Posts tagged with "Psalm"

U2 "40" – The Absolute BEST Modern Version of a Psalm

Today’s responsorial reading is from Psalm 40, which gives me the great pleasure to embed the absolute best modern version of one of the Psalms, U2’s “40.”  The lyrics are here.  Today’s reading actually doesn’t include most of the verses used for this song, but it does make use of verse 2, and that was enough reason to post this.  Please enjoy.

U2 – “40” (Live)

Related:

Psalm 137 – Rivers of Babylon (Sublime version)

More Music Joel Likes …

Live’s “Heaven” and General Revelation

Regina Spektor’s “Laughing With”

GYJER734SHCU

Psalm 72 – The King Worthy of Homage

I wrote yesterday about how the lectionary obliterated a bit of beautiful imagery.  It doesn’t do a great job with today’s response either, which is the middle-latter portion of Psalm 72.  The focus of this part of the Psalm is upon the king who is worthy of homage and dominion in verses 8-11.

Psalm 72:8-11

8 May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.
9 May his foes bow down before him, and his enemies lick the dust.
10 May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles render him tribute, may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts.
11 May all kings fall down before him, all nations give him service (NRSV).

But, what is it that makes this king worthy of homage?  Why should “kings fall down before him” and “all nations give him service”?  Unfortunately, verse 11 is left out of today’s reading ruining a bit of the connection between 8-11 and 12-14.    At any rate, the answer to these two questions is found in verses 12-14.

Psalm 72:12-14

12 For he delivers the needy when they call, the poor and those who have no helper.
13 He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy.
14 From oppression and violence he redeems their life; and precious is their blood in his sight.

The king is marked off as worthy of homage by his treatment of the poor, the needy, and the weak.  Now, I realize, of course, that I do not live in a kingdom and there is a pretty vast time span between my own time and that of the Bible.  And, I realize that verses 8-11 sound a bit imperialistic.  But, the underlying idea that the worth of a political leader is measured by his treatment of the poor is one, in my opinion, that is worthy of remembering.

Related:

Psalm 96:5 – Word Play

Psalm 98 and Assonance

Psalm 1.4 – A Video Illustration of Chaff

Psalm 1.1 – Translation Comparison

Psalm 72 – Shame on the Lectionary

Psalm 72 is the responsorial for today and the lectionary successfully obliterates the imagery of verses 6 and 7.  Here’s how the lectionary reading looks online.

Psalm 72 in the Lectionary

Responsorial Psalm
72:1-2, 3-4, 7-8
R.  (see 11) Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king’s son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
R.        Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
The mountains shall yield peace for the people,
and the hills justice.
He shall defend the afflicted among the people,
save the children of the poor.
R.        Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
R.        Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

You’ll notice from the numbering that verses 5 and 6 are omitted between verses 4 and 7.  But, this absolutely ruins beautiful imagery between verses 6 and 7.  Notice that justice shall “flower” in the days of the king.  But, why is it flowering?

Psalm 72:6

May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth. (Psa 72:6 NRSV)

“Justice” … or “the righteous” … or “abundance” dependent on your translation is flowers/flourishes if the king is like a refreshing shower that waters the earth.  How can he be like a refreshing shower?  Maybe we go back to verses 1 and 4 … when he has received the gift of right judgment from the Lord (vs. 1) … when he defends the oppressed, delivers the poor and crushes the oppressor.

I usually love having a lectionary to read from, but I think today it obliterates some of the connections and beauty in the imagery.

Related:

Psalm 96:5 – Word Play

Psalm 98 and Assonance

Psalm 1.4 – A Video Illustration of Chaff

Psalm 1.1 – Translation Comparison

Psalm 72:10 – Tarshish Again

Last week I wrote a learner centered blog post on the significance of Jonah fleeing to Tarshish.  And, Tarshish shows up again in today’s responsive reading.  To understand the symbolism of gifts coming from there, try out the “activity” from the first part of the previous post using the maps.  Then, consider the text.

Psalm 72:10

May the kings of Tarshish and the islands bring tribute, the kings of Arabia and Seba offer gifts.

What is the symbolism of gifts coming from Tarshish?  (Full text of Psalm 72)  Feel free to answer in the comments section if you would like…

Related:

Learner-centered Blogging?

1 Samuel 1 – Some Background

Haggai 1.2 -The Historical Context

Psalm 96:5 – Word Play

Today’s responsorial Psalm is Psalm 96.  In verse 5, there is a word play between the words translated “gods of the peoples” and the word translated “idols” (or “worthless idols” or “worthless” dependent on which translation you are reading).  I wanted to see if you can hear it.

Psalm 96:5

For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.

See here for the Hebrew text of Psalm 96.  The phrase in question for “gods of the peoples” are the third and fourth words; the additional word in question is the fifth word with a variety of translations, one of which is “idols.”

Hebrew Audio of Psalm 96:5

Okay, see if you can hear it.  The Hebrew is ‘elohey ha’ammim‘eliyliym

The word play creates a stark contrast between what the peoples believe their gods to be and what they really are.  ‘eliyliym is often translated as “idols,” but the root meaning of the word likely has something to do with being weak, feeble, worthless.  This contrast is taken even further in the second half of the verse where these “gods/idols” are compared to YHWH, namely in the statement that “YHWH has created the heavens/sky.”

Related Posts:

Psalm 98 and Assonance

Psalm 1.4 – A Video Illustration of Chaff

Psalm 1.1 – Translation Comparison

Thoughts on Psalm 136

Today’s response is Psalm 136.  Our Sunday night music group plays a song based on this Psalm with some regularity, but I must admit that this is one of the texts that I struggle with a great deal.  The refrain is “His love endures forever.”  If you have been around the field of Biblical Studies much you know there is some debate over the translation of this word translated love.  Does it mean something like “steadfast love?”  Does it mean “mercy?”  Does it mean something like “covenant loyalty?”  And, the debate goes on.

Personally, I think “covenant loyalty” fits in this context.  If not, then verse ten of the Psalm reads (though this verse is actually not in the section for today’s response):

10 who struck Egypt through their firstborn,
for his steadfast love endures forever;

I never really thought about this text in particular (though I have had similar thoughts about the Passover narrative) as problematic until I was teaching seminarians.  One of my students said that the response for that particular day had been Psalm 136.  And, he found the concept of love difficult to reconcile with some of the acts retold in the Psalm.  And, I agreed.  I don’t really find the translation “love” adequate here.  I think it is at least confusing for English readers.

At any rate, I encouraged my student to read texts like this honestly.  I told him that, at least in my own mind, I am more concerned about people who can read texts like this without a second glance or without sparing a thought for Egyptian children (though, as I believe I have stated before on this blog, I do not believe the Exodus took place exactly as the Bible describes it) than I am about someone who reads it and struggles at least a bit.