has an electrical problem that will need constant regulation for the rest of her life! She is, understandably, sad and frightened and confused. And in spite of her strong adolescent faith, she is not exactly shouting, “Hallelujah.” these days. Neither is her grandfather. In fact, he has another reason that Hallelujah has been sticking in his throat. He is also concerned about learned that Owen a brilliant, sports loving 12 year old who currently plays 7th grade basketball. During or after his game last week, some prankster stole his team warm up jacket. This 12 year old is devastated, thinking that someone hates him enough to do a mean thing like that, that maybe even the whole team secretly hates him. He is, understandably, sad and angry and feeling desperately alone. The thought of praising God hasn’t even crossed his mind this week. As we listen to Psalm 111 today, and as we’re invited to sing along with Richard, it is good to remember that we or those around us 2 may be going through a time where the Hallelujahs are stuck in our throats. In the midst of the everyday struggles of life it can become almost impossible to “extol the Lord with all our heart,” when we find ourselves not in “the council of the upright and in the assembly,” but in the sterile coldness of an operating room or the sweat soaked chaos of a locker room or other difficult circumstances. But the truth is that Psalm 111 is designed to help “tune our hearts to sing God’s praise,” as the old hymn, Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing puts it. It is carefully constructed to help us find our way to singing God’s praise again. This is true of its form as well as its content. In terms of form, this psalm is an acrostic, as Richard mentioned, a poem organized by the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Each half line begins with the successive letter of the alphabet. Using the alphabet in this way was a tool … to help with learning or memorization. Content-wise, this Psalm proclaims that the world is governed by a gracious, faithful and merciful God whose righteousness ‘endures forever’ That God is the ultimate reality, and that God is altogether righteous. Walter Brueggemann says that this Psalm is one of the Psalms of Orientation one of the Psalms designed to help re-orient us, to brings us back to what is truly important. We may be going through a time where it seems as though everything is all wrong, Psalm 111 is there to assure us that such appearances are not reality. Psalm 111’s message of a moral balance and symmetry to the world is mirrored in the symmetry and the disciplined acrostic structure of the Psalm. Of course ‘simple assertion’ about a righteous God is not going to help the Mollys and Owens of the world, 3 so Psalm 111 goes to great lengths to open our eyes to expand our vision of God. It reminds us that God is not only righteous, but also “gracious and compassionate” “faithful and just” “trustworthy” “holy and awesome”. And it reminds us that we know this because of how God acts in the world, providing food, and land, liberating people from slavery and oppression, and teaching them how to live in right relationship with God and with their neighbour. This was true for Israel; this is true for us and for all people. And here is where today’s psalm connects with the question we have been asking this season: How have we felt held and supported by God? in the midst of hard times … in the midst of this pandemic? Psalm 111 invites us to pay close attention to our lives. How have we been fed? How have we been supported by the land on which we live? How have we been liberated from oppression and injustice? How have we been learning to live in right relationship with God and our neighbour? The psalmist says that this awareness of being held by God is the beginning of wisdom. And not only that, this awareness of being held by God which is as true and probably even more important on the hard days as it is on the good days is what makes our wholehearted hallelujah’s possible. 4 Good days come and go. Life is not always rosy or easy. But if our hallelujah’s grow out of the knowledge or awareness of being held by God out of the awareness that nothing can separate us from God’s love and care, the awareness that, as St. Paul puts it, neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God then we can sing hallelujah— wholeheartedly! – in the midst of pacemakers, pranksters, and pandemics. Sometimes we need each other, need to hear each other’s stories so that we can remember this deepest truth about life— to remember and rest in the truth of being held and loved by God. So thank you to everyone who has shared their response to our Epiphany question and thank you to all who will be sharing your response. You are helping us remember you are helping us to join in with the psalmist in singing wholehearted hallelujahs. Thanks be! Amen. 5 .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Nomos and Narrative Before Nomos and Narrative
    Nomos and Narrative Before Nomos and Narrative Steven D. Fraade* I imagine that when Robert Cover's Nomos and Narrative essay' first reached the editors of the Harvard Law Review, their befuddlement derived not so much from Cover's framing of his review of the 1982 Supreme Court term with a philosophically opaque discussion of the interdependence of law and narrative, but from the illustrations that he drew from biblical and rabbinic texts of ancient and medieval times. For Cover, both intellectually and as a matter of personal commitment, these ancient texts evoke a "nomian world," rooted more in communally shared stories of legal origins and utopian ends than in the brutalities of institutional enforcement, one from which modem legal theory and practice have much to learn and to emulate. Since my own head is buried most often in such ancient texts, rather than in modem courts, I thought it appropriate to reflect, by way of offering more such texts for our consideration, on the long-standing preoccupation with the intersection and interdependency of the discursive modes of law and narrative in Hebrew biblical and rabbinic literature, without, I hope, romanticizing them. Indeed, I wish to demonstrate that what we might think of as a particularly modem tendency to separate law from narrative, has itself an ancient history, and to show how that tendency, while recurrent, was as recurrently resisted from within Jewish tradition. In particular, at those cultural turning points in which laws are extracted or codified from previous narrative settings, I hope to show that they are also renarrativized (or remythologized) so as to address, both ideologically and rhetorically, changed socio-historical settings.2 I will do so through admittedly * Steven D.
    [Show full text]
  • Psalms Psalm
    Cultivate - PSALMS PSALM 126: We now come to the seventh of the "Songs of Ascent," a lovely group of Psalms that God's people would sing and pray together as they journeyed up to Jerusalem. Here in this Psalm they are praying for the day when the Lord would "restore the fortunes" of God's people (vs.1,4). 126 is a prayer for spiritual revival and reawakening. The first half is all happiness and joy, remembering how God answered this prayer once. But now that's just a memory... like a dream. They need to be renewed again. So they call out to God once more: transform, restore, deliver us again. Don't you think this is a prayer that God's people could stand to sing and pray today? Pray it this week. We'll pray it together on Sunday. God is here inviting such prayer; he's even putting the very words in our mouths. PSALM 127: This is now the eighth of the "Songs of Ascent," which God's people would sing on their procession up to the temple. We've seen that Zion / Jerusalem / The House of the Lord are all common themes in these Psalms. But the "house" that Psalm 127 refers to (in v.1) is that of a dwelling for a family. 127 speaks plainly and clearly to our anxiety-ridden thirst for success. How can anything be strong or successful or sufficient or secure... if it does not come from the Lord? Without the blessing of the Lord, our lives will come to nothing.
    [Show full text]
  • Approach Toward Doctrine Church of God, a Worldwide Association
    APPROACH TOWARD DOCTRINE CHURCH OF GOD, A WORLDWIDE ASSOCIATION he subject of doctrine is one of critical importance. Without an established doctrinal foundation everything else we accomplish would be of little value. We must ask ourselves, “If our doctrines are not correct, will anything else matter?” T We must be diligent in preserving the truth. We must not succumb to pressure to compromise the Word of God. Nor should we be unwilling to address the difficult doctrinal questions in an open and honest manner. Our approach must be humble and collaborative, not arrogant and isolated. We must begin with solid principles and proceed to the more difficult questions. We must confirm and re-establish our foundational beliefs that brought all of us together in the first place. In Ephesians 2:19-20 (NKJV) Paul states: “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone.” Our foundation must be grounded in the Word of God, both the Old and New Testaments. Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone of our beliefs and practices. Peter confirms this principle in II Peter 3:1-2: “This second epistle, beloved, I now write to you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:” As a Church we must be well grounded in the truth.
    [Show full text]
  • Psalms 111–112: Big Story, Little Story
    religions Article Psalms 111–112: Big Story, Little Story Jack Collins Old Testament, Covenant Theological Seminary, 12330 Conway Road, St Louis, MO 63141, USA; [email protected] Academic Editors: Katharine J. Dell and Arthur J. Keefer Received: 10 May 2016; Accepted: 11 August 2016; Published: 5 September 2016 Abstract: This study argues that the juxtaposition of Psalms 111–112 offers wisdom for life. Psalm 111, in stressing God’s mighty deeds of redemption for his people, focuses on the “big story” for the whole people; Psalm 112, in stressing “wisdom,” encourages each member of God’s people in a day-to-day walk, a “little story,” that contributes to the big story of the whole people. Keywords: Proverbs; Psalms; Wisdom; story; community 1. Introduction To the larger consideration of how, if at all, Biblical wisdom literature provides resources for living in the contemporary world, I will focus on a small portion of the Psalms, namely Psalms 111–112 [1]. I write as a Christian, with an interest in how careful academic study might inform Christian practice. These two psalms are of quite different types. Psalm 111 celebrates the great works that the Lord has done: “he sent redemption to his people” (111:9). Psalm 112 celebrates the blessedness of the person “who fears the LORD” (112:1): “it is well with” such a person (112:5). Psalm 111 looks at the “big picture,” the deeds that the Lord has done for his “people,” that is, for the corporate entity. Psalm 112 attends primarily to the “smaller picture,” the conduct and effects of particular persons within the people.
    [Show full text]
  • LESSON on PSALMS 107-129 September 18, 2019 Book Psalms
    LESSON ON PSALMS 107-129 September 18, 2019 Book Psalms for Praying An Invitation to Wholeness by Nan C. Merrill History Israel understood its history to be a life of co-existence with God. It was a partnership with God centered on a historical event (the Exodus). At that time, God entered into a binding covenant relationship with the Israelites. In the course of time, God initiated something new when he made David to be their king. In Scripture we see how historical events (stories) showed God’s continual active presence. Most catastrophic event (end of Israel as a nation) was seen as God coming to judge. It was also interpreted as God coming to renew the people even through their suffering. Israelites were the first to discover the meaning of history as the epiphany of God. Israel was to be a partner with God in these events and to respond to his presence and activity. Emphasis was primarily on the actions of God. Old Testament showed that Israel did not keep silent about the mighty acts of God. People recalled the acts in historical writings and addressed God in a very personal way. People raised hymns of praise, boldly asked questions, and complained in the depths of distress. In this covenant relationship, Israel could converse with God. Finest example we have of this conversation with God is the Book of Psalms. It is a condensed account of the whole drama of the history of Israel. We have already noted that it is impossible to put them in their proper historical periods.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14; Psalm 111; Ephesians 5:15-20; John 6:51-58
    Pentecost 12 Proper 15 (B) August 15, 2021 RCL: 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14; Psalm 111; Ephesians 5:15-20; John 6:51-58 1 Kings 2:10-12, 3:3-14 God writes straight with crooked lines, and Solomon certainly was a crooked line! Our reading today presents the idealized Solomon – humble, righteous, and God-fearing. After all, he is concerned foremost about serving God and being a wise ruler. But the context of our reading reveals that Solomon was a complicated man, with a but qualified love for God. The three verses preceding our lection remind us that Solomon brought a foreign wife to Jerusalem and worshipped at “high places” in violation of the Law, and first built a house for himself before building one for God. Subsequent history witnesses Solomon’s oppressive rule resulting in a split between the kingdoms of Judah and Israel. Rather than holding Solomon as a role model, we might interpret this narrative as an invitation to reflect upon God’s call to the imperfect, to the undeserving, and the flawed – in other words, to each of us. This is the mystery and miracle of God’s grace – we can’t do anything to become worthy of it but open our hearts and say yes to this gracious gift. • How have you experienced God’s grace through your flaws and imperfections? Psalm 111 Our psalm takes the form of a beautifully creative acrostic poem – each line begins with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Within this literary architecture are timeless words of wisdom that nurture and nourish us on our journey toward holiness.
    [Show full text]
  • Psalms & Proverbs 31 Day Reading Plan
    Psalms & Proverbs 31 Day Reading Plan This plan is designed to increase your worship and wisdom. You will read through the books of Psalms and Proverbs in one month. Each day you will read five Psalms and one Proverb coordinating with the date of the month. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Psalm 1 Psalm 2 Psalm 3 Psalm 4 Psalm 5 Psalm 6 Psalm 7 Psalm 31 Psalm 32 Psalm 33 Psalm 34 Psalm 35 Psalm 36 Psalm 37 Psalm 61 Psalm 62 Psalm 63 Psalm 64 Psalm 65 Psalm 66 Psalm 67 Psalm 91 Psalm 92 Psalm 93 Psalm 94 Psalm 95 Psalm 96 Psalm 97 Psalm 121 Psalm 122 Psalm 123 Psalm 124 Psalm 125 Psalm 126 Psalm 127 Proverbs 1 Proverbs 2 Proverbs 3 Proverbs 4 Proverbs 5 Proverbs 6 Proverbs 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Psalm 8 Psalm 9 Psalm 10 Psalm 11 Psalm 12 Psalm 13 Psalm 14 Psalm 38 Psalm 39 Psalm 40 Psalm 41 Psalm 42 Psalm 43 Psalm 44 Psalm 68 Psalm 69 Psalm 70 Psalm 71 Psalm 72 Psalm 73 Psalm 74 Psalm 98 Psalm 99 Psalm 100 Psalm 101 Psalm 102 Psalm 103 Psalm 104 Psalm 128 Psalm 129 Psalm 130 Psalm 131 Psalm 132 Psalm 133 Psalm 134 Proverbs 8 Proverbs 9 Proverbs 10 Proverbs 11 Proverbs 12 Proverbs 13 Proverbs 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Psalm 15 Psalm 16 Psalm 17 Psalm 18 Psalm 19 Psalm 20 Psalm 21 Psalm 45 Psalm 46 Psalm 47 Psalm 48 Psalm 49 Psalm 50 Psalm 51 Psalm 75 Psalm 76 Psalm 77 Psalm 78 Psalm 79 Psalm 80 Psalm 81 Psalm 105 Psalm 106 Psalm 107 Psalm 108 Psalm 109 Psalm 110 Psalm 111 Psalm 135 Psalm 136 Psalm 137 Psalm 138 Psalm 139 Psalm 140 Psalm 141 Proverbs 15 Proverbs 16 Proverbs 17 Proverbs 18 Proverbs 19 Proverbs 20 Proverbs 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Psalm 22 Psalm 23 Psalm 24 Psalm 25 Psalm 26 Psalm 27 Psalm 28 Psalm 52 Psalm 53 Psalm 54 Psalm 55 Psalm 56 Psalm 57 Psalm 58 Psalm 82 Psalm 83 Psalm 84 Psalm 85 Psalm 86 Psalm 87 Psalm 88 Psalm 112 Psalm 113 Psalm 114 Psalm 115 Psalm 116 Psalm 117 Psalm 118 Psalm 142 Psalm 143 Psalm 144 Psalm 145 Psalm 146 Psalm 147 Psalm 148 Proverbs 22 Proverbs 23 Proverbs 24 Proverbs 25 Proverbs 26 Proverbs 27 Proverbs 28 29 30 31 Psalm 29 Psalm 30 Psalm 59 Psalm 60 Psalm 89 Psalm 90 Psalm 119 Psalm 120 Psalm 149 Psalm 150 Proverbs 29 Proverbs 30 Proverbs 31.
    [Show full text]
  • The Abcs of Praise by Pastor Jason Van Bemmel Praise the LORD! I Will
    1 The ABCs of Praise by Pastor Jason Van Bemmel Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation. 2 Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them. 3 Full of splendor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever. 4 He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and merciful. 5 He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever. 6 He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the inheritance of the nations. 7 The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy; 8 they are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness. 9 He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name! 10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever! – Psalm 111, ESV Introduction: Alphabet of Praise Wouldn’t it be neat to know what songs Jesus sang in worship, as He was growing up and as a man in ancient Israel? Well, with the psalms were learning this week and next, we have come to two psalms that Jesus almost certainly sang repeatedly in His life. Psalm 111 is an alphabetic acrostic poem. It has 22 lines, not counting the opening “Praise the LORD.” These 22 lines each begin with the letters of the Hebrew alphabet in order.
    [Show full text]
  • Project 119 Bible Reading Plan May 3-June 6, 2020 Proverbs & Psalms
    Project 119 Bible Reading Plan May 3-June 6, 2020 Proverbs & Psalms 105-129 Are you looking for wisdom on how to best live life in these challenging times? Perhaps you’ve been tempted to watch the news constantly, to keep up-to-date with what is happening in the world with COVID-19, how stock markets are responding, and what the future might hold. Maybe you’ve spent the days scrolling through your social media, in an attempt to escape reality or learn new tips for dealing with life in a pandemic. While watching the news and engaging in social media aren’t inherently bad things (in fact, Scripture calls us to be engaged with what is happening in the world, to pray for our leaders and public officials, and social media can provide a great opportunity to check in on loved ones in these odd days), in Proverbs 1:7, we learn that “the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” During these next five weeks, we want to challenge you to devote time every day to seek out wisdom by reading God’s word. We’ll read through the book of Proverbs over these five weeks, along with selected Psalms which could be used for your morning or evening prayers. There are five days of reading each week, giving you two days to reflect on what you’ve read or catch up on any reading you have missed. We hope you’ll join us in this journey through Proverbs as we all seek out the wisdom that God has for us in His word.
    [Show full text]
  • Psalm 111-115 • Chapter Study Psalm 111 This Is a New England Primer
    Psalm 111-115 • Chapter Study Psalm 111 This is a New England Primer. It was used to teach children the alphabet & rudiments of reading. It uses a simple acrostic of each letter as the first in a sentence. And nearly all the sentences are drawn from scripture. That’s what both Psalms 111 & 112 are – acrostic songs. There are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet so there are 22 lines in the original Hebrew, although the English translation has condensed that to only 10 verses. Just as the New England Primer was used to teach children, these Psalms were the way one generation of God’s people passed along to the next their faith. 111 celebrates the power, goodness, and righteousness of God. 112 describes the blessing of the faithful. Both draw from previous psalms & proverbs. 1 Praise the Lord! Literally = Hallelujah! Praise to Yahweh! Haw-lal / Yah Halal - primary meaning = to shine; to flash forth light. In speech = to praise; to boast. Can say “Hallelujah!” as praise, but it’s also a call to praise God specifically, mentioning things He’s done that are laudable. That’s what so many of the Psalms are – specific examples of praising God for Who He is and what He’s done. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, He’s going to put all he has into it. In the assembly of the upright and in the congregation. These aren’t 2 different places. It’s Hebrew poetry to repeat something using different words. The Psalmist simply means he’s going to gather with others to praise God.
    [Show full text]
  • Fr. Lazarus Moore the Septuagint Psalms in English
    THE PSALTER Second printing Revised PRINTED IN INDIA AT THE DIOCESAN PRESS, MADRAS — 1971. (First edition, 1966) (Translated by Archimandrite Lazarus Moore) INDEX OF TITLES Psalm The Two Ways: Tree or Dust .......................................................................................... 1 The Messianic Drama: Warnings to Rulers and Nations ........................................... 2 A Psalm of David; when he fled from His Son Absalom ........................................... 3 An Evening Prayer of Trust in God............................................................................... 4 A Morning Prayer for Guidance .................................................................................... 5 A Cry in Anguish of Body and Soul.............................................................................. 6 God the Just Judge Strong and Patient.......................................................................... 7 The Greatness of God and His Love for Men............................................................... 8 Call to Make God Known to the Nations ..................................................................... 9 An Act of Trust ............................................................................................................... 10 The Safety of the Poor and Needy ............................................................................... 11 My Heart Rejoices in Thy Salvation ............................................................................ 12 Unbelief Leads to Universal
    [Show full text]
  • Genres-Of-The-Psalms.Pdf
    British Bible School – Online Classes: 14th September 2020 – 30th November 2020 THE PSALMS THE GENRES OF THE PSALMS 1. Genre is a word we use to identify certain types or categories of things which have the same characteristics within a wider or more general classification. Books, music, films all have their own genres. Books: Fiction – crime, sci-fi, fantasy, romance; and Non-fiction - history, biography, travel, science. Music – classical, pop, heavy metal, rap, soul. Films – comedy, westerns, period dramas, horror, war, documentary, animation. If we know what the genre is then we have a certain expectation or understanding of what we shall experience when we read the book, listen to the music, or watch the film. Just as we can identify genres in these other areas, so the Bible is a book which contains many different types or genres of literature: e.g. history, letters, law codes, prophecy, apocalyptic, wisdom and poetry. To correctly understand what we are reading we need to identify the genre. All the Psalms are in the genre of poetry. But within the genre of poetry we can identify seven different genres or types of Psalms. The psalms within each group display certain similar characteristics, phrases, and structure. The two primary genres of the Psalms are: i) Hymns ii) Laments Other genres are: iii) Psalms of thanksgiving iv) Psalms of remembrance v) Psalms of confidence vi) Wisdom psalms vii) Kingship or royal psalms This list is taken from Tremper Longman III, How to Read the Psalms, IVP, 1988. Other writers may use slightly different categories. Identifying the genre will help our understanding and interpretation of the text we are studying.
    [Show full text]