PSALM 105

 PSALMS

A study of the Eucharistic psalms in the post Pentecost season
Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
30th August 2020

 

PSALM 105

The central belief prior to the coming of Kings, in amongst the loosely organised Israelite tribes was that they were all held together by a common feature - the Covenant. This gave them common cause as the people of Israel so that in times of trouble they could band together against a common enemy. And, like many other peoples they enjoyed coming together for festivals sometimes for the serious activity of renewal of the Covenant followed by (tea and cake) some festal activities. Psalm 105, parts of which are part of our readings for today, shows us some of the remembrances made in the liturgy of the day.

1     O give thanks to the Lord and call upon his name:
tell among the peoples what things he has done.

2     Sing to him O sing praises:
and be telling of all his marvellous works.

3     Exult in his holy name:
and let those that seek the Lord be joyful in heart.

The priests command the heirs of Abraham to pray for God’s presence, to be diligent in their attendance at the feast, and to hear the story of Israel’s beginnings on which their worship is centred and from which their theology has come. Our liturgical greeting (“The Lord be with you”) is an equivalent way in which we gather to be with our Lord and remember his mighty love for us!

4     Seek the Lord and his strength:
O seek his face continually.

5     Call to mind what wonders he has done:
his marvellous acts and the judgments of his mouth,

As told in the cult, “history” is the record of what God has done, every episode being represented as his deliberate act. Our liturgy is made up of many reminders of those gifts of love given by God to us. We keep apace with God’s activities as we read and listen to the scriptures as well.

6     O seed of Abraham his servant:
O children of Jacob his chosen one.

The priest’s account of Israel’s formative history starts with the covenant with Abraham, which is an act of God’s justice. A covenant is not an agreement between two parties but a divine promise which was sworn to by God.

23   Then Israel came into Egypt:
and Jacob dwelt in the land of Ham

24   There the Lord made his people fruitful
too numerous for their enemies,

25   Whose hearts he turned to hate his people

     and to deal deceitfully with his servants.

26   Then he sent Moses his servant:

     and Aaron whom he had chosen.

These verses are part of the reiteration of the Exodus part of the sacred history remembered at the covenant renewal ceremony. We remember the patriarchs Joseph and how he brough the Israelites into Egypt and the great leader Moses who led them out from slavery. Other acts of God such as the plagues, the crossing of the Red Sea, and the feeding in the desert.

45   So that they might keep his statutes:
and faithfully obey his laws
O praise the Lord.

The purpose of God’s historic acts was to create a people obedient to his revealed will. The congregation responds with one word, “Hallelujah” (i.e. Praise the Lord!).

Thank you Fr Graham Alston for his weekly narrative on the appointed psalms for the Holy Eucharist.