PSALM 105: 1-6; 37-45

 

Psalm 105:1-6; 37-45 – THE SONG OF THE DIVINE COVENANT

20th September 2020,

16th Sunday after Pentecost.

 

Do not be put off by the way this poem seems to be like the beginning of our worship when the priest greets us with: “The Lord be with you,” and we answer: “And also with you.” It is one of the psalms used in a liturgy of covenant renewal. This we know because records of the Qumran community have a liturgy of covenant renewal. When you see Qumran think of the Dead Sea scrolls and that little community of Jews who, at the time of Jesus, were trying to live a life of scrupulous fidelity to the laws and traditions of Judaism. They stored their writings in the caves that surrounded the Dead Sea.

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 be joyful in heart

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,

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

The condition of praise that dominates this introductory piece is a focus on God – it is He who brought them together as a family under Abraham; and then when Joseph went into Egypt where they became slaves to the imperial building activities of the Pharaoh. But God in his righteousness chose to bring them out; this was all God’s work!

Then they continue with enumerating the events of the Exodus …

37    He brought Israel out with silver and with gold:
and not one among their tribes was seen to stumble.

38    Egypt was glad at their going:
for dread of Israel had fallen upon them.

There is a lovely story that can be found in the book of Exodus that before the Hebrews got together with their families for the Passover meal they went to their Egyptian neighbours and asked for their jewellery and gold which is surprising as they had endured the ten Plagues (sanctions). Such was the changed heart of the Egyptians that they gave generously. In the light of the plagues they would be glad ‘at their going’.

39    He spread out a cloud for a covering:
and fire to lighten the night.

Cecil B. De Mille has not been outdone in even the most recent of movies about the Exodus with the cloud between the Hebrews and the Egyptians during the day and fire at night that kept them apart until the tides were right.

40    The people asked, and he brought them quails:
and satisfied them with the bread from heaven.

41    He opened a rock so that the waters gushed:
and ran in the parched land like a river.

It is recorded three times that the Hebrews grumbled against Moses because they could see their provisions, which they had brought with them, were running out. They wanted bread and God sent them ‘manna’! They wanted meat and God sent them flocks of quail, and even when they were really running out of water God led Moses to strike a rock and water gushed out

42    For he had remembered his holy word:
that he gave to Abraham his servant.

43    So he led out his people with rejoicing:
his chosen ones with shouts of joy.

44    He gave them the land of the nations:
and they took possession of the fruit of other men's toil,

Not everything that happened to the Hebrews as they journeyed to the Promised Land is recorded in this poem. They have been left out so that people will come again to another festival where the story will be expanded. We have a picture of a people travelling with a happy expectation of having promises fulfilled, so they ‘shout with joy’.

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 respond with one word, ‘Hallelujah’ (Praise the Lord!).

Thank you Fr Graham Alston for your weekly commentary on the appointed psalms