Psalm 136 Church of the Holy Cross July 16, 2009
What is it?
Psalm 136 is a psalm giving thanks to God. It is a “call and response” psalm that involves a leader who commands the people to give thanks and they respond with “for his steadfast love endures forever” (NRSV). The connecting word “for” (same word in Greek as “because” or “since”), indicates that God’s enduring love is behind all of the things proclaimed by the worship leader.
In celebrating gratitude to Yahweh, the Israelites remember God’s works in creation, in history and the benefits.
Read together.
Questions and Observations
In addition to Thanksgiving, what other “liturgical” functions do you think Psalm 136 has? What is it proclaiming, teaching, remembering?
This Psalm reflects the creation story in Genesis 1, as well as other stories in the Old Testament. What are some of the other stories you recognize? Are they all stories of God’s salvation?
What shape is it?
Some Psalms have stanzas, sections or “movements” like a symphony. Where are the movements in this psalm? The NIV (Serendipity Bible Study for Groups 1989) breaks it up as follows: vv 1-3, vv 4-9, vv 10-22, vv 23-25 and v 26. How is your Bible translation similar or different? What do each of the “movements” say?
History of Tradition
Jewish: This psalm has been traditionally used as the prayer just before the Passover meal. Passover, remember, is the sacred meal remembering the Pharaoh’s oppression of the Israelites in Egypt. By eating Passover, according to the instructions given by God to Moses, the Israelites’ first-born sons would survive the scourge of the Angel of Death. Linked to this is the memory of escape from Egypt, in which they begin forming a sense of “national” identity as a tribe. Ancient custom called for everyone in the household, including slaves and hired hands, to be a part of this sacred meal. This would have been a situation for prayer, remembrance, as well as for teaching and proclamation. (Deuteronomy 6 summarizes the necessity of teaching children God’s commandments and, “…be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.” Dt 6:10, NIV)
This Psalm is known in Jewish traditions as “The Great Hallel” (The Great Praise). The heading for this Psalm in the Greek (Septuagint) simply says, “Alleluia.” The Septuagint also uses the Greek word for “confess” instead of the traditional word “eukaristesthe” which we translate as “give thanks.”
Christian: Our sacramental prayers are similar in content and pattern to Psalm 136 (See “Thanksgiving over the Water” baptismal rite BCP p 306 and Holy Eucharist II BCP pp 370, 373). The Episcopalians and Presbyterians share similar prayers which open in adoration and praise, giving thanks for God’s Creation, giving thanks for God’s presence throughout history and giving thanks for the benefits that are evident in Jesus Christ.
Theological Perspectives
German theologian Karl Barth said that God is sovereign, yet chooses to “break into” history. How has God “broken into” your life?
Memory and gratitude are intimately connected in this Psalm. How have memory and gratitude been a part of your faith journey?
Remembrance and gratitude are connected to the sacraments in the Christian traditions, and are also connected to the Jewish Passover. This is a personal question that doesn’t need to be answered…but how do you experience the sacraments? (remember, “Sacrament” means “mystery”)
Coming next week... Psalm 91
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Psalm 139
Here is the first Psalm Bible study I did this summer with the group. I kind of like the format that I eventually developed, with Psalm 46 and 51.
Psalm 139
I Introduction and opening prayer
Bless us O God with your all-pervading Spirit. Free us from our own preoccupations and open us to what you are saying to us today. Compel us to know of your presence in ways we have never noticed before. We give thanks to you for your providence on this journey through life and may we always know that even at journey’s end, there you are still. In the name of your son Jesus, Amen.
II Read responsively.
Leader read vv 1-4, 7-10, 13-16 and 19-22. Group respond with 2-3, 5-6, 11-12, 17-18 and 23-24. (see next page) How did that feel for you?
It appears that this Psalm is structured similarly with stanzas that are “4-2-4…2.” This structure seems to break it up into difference sections of ideas:
God’s all-knowing (vv 1-4, 23-24),
God’s “omnipresence,” (vv 5, 7-10)
God’s “brightness” in the darkest dark (vv 11-12),
God’s creativity and knowledge that is still secret to humans, and possibly divine plan for us (vv 13-16),
God’s multiple perspectives,
Able to seek vengeance, who is worthy of respect from humans (vv 19-22)
Benevolent, or gracious leader (v 24)
What other ways does the Psalmist describe the nature of God?
III Psalms as Music
Psalms were read as part of public worship, and rarely for private/personal use because most people were unable to read. What kind of music do you imagine this Psalm would be used with? Fast? Slow? A lot of percussion? How do you think it should sound to convey the message?
Play CD, “Psalms of David” (by David Gambrell)
IV Theological concepts in this Psalm (in addition to those in section II)
Ordination/Consecration “for special purposes: Verses 13-16 are indicative of where the concept of “predestination” may be found in the Bible. Modern ways of understanding this concept understand that one is “predestined” or “selected to serve” in light of the knowledge that one is imperfect and in need of grace.
God as a craftswoman: Verses 13-16 describe God as a crafter, particularly in crafts commonly done by women in their homes. Spinning and weaving were common in the Middle East home, because of the looms, spools and distaffs found in archeological sites. However, due to the moist conditions of Israel near the West Bank/ Northern Jordan River Valley, few textiles have survived.
Sheol (verse 8): Sheol is a concept discussed much in the Psalms and Prophets. Isaiah refers to Sheol as a place that swallows up the unrighteous in death. Sheol is described as a watery place for the dead in Jonah and is “dusty and dry” in Job. The Hebrews believed that when you died you went to either Sheol or to your ancestors. There is no similar word in other Semitic languages. Some scholars believe it comes from the Hebrew verb, “Sa’al,” meaning, “to ask.” If so, perhaps Sheol has to do with receiving interrogation, or by one’s consultation with the “spirits.”
V Impressions
What did you learn that was new for you?
What are your personal experiences of this Psalm?
Have you ever felt pursued by God?
Psalm 139
Leader: 1 O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord.
All: 5 You hem me in--behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
Leader: 7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
All: 11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," 12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
Leader: 13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, 16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
All: 17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.
Leader: 19 If only you would slay the wicked, O God! Away from me, you bloodthirsty men! 20 They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name. 21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord, and abhor those who rise up against you? 22 I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies.
All: 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 139
I Introduction and opening prayer
Bless us O God with your all-pervading Spirit. Free us from our own preoccupations and open us to what you are saying to us today. Compel us to know of your presence in ways we have never noticed before. We give thanks to you for your providence on this journey through life and may we always know that even at journey’s end, there you are still. In the name of your son Jesus, Amen.
II Read responsively.
Leader read vv 1-4, 7-10, 13-16 and 19-22. Group respond with 2-3, 5-6, 11-12, 17-18 and 23-24. (see next page) How did that feel for you?
It appears that this Psalm is structured similarly with stanzas that are “4-2-4…2.” This structure seems to break it up into difference sections of ideas:
God’s all-knowing (vv 1-4, 23-24),
God’s “omnipresence,” (vv 5, 7-10)
God’s “brightness” in the darkest dark (vv 11-12),
God’s creativity and knowledge that is still secret to humans, and possibly divine plan for us (vv 13-16),
God’s multiple perspectives,
Able to seek vengeance, who is worthy of respect from humans (vv 19-22)
Benevolent, or gracious leader (v 24)
What other ways does the Psalmist describe the nature of God?
III Psalms as Music
Psalms were read as part of public worship, and rarely for private/personal use because most people were unable to read. What kind of music do you imagine this Psalm would be used with? Fast? Slow? A lot of percussion? How do you think it should sound to convey the message?
Play CD, “Psalms of David” (by David Gambrell)
IV Theological concepts in this Psalm (in addition to those in section II)
Ordination/Consecration “for special purposes: Verses 13-16 are indicative of where the concept of “predestination” may be found in the Bible. Modern ways of understanding this concept understand that one is “predestined” or “selected to serve” in light of the knowledge that one is imperfect and in need of grace.
God as a craftswoman: Verses 13-16 describe God as a crafter, particularly in crafts commonly done by women in their homes. Spinning and weaving were common in the Middle East home, because of the looms, spools and distaffs found in archeological sites. However, due to the moist conditions of Israel near the West Bank/ Northern Jordan River Valley, few textiles have survived.
Sheol (verse 8): Sheol is a concept discussed much in the Psalms and Prophets. Isaiah refers to Sheol as a place that swallows up the unrighteous in death. Sheol is described as a watery place for the dead in Jonah and is “dusty and dry” in Job. The Hebrews believed that when you died you went to either Sheol or to your ancestors. There is no similar word in other Semitic languages. Some scholars believe it comes from the Hebrew verb, “Sa’al,” meaning, “to ask.” If so, perhaps Sheol has to do with receiving interrogation, or by one’s consultation with the “spirits.”
V Impressions
What did you learn that was new for you?
What are your personal experiences of this Psalm?
Have you ever felt pursued by God?
Psalm 139
Leader: 1 O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord.
All: 5 You hem me in--behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
Leader: 7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
All: 11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," 12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
Leader: 13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, 16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
All: 17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.
Leader: 19 If only you would slay the wicked, O God! Away from me, you bloodthirsty men! 20 They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name. 21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord, and abhor those who rise up against you? 22 I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies.
All: 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Okay, one more posting Psalm 46 Bible Study
Psalm 46 August 6, 2009 Holy Cross Women’s Bible Study Group
Introduction
Psalm 46 speaks of God’s almighty presence and power, even under the most extreme, crisis-type situations. It might remind us of Paul’s statement in Romans: “Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword?...No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Ro 8:35, 37 NRSV The rest of the chapter is pretty good too.)
What shape is it?
The heading “To Alamoth” is unknown. Early theologians (Jerome and Aquila) believed it was addressed to a “young woman” and thought this psalm was intended for sopranos. The Septuagint (Greek version, ca. 2-3rd century BC) says “hidden things,” as in religious mysteries. This heading also may have referred to the name of a tune. 1 Chronicles 15:20 describe harpists playing “according to Alamoth.”
Se-lah + Stanzas
The words “se-lah” give structure to this psalm, indicating where the refrain is to happen, however it appears the refrain has fallen out of verse 3. The refrain is found at vv 7, 11.
The stanzas address different ideas in each. What ideas do you see represented in each stanza?
What is it? Genre and History of Tradition
Shaking of the earth, a river, YHWH as a warrior
Jewish
Linked with the failure of Assyrian king, Sennacherib, to capture Jerusalem in 701 BC (2 Kgs 18:9-19:36). The King of Judah, Hezekiah, paid Sennacherib with the precious metals from the palace and Temple treasuries, as well as stripped the gold from the Temple entrance, so he wouldn’t destroy the city. This prevented their going into exile, at least until Babylon destroyed them in the year 586. Hezekiah knew Sennacherib was making his way toward Jerusalem (for four years), so he fortified the city walls, and had his workers carve an underground tunnel through rock from inside to outside of the city so that they could get water from the spring of Gihon without having to leave. The water source was also concealed so that Sennacherib couldn’t poison the water.
A river as the life-giving presence of God: Is 33:21, Ez 47, Zech 14:18. There was no actual river in or near Jerusalem, only the spring of Gihon.
Scholars think that verse 8 may have been calling worshippers to celebrate the New Year festival in Jerusalem. Such festivals helped the Israelites situate themselves within the temporal ordering of God’s creation. Jewish New Year was the first day of the seventh month in the Jewish calendar, which may have been the first day of a yet more ancient agricultural calendar. It was a holy day when people were exempt from work.
Christian
Images in this passage such as battles between nations, the life-giving river, earthquakes and others are found in the New Testament: Mark 13 (Mark’s “Little Apocalypse”), Revelation 6:15-17; 22:1-5, and elsewhere.
Theologian Martin Luther wrote the hymn “A Mighty Fortress is our God” inspired by verse 1 of this psalm: “A safe stronghold our God is still…” (see below)
Theological Applications (all of them are up for discussion!)
1. Sovereignty of God (Karl Barth, and others) - God is all-powerful and all-wise, and beneficent towards us. Therefore we may trust in God to always be with us.
2. Eschatology (Biblical references to “the end times”) – The hope that we may one day see a “new heaven and a new earth” renewed by God’s salvation and healing. This hope can help us withstand the crises that happen.
3. Human dependence on God (Friedrich Schliermacher) - Discovering that we are truly dependent on God can lead us to newer and deeper faith.
4. Providence of God - We can trust that God is “looking out for us” and we can find security in God.
A Mighty Fortress is Our God
words by Martin Luther
1. A mighty fortress is our God,
A Bulwark never failing;
Our Helper He amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing;
For still our ancient Foe
Doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and pow'r are great,
And armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.
2. Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side,
The Man of God's own choosing;
Dost ask who that may be:
Christ Jesus it is He;
Lord Sabbaoth His name,
From age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.
3. And though this world with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us
We will not fear for God hath willed,
His truth to triumph through us
The Prince of Darkness grim,
We tremble not for him
His rage we can endure,
For lo his doom is sure
One little word shall fell him
4. That Word above all earthly pow'r,
No thanks to them abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours
Through Him who with us sideth;
Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also;
The body they may kill;
God's truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever!
Public Domain
Sources:
• Barton, John and John Muddiman. The Oxford Bible Commentary. (New York: Oxford University Press, 2001), 130, 380.
• Chanted Psalm 46 The Genevan Resource Center: http://www.genevanpsalter.com/music-a-lyrics/1-individual-psalms/87-psalm-46 Tune composed in 1543, Meter: 9 9. 8 8. 9 9. 8 8, Mode: Mixolydian.
• Guitar version and lyrics to A Mighty Fortress from the “Reformed University Fellowship Hymnbook” at http://igracemusic.com/igracemusic/hymnbook/home.html The RUF is located in Franklin, TN
• Piano version of A Mighty Fortress is from http://www.abcog.org/hymns/4words.htm with Active Bible Church of God (Chicago: Hyde Park, Illinois).
Introduction
Psalm 46 speaks of God’s almighty presence and power, even under the most extreme, crisis-type situations. It might remind us of Paul’s statement in Romans: “Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword?...No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Ro 8:35, 37 NRSV The rest of the chapter is pretty good too.)
What shape is it?
The heading “To Alamoth” is unknown. Early theologians (Jerome and Aquila) believed it was addressed to a “young woman” and thought this psalm was intended for sopranos. The Septuagint (Greek version, ca. 2-3rd century BC) says “hidden things,” as in religious mysteries. This heading also may have referred to the name of a tune. 1 Chronicles 15:20 describe harpists playing “according to Alamoth.”
Se-lah + Stanzas
The words “se-lah” give structure to this psalm, indicating where the refrain is to happen, however it appears the refrain has fallen out of verse 3. The refrain is found at vv 7, 11.
The stanzas address different ideas in each. What ideas do you see represented in each stanza?
What is it? Genre and History of Tradition
Shaking of the earth, a river, YHWH as a warrior
Jewish
Linked with the failure of Assyrian king, Sennacherib, to capture Jerusalem in 701 BC (2 Kgs 18:9-19:36). The King of Judah, Hezekiah, paid Sennacherib with the precious metals from the palace and Temple treasuries, as well as stripped the gold from the Temple entrance, so he wouldn’t destroy the city. This prevented their going into exile, at least until Babylon destroyed them in the year 586. Hezekiah knew Sennacherib was making his way toward Jerusalem (for four years), so he fortified the city walls, and had his workers carve an underground tunnel through rock from inside to outside of the city so that they could get water from the spring of Gihon without having to leave. The water source was also concealed so that Sennacherib couldn’t poison the water.
A river as the life-giving presence of God: Is 33:21, Ez 47, Zech 14:18. There was no actual river in or near Jerusalem, only the spring of Gihon.
Scholars think that verse 8 may have been calling worshippers to celebrate the New Year festival in Jerusalem. Such festivals helped the Israelites situate themselves within the temporal ordering of God’s creation. Jewish New Year was the first day of the seventh month in the Jewish calendar, which may have been the first day of a yet more ancient agricultural calendar. It was a holy day when people were exempt from work.
Christian
Images in this passage such as battles between nations, the life-giving river, earthquakes and others are found in the New Testament: Mark 13 (Mark’s “Little Apocalypse”), Revelation 6:15-17; 22:1-5, and elsewhere.
Theologian Martin Luther wrote the hymn “A Mighty Fortress is our God” inspired by verse 1 of this psalm: “A safe stronghold our God is still…” (see below)
Theological Applications (all of them are up for discussion!)
1. Sovereignty of God (Karl Barth, and others) - God is all-powerful and all-wise, and beneficent towards us. Therefore we may trust in God to always be with us.
2. Eschatology (Biblical references to “the end times”) – The hope that we may one day see a “new heaven and a new earth” renewed by God’s salvation and healing. This hope can help us withstand the crises that happen.
3. Human dependence on God (Friedrich Schliermacher) - Discovering that we are truly dependent on God can lead us to newer and deeper faith.
4. Providence of God - We can trust that God is “looking out for us” and we can find security in God.
A Mighty Fortress is Our God
words by Martin Luther
1. A mighty fortress is our God,
A Bulwark never failing;
Our Helper He amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing;
For still our ancient Foe
Doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and pow'r are great,
And armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.
2. Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side,
The Man of God's own choosing;
Dost ask who that may be:
Christ Jesus it is He;
Lord Sabbaoth His name,
From age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.
3. And though this world with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us
We will not fear for God hath willed,
His truth to triumph through us
The Prince of Darkness grim,
We tremble not for him
His rage we can endure,
For lo his doom is sure
One little word shall fell him
4. That Word above all earthly pow'r,
No thanks to them abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours
Through Him who with us sideth;
Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also;
The body they may kill;
God's truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever!
Public Domain
Sources:
• Barton, John and John Muddiman. The Oxford Bible Commentary. (New York: Oxford University Press, 2001), 130, 380.
• Chanted Psalm 46 The Genevan Resource Center: http://www.genevanpsalter.com/music-a-lyrics/1-individual-psalms/87-psalm-46 Tune composed in 1543, Meter: 9 9. 8 8. 9 9. 8 8, Mode: Mixolydian.
• Guitar version and lyrics to A Mighty Fortress from the “Reformed University Fellowship Hymnbook” at http://igracemusic.com/igracemusic/hymnbook/home.html The RUF is located in Franklin, TN
• Piano version of A Mighty Fortress is from http://www.abcog.org/hymns/4words.htm with Active Bible Church of God (Chicago: Hyde Park, Illinois).
Bible Study last week - Psalm 51
I should start posting the Bible studies I lead twice a month in Edgewood. So, I'll start by posting last week's tonight. Then I'll go backwards over the other ones I wrote myself. I will not post the ones that are abridged versions of http://www.womeninthebible.net/, for obvious reasons. So, here is the one I put together for last week.
Psalm 51 August 20, 2009 Holy Cross Women’s Bible Study Group
Introduction
Psalm 51 has been viewed as a psalm of confession, traditionally attributed to King David after his act of adultery with Bathsheba. Although King David has been hailed as the greatest king in Israel by many, we can also know him as a fallible human being.
What shape is it?
There are debates over whether the heading of this Psalm is original to it, or whether an editor inserted it later after the period of the Babylonian Exile (after 586 BC). If we compared the heading to the rest of this Psalm, the psalm contains no specifics about King David’s predicament that would connect it to his life and acts. However, the heading has been preserved in the earliest-known manuscripts we have. So we can say conservatively that ancient Jews did connect this psalm to David’s adultery.
The Psalm heading in Hebrew, “L-David,” is often translated as “of David” but “L” is a preposition “to/at.” Biblical scholars have wondered if this actually means “after the style of David,” who was certainly one of the great psalmists and probably had a style of his own. The Ugaritic Baal Epic uses a similar phrasing, “L-Baal,” who was a god to many cultures contemporary with the Hebrew people.
Psalm Structure
Verses 1-2 : Appeal for divine forgiveness, cleansing and renewal
Verses 3-5: Confession
Verses 6-7: More appeals for forgiveness
Verse 8: Joyful thanksgiving
Verses 9-12: More appeals for forgiveness
Verses 13-15: Vows
Verses 16-17: Acknowledgement of God’s desire for contrition and not sacrifice
Verses 18-19: Hope to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, at which point God will appreciate sacrifice.
What is it? Genre and History of Tradition
Jewish
King David’s sin: Traditionally this psalm has been linked with the story of David’s guilt over committing adultery with Bathsheba. David then had his men get Bathsheba’s husband (Uriah the Hittite) killed in battle to make it look like an accident. (2 Sam 11:1-27) Nathan confronted David about his guilt.
Yom Kippur/Day of Atonement: This is coming up at the end of September, a few days after Rosh Hashanah/Jewish New Year. Ritual baths (ablution) are practiced by some Jews today as part of their observance of Yom Kippur. Levitical law also called for the Temple priests to take these baths as they prepared to lead the congregations through the sacrifices that atoned for their sins.
Post-Exilic Period: Some have linked this psalm with the period after the Babylonian exile, when some of the Israelites returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple. At that time, they were troubled by the question of whether they would ever be able to worship there again, because it had been desecrated and defiled by foreigners and spilled blood. If so, then worshippers would have viewed this need for purity as a corporate need, as much or more than a personal individual need for cleansing.
The Hebrew word for “to sin” comes from archery, when an archer has “missed the mark.” How does that affect your ideas about sinfulness?
Christian
This Psalm has been viewed as one of the “greatest penitential Psalms of the church.” It has been used in certain Christian liturgies to call people to confession, and to give expression to our need for confession and repentance.
Verse 5 has often been used by Christians as if it is evidence of original sin, or the “sinfulness” or impurity of sexual intercourse. However, ancient Israel considered marriage and childbirth as a sacred “mitzvah” or commandment that one should fulfill. Rather, the psalmist is probably mourning the tendency that humans have to sin.
Most mainline Christians confess their sins every time they gather for worship. John Wesley said that before we take Holy Communion we must confess our sins, and examine ourselves so we receive the full benefit of the sacramental meal. Some individuals today believe that there is no need for regular confession because they feel they are already “right with God.” What do you think?
Theological Applications (all of them are up for discussion!)
Sin and Evil! Sin is often discussed as “separation from God.” Is there such a thing as corporate (eg, congregational) sinfulness, or is it only personal, just between “God and me?” What do you think? Martin Luther said that we can never be completely cleansed, but just “covered” with God’s forgiveness. John Wesley (in his later years) believed that it was possible to become “perfect” in one’s lifetime, through repeated practice of discipleship. Calvin said that humans are “utterly depraved,” similar to St. Augustine, who said that it is not possible for us to not sin. This does not mean they thought we are hopeless, but that we are very much in need of grace. Some contemporary theologians recognize human sinfulness as part of the larger reality that we are caught up in the nature of the world, which is brokenness all around. How do we participate in/are complicit with that “brokenness?”
Forgiveness and Atonement: Atonement is the Old English word for being forgiven by God. If you break it down, it means “At-One-Ment.” When have you experienced “At-One-Ment”? Was it a moment of atonement for you? How did it feel?
Sources:
• Barton, John and John Muddiman. The Oxford Bible Commentary. (New York: Oxford University Press, 2001).
• Also used: Rahlfs-Hahnhart's Septuaginta, my memory, Life in Biblical Israel (Stager/King)
Psalm 51 August 20, 2009 Holy Cross Women’s Bible Study Group
Introduction
Psalm 51 has been viewed as a psalm of confession, traditionally attributed to King David after his act of adultery with Bathsheba. Although King David has been hailed as the greatest king in Israel by many, we can also know him as a fallible human being.
What shape is it?
There are debates over whether the heading of this Psalm is original to it, or whether an editor inserted it later after the period of the Babylonian Exile (after 586 BC). If we compared the heading to the rest of this Psalm, the psalm contains no specifics about King David’s predicament that would connect it to his life and acts. However, the heading has been preserved in the earliest-known manuscripts we have. So we can say conservatively that ancient Jews did connect this psalm to David’s adultery.
The Psalm heading in Hebrew, “L-David,” is often translated as “of David” but “L” is a preposition “to/at.” Biblical scholars have wondered if this actually means “after the style of David,” who was certainly one of the great psalmists and probably had a style of his own. The Ugaritic Baal Epic uses a similar phrasing, “L-Baal,” who was a god to many cultures contemporary with the Hebrew people.
Psalm Structure
Verses 1-2 : Appeal for divine forgiveness, cleansing and renewal
Verses 3-5: Confession
Verses 6-7: More appeals for forgiveness
Verse 8: Joyful thanksgiving
Verses 9-12: More appeals for forgiveness
Verses 13-15: Vows
Verses 16-17: Acknowledgement of God’s desire for contrition and not sacrifice
Verses 18-19: Hope to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, at which point God will appreciate sacrifice.
What is it? Genre and History of Tradition
Jewish
King David’s sin: Traditionally this psalm has been linked with the story of David’s guilt over committing adultery with Bathsheba. David then had his men get Bathsheba’s husband (Uriah the Hittite) killed in battle to make it look like an accident. (2 Sam 11:1-27) Nathan confronted David about his guilt.
Yom Kippur/Day of Atonement: This is coming up at the end of September, a few days after Rosh Hashanah/Jewish New Year. Ritual baths (ablution) are practiced by some Jews today as part of their observance of Yom Kippur. Levitical law also called for the Temple priests to take these baths as they prepared to lead the congregations through the sacrifices that atoned for their sins.
Post-Exilic Period: Some have linked this psalm with the period after the Babylonian exile, when some of the Israelites returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple. At that time, they were troubled by the question of whether they would ever be able to worship there again, because it had been desecrated and defiled by foreigners and spilled blood. If so, then worshippers would have viewed this need for purity as a corporate need, as much or more than a personal individual need for cleansing.
The Hebrew word for “to sin” comes from archery, when an archer has “missed the mark.” How does that affect your ideas about sinfulness?
Christian
This Psalm has been viewed as one of the “greatest penitential Psalms of the church.” It has been used in certain Christian liturgies to call people to confession, and to give expression to our need for confession and repentance.
Verse 5 has often been used by Christians as if it is evidence of original sin, or the “sinfulness” or impurity of sexual intercourse. However, ancient Israel considered marriage and childbirth as a sacred “mitzvah” or commandment that one should fulfill. Rather, the psalmist is probably mourning the tendency that humans have to sin.
Most mainline Christians confess their sins every time they gather for worship. John Wesley said that before we take Holy Communion we must confess our sins, and examine ourselves so we receive the full benefit of the sacramental meal. Some individuals today believe that there is no need for regular confession because they feel they are already “right with God.” What do you think?
Theological Applications (all of them are up for discussion!)
Sin and Evil! Sin is often discussed as “separation from God.” Is there such a thing as corporate (eg, congregational) sinfulness, or is it only personal, just between “God and me?” What do you think? Martin Luther said that we can never be completely cleansed, but just “covered” with God’s forgiveness. John Wesley (in his later years) believed that it was possible to become “perfect” in one’s lifetime, through repeated practice of discipleship. Calvin said that humans are “utterly depraved,” similar to St. Augustine, who said that it is not possible for us to not sin. This does not mean they thought we are hopeless, but that we are very much in need of grace. Some contemporary theologians recognize human sinfulness as part of the larger reality that we are caught up in the nature of the world, which is brokenness all around. How do we participate in/are complicit with that “brokenness?”
Forgiveness and Atonement: Atonement is the Old English word for being forgiven by God. If you break it down, it means “At-One-Ment.” When have you experienced “At-One-Ment”? Was it a moment of atonement for you? How did it feel?
Sources:
• Barton, John and John Muddiman. The Oxford Bible Commentary. (New York: Oxford University Press, 2001).
• Also used: Rahlfs-Hahnhart's Septuaginta, my memory, Life in Biblical Israel (Stager/King)
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
found a praying mantid (and other photos)
Birds nesting on a light at the Italian place on 14 (Gordon's). Also our lettuce! We grew it from seeds.
Recent rain on Merle's house
South Mountain.
Merle (above) with Buddy (the shepherd-looking one) and Smokey (black one). They're definitely having fun.
Storm clouds on the Crest (above).
Misty likes to get in the dryer when I'm not looking (below).
Periwinkle's close-up.
More cool weather pictures, including an April 17th picture of snow! This is why I love New Mexico!
Buddy and I in the snow this past April. I miss snow. (careful what we wish for, right?)
Monday, August 24, 2009
Fish!
Above is a video I took a long time ago of koi at the Dallas Zoo.
Look what I found in an e-mail from ecunet.org:
<*)))))>< ><(((((*>
Christian fish!!!
Thanks for the memos
So proud of my youth group! They led the church in worship yesterday. They read the Scriptures. They wrote "sermonettes" and shared with the congregation. Two of them composed a little prelude for electric guitar and keyboard. They did a "word collage" with Merle at the mixer where he mixed their readings of various Psalms and words about God, then we played it for the Offertory. They ushered, they collected offerings. One of them got drafted to count the offering afterward. One of them lead us in Prayers of the People and he adlibbed the part where we include the prayers that came up just that day. Gosh. I am sure I have forgotten something. Merle and I were so exhausted with the coordinating and directing that we each took a 3 hour nap after church while trying to watch DVDs.
I believe that getting youth involved in worship at an early age is so direly important to their staying connected to God as they get older. No matter what happens in their lives, even if they become Muslims or Catholics or born-again Christians... youth group is to teach them that God is personally involved in their lives and they can have a personal relationship to the sacred. This worship leadership was the first time any of them have done it and when I look at the photo I took of them after the service, they were all smiles! It's a positive challenge to their self-esteem. I know. I had to do that once or twice a year for the four years that I was a youth group member in Burke, Virginia. It's the reason why I am still a Christian. I recently located my youth group leader from back then and she was totally stoked to hear from me. Hope we might become good friends.
There is one young lady in the church who has been attending a youth group meeting at a nearby Baptist church, although she is an Episcopalian. Unfortunately, we really wish she came into our group, but she goes to theirs because she has some friends over there. However, I am sad because her mother told me that some of those "friends" have started bad mouthing her through Myspace.com and texting her calling her horrible names. Some youth group! I have thought about calling her and just offering my listening ear. I don't want to call and say..."Your mom told me about things lately... " but I do think just a call could be good for her self-esteem. She doesn't open up very easily, but then, neither did I at that age. But if I called her and said, "Hi... I have been thinking a lot about you lately and wondered how you are?" Then do a little probing just to see what she brings up.
My professor of New Testament Greek taught me a lot about caring for people. He took the approach that said, "you can catch flies with honey," but he thought more in terms of leading horses. The idea that you can't get a horse to do something it wants to do if you force it... is definitely similar to how we lead our fellow human beings. Paul has talked in Romans about how he evangelizes - that he wants to make his fellow Jews "jealous" of what he has in the Lord. It's not a mean-spirited jealousy either, but a sort that attracts people with the heart, not the brains. Before we can get people to put themselves on the line, to walk the walk of discipleship, we have to make it something that moves them, heart and soul. They nee to WANT to do it and to BELIEVE that it is a good thing to be. People are not horses, but they do have hearts and souls that need to be fed.
I have also been thinking about a brother and his younger sister. The sister recently joined the youth group. They do everything they possibly can do to needle each other to the point of hitting each other in the head and stuff. This is going to be problem for the group if they don't cut it out. They both seem hyperactive and they have also experienced some major issues at home, including her having been molested by another member of their family. And her brother was the one who finally reported it because he found out. However, they act out towards each other with the rest of the group and the group gets disrupted by their mistreatment of each other. I am proud of the brother for havng done the difficult thing in reporting his sister's molestation. But now, I need both of them to grow beyond their ways and learn some new forms of communication.
I also hope for this youth group to form a covenant relationship for the year. I am going to make this public and promote it on our youth group website, in our youth room at the church, and announce in worship sometimes. We need to ritualize it when we finalize it so that we will all remember and respect it. The youth group absolutely must be experienced as a "safe place" for all of them. I want for us to approach it as such and I am thinking of introducing it to the group as a way to make it a "safe space" for them, since I know deep down in everyone's heart, we need/desire such a space, even when our own homes don't always feel that way.
Okay, that's probably enough for now. On a last note, I am thankful to God that Sunday went as well as it did! I am proud of Merle for everything he did, with his musical and recording talents, and I'm kind of proud of myself for all that went into making it a success. While the kids did the hard work of writing, practicing, thinking and playing music, I think Merle and I should be proud that we organized and inspired them as we did. But, in the end, I thank God that my prayers were answered on this one!
This is Amy. Over and out.
I believe that getting youth involved in worship at an early age is so direly important to their staying connected to God as they get older. No matter what happens in their lives, even if they become Muslims or Catholics or born-again Christians... youth group is to teach them that God is personally involved in their lives and they can have a personal relationship to the sacred. This worship leadership was the first time any of them have done it and when I look at the photo I took of them after the service, they were all smiles! It's a positive challenge to their self-esteem. I know. I had to do that once or twice a year for the four years that I was a youth group member in Burke, Virginia. It's the reason why I am still a Christian. I recently located my youth group leader from back then and she was totally stoked to hear from me. Hope we might become good friends.
There is one young lady in the church who has been attending a youth group meeting at a nearby Baptist church, although she is an Episcopalian. Unfortunately, we really wish she came into our group, but she goes to theirs because she has some friends over there. However, I am sad because her mother told me that some of those "friends" have started bad mouthing her through Myspace.com and texting her calling her horrible names. Some youth group! I have thought about calling her and just offering my listening ear. I don't want to call and say..."Your mom told me about things lately... " but I do think just a call could be good for her self-esteem. She doesn't open up very easily, but then, neither did I at that age. But if I called her and said, "Hi... I have been thinking a lot about you lately and wondered how you are?" Then do a little probing just to see what she brings up.
My professor of New Testament Greek taught me a lot about caring for people. He took the approach that said, "you can catch flies with honey," but he thought more in terms of leading horses. The idea that you can't get a horse to do something it wants to do if you force it... is definitely similar to how we lead our fellow human beings. Paul has talked in Romans about how he evangelizes - that he wants to make his fellow Jews "jealous" of what he has in the Lord. It's not a mean-spirited jealousy either, but a sort that attracts people with the heart, not the brains. Before we can get people to put themselves on the line, to walk the walk of discipleship, we have to make it something that moves them, heart and soul. They nee to WANT to do it and to BELIEVE that it is a good thing to be. People are not horses, but they do have hearts and souls that need to be fed.
I have also been thinking about a brother and his younger sister. The sister recently joined the youth group. They do everything they possibly can do to needle each other to the point of hitting each other in the head and stuff. This is going to be problem for the group if they don't cut it out. They both seem hyperactive and they have also experienced some major issues at home, including her having been molested by another member of their family. And her brother was the one who finally reported it because he found out. However, they act out towards each other with the rest of the group and the group gets disrupted by their mistreatment of each other. I am proud of the brother for havng done the difficult thing in reporting his sister's molestation. But now, I need both of them to grow beyond their ways and learn some new forms of communication.
I also hope for this youth group to form a covenant relationship for the year. I am going to make this public and promote it on our youth group website, in our youth room at the church, and announce in worship sometimes. We need to ritualize it when we finalize it so that we will all remember and respect it. The youth group absolutely must be experienced as a "safe place" for all of them. I want for us to approach it as such and I am thinking of introducing it to the group as a way to make it a "safe space" for them, since I know deep down in everyone's heart, we need/desire such a space, even when our own homes don't always feel that way.
Okay, that's probably enough for now. On a last note, I am thankful to God that Sunday went as well as it did! I am proud of Merle for everything he did, with his musical and recording talents, and I'm kind of proud of myself for all that went into making it a success. While the kids did the hard work of writing, practicing, thinking and playing music, I think Merle and I should be proud that we organized and inspired them as we did. But, in the end, I thank God that my prayers were answered on this one!
This is Amy. Over and out.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Post-Rapture Petsitting?
A friend recently forwarded this website to me. http://eternal-earthbound-pets.com/Home_Page.html Is this for real? It seems that some atheists would like to capitalize on those Christians who believe that animals won't be a part of the Rapture. I hope my cats aren't because they only want to be picked up by me. I sort of hope the Rapture is more of a perspective on ancient cosmology and not current science because I hate to think of having to travel all the way into outer space.
Something tells me that the Rapture concept may have been more metaphorical than actual, based on ancient knowledge of "where" heaven "is" in the sky. I don't believe that God is "in the clouds" or at some physical location to which we will be lifted. I think God is in a place that is indescribable in human terms. Hence I think is the reason why the ancients struggled with the right words to describe Resurrection Day. I don't think this is a day that any of us can fully grasp or describe in human language. But when I look at my cats, Misty and Periwinkle, or at Merle's dogs: Roe, Buddy and Smokey, I know that they were created in the image of God too. I don't think humans are the only members of God's good earth who bear the mark of the Holy. Sometimes they even suffer at the hands of humans, and so did Jesus. We misunderstand them most of the time, interpreting their behavior in terms of our human perspective, forgetting that animals also show forth truths beyond our ken. I have sometimes wondered if they are angels, even, because my pets have often reminded me of what is important in life, that working and doing things isn't the end all, be all of living. We get so busy doing things we forget to just BE. Animals teach me that. I have to sometimes stop myself and not do, do, do. I have to just be, be, be.
The "Eternal-Earthbound Pets" company hopes they will make $110 per pet per Christian. But I have a feeling my cats will enter heaven more easily than I!
Jurgen Moltmann gives us an entirely different perspective on the afterlife, which is found in his book, "In the End...The Beginning." There, he challenges those ancient perspectives that said that heaven is "up" and hell is "down." He also challenges "when" and "how," with the perspective that God is outside of our ideas of days, hours, minutes and seconds. We confess that God is actually the Creator and Sustainer of these time periods, so therefore not bound by them. Many of my fellow Christians believe that God cannot be bound by the very things that were created by her, for as it says in Genesis, God set lights in the sky to mark out those periods of time. For these reasons and others, Moltmann invites one to wonder whether we have the wrong idea about what to expect when we die. Rather, he suggests that whe we die, there is no "waiting period" until such a Rapture happens and perhaps instead it's a direct trip to God. If Moltmann is right, then he may have found a way to reconcile the issues between Rapture/waiting for the resurrection and the stories that we hear from people who have had near-death experiences in which they feel like they are headed for God already.
On another note, it has been a busy, busy time. I have been working for a charter school in SW Albuquerque lately through the temp agency, but that ended today. I think they want me to come back next month, on September 25th, but I hope that I find something permanent before then. I do want to keep in touch with them because it is such a neat school. I would like to be considered for chaplaincy work in schools as well as healthcare because I am particularly interested in the chance to work with youth and families, particularly with youth as the focus. I am concerned about teenagers who become labeled as "troublemakers" by their families, when what is needed is a deeper level of listening to the dysfunction in the family system, not so much blaming the kid for everything that he or she does.
I have hope that I might get a job I recently applied for as a chaplain in the oncology department at a hospital here. I hope you might pray that I get it. I really need a regular job for at least a year so I can recover from the crappy financial situation I have had for a while now. I have to do some serious economic recovery over the next year. Well, it's time that I get going. I have to see Merle. He's been helping one of the kids in our youth group by recording a song this kid wrote and the song is pretty good! I am really impressed with this young man and think he will go places.
Sorry it took so long to write. I won't promise to write again soon, but I want to. Peace to you.
Amy
Something tells me that the Rapture concept may have been more metaphorical than actual, based on ancient knowledge of "where" heaven "is" in the sky. I don't believe that God is "in the clouds" or at some physical location to which we will be lifted. I think God is in a place that is indescribable in human terms. Hence I think is the reason why the ancients struggled with the right words to describe Resurrection Day. I don't think this is a day that any of us can fully grasp or describe in human language. But when I look at my cats, Misty and Periwinkle, or at Merle's dogs: Roe, Buddy and Smokey, I know that they were created in the image of God too. I don't think humans are the only members of God's good earth who bear the mark of the Holy. Sometimes they even suffer at the hands of humans, and so did Jesus. We misunderstand them most of the time, interpreting their behavior in terms of our human perspective, forgetting that animals also show forth truths beyond our ken. I have sometimes wondered if they are angels, even, because my pets have often reminded me of what is important in life, that working and doing things isn't the end all, be all of living. We get so busy doing things we forget to just BE. Animals teach me that. I have to sometimes stop myself and not do, do, do. I have to just be, be, be.
The "Eternal-Earthbound Pets" company hopes they will make $110 per pet per Christian. But I have a feeling my cats will enter heaven more easily than I!
Jurgen Moltmann gives us an entirely different perspective on the afterlife, which is found in his book, "In the End...The Beginning." There, he challenges those ancient perspectives that said that heaven is "up" and hell is "down." He also challenges "when" and "how," with the perspective that God is outside of our ideas of days, hours, minutes and seconds. We confess that God is actually the Creator and Sustainer of these time periods, so therefore not bound by them. Many of my fellow Christians believe that God cannot be bound by the very things that were created by her, for as it says in Genesis, God set lights in the sky to mark out those periods of time. For these reasons and others, Moltmann invites one to wonder whether we have the wrong idea about what to expect when we die. Rather, he suggests that whe we die, there is no "waiting period" until such a Rapture happens and perhaps instead it's a direct trip to God. If Moltmann is right, then he may have found a way to reconcile the issues between Rapture/waiting for the resurrection and the stories that we hear from people who have had near-death experiences in which they feel like they are headed for God already.
On another note, it has been a busy, busy time. I have been working for a charter school in SW Albuquerque lately through the temp agency, but that ended today. I think they want me to come back next month, on September 25th, but I hope that I find something permanent before then. I do want to keep in touch with them because it is such a neat school. I would like to be considered for chaplaincy work in schools as well as healthcare because I am particularly interested in the chance to work with youth and families, particularly with youth as the focus. I am concerned about teenagers who become labeled as "troublemakers" by their families, when what is needed is a deeper level of listening to the dysfunction in the family system, not so much blaming the kid for everything that he or she does.
I have hope that I might get a job I recently applied for as a chaplain in the oncology department at a hospital here. I hope you might pray that I get it. I really need a regular job for at least a year so I can recover from the crappy financial situation I have had for a while now. I have to do some serious economic recovery over the next year. Well, it's time that I get going. I have to see Merle. He's been helping one of the kids in our youth group by recording a song this kid wrote and the song is pretty good! I am really impressed with this young man and think he will go places.
Sorry it took so long to write. I won't promise to write again soon, but I want to. Peace to you.
Amy
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