Psalm 137 is different; it reflects on remembered history. While the tragic events of the murder of Jewish and Babylonian babies, and the joy of their murderers, may not be explicitly mentioned in the Bible, it seems highly likely that these events are remembered by the returnees. The enduring power of memory, even of distressing events, serves as a guiding light of hope for the future.
Tag: Lament
There is none who does good — Psalms 14 & 53
Psalms of David Psalms in Book 1 (Psalms 1 to 41) are mostly personal songs, so I will be looking at how they apply to us personally. Social and communal aspects of life and work do not come in until the later books of psalms. Two psalms are mostly the same with three differences which …
Continue reading There is none who does good — Psalms 14 & 53
Flattery may harm us as much as lies — Psalm 140
Psalms of David We are back in lament teritory. These last two years of Covid-19 restrictions, if you include the period of aproaching storm before it got here, has been a time where nearly everyone has been lamenting their lack of freedom, many having lost families and friends, knowing people with long covid, or having …
Continue reading Flattery may harm us as much as lies — Psalm 140
We have done nothing wrong — Psalm 44
Psalms of the sons of Korah Lament is vital Another lamenting psalm. Lament is vital, it helps the people of God to navigate pain and suffering, it is not meant to brag anyone down and make them miserable, but a plea to God to lift them out of their trouble. In this way it is …
Let them know that you are the Most High over all the earth. — Psalm 83:18
Psalm 83 — Psalms of Asaph This is the last of Asaph's psalms, and it follows the same format as the previous one. It remembers God's protection in the past and like all prophesy calls for the faithfulness of God's people by at the same time pouring the people's laments and asking the people to …
Continue reading Let them know that you are the Most High over all the earth. — Psalm 83:18
Will you be angry for ever? — Psalm 79:5
Psalm 79 — Psalms of Asaph This psalm, attributed to Asaph is clearly not by the worship leader from the reigns of Kings David and Solomon, the events are too late. Unlike previous psalms with Asaph's name this does mentioned the Temple and Jerusalem in ruins. The destruction of the Temple when Judah was taking …
Bring out the rawness — Psalm 121
All that I relied on is gone Everybody needs hope, when hope is gone things can look very bleak. In these early days of the coronavirus pandemic when science has not yet come up with a cure or vaccine, it can be hard to hope. Before we can start to hope in something else we …
Lamentation is a gift from God
The gift of lament Holy Week and Creation: a comparison God's seventh love song for his creation 40 Blogs of Lent: Day 40 The first chapter of the Book of Genesis is theology, but not theology as we know it. It is not the theology of learned people using the academic language for academic people, …
Making an ass of myself 