Psalm 95 (A)

Let us pray and let us listen to God’s voice so that we are not separated from Love.

Psalm 95

Reflection:

O come, let us sing to the Most High
Creator of the Cosmos;
let us make a joyful song to the Beloved!
Let us come to the Radiant One with thanksgiving,
with gratitude let us offer our psalms of praise!
For the Beloved is Infinite, the Breathing of all.
The depths of the earth belong to Love;
the height of the mountains, as well.
The sea and all that is in it,
the dry land and air above
were created by Love.
O come, let us bow down and give thanks,
let us be humble before the Blessed One!
For the Beloved is Supreme, and we, blessed to be invited to friendship
as companions along the Way!
O that today we would harken to the Beloved's voice!
Harden not your hearts, as in days of old,
that you be not separated from Love.
Be not like those who hear the Spirit's Voice and heed it not,
thinking to be above the Teacher.
For life is but a breath in the Eternal Dance,
a gift to be reverenced with trust,
an opportunity to grown in spirit and truth,
That in passing into new Life, you enter into the new Jerusalem.
Nan C. Merrill, Psalm 95

Psalm 95 is one of the enthronement psalms that asks the faithful to bow down and wait for a word from the throne. It was written during exile and recalls the wilderness experience after the escape from Egypt and warns us not to be like those who hardened their hearts. This psalm would have been important to those who are outside of the promised land in ancient times and is still important to those who are in exile or wilderness journeys today. The word from the throne is to trust in Love.

What is happening in Israel, Gaza, Palestine, and what many people consider holy land, is horrifying. Psalm 95 reminds us to trust God, even when, and especially when, we are full of doubt and fear. Easier said than done. It is easier to listen to the hate and violence and be filled with wretchedness. Love will lead us to justice, mercy, and peace; and bring us to new life.

May all of the faithful listen to God’s voice so that we are not separated from Love.

I began writing Psalm reflections during Lent of 2020 shortly after we decided to close the church building, work from home, and worship via zoom.  It is a practice I have continued since.  Many churches use the Revised Common Lectionary (RLC) that rotates scripture on a three-year cycle (A, B, and C).  Starting in Advent 2019, Third Church decided to worship with the texts from Year D, which is still not circulated as are years A, B, and C.  Year D was created with the goal of including scriptures that were left out or not used as frequently as others.  While we were using Psalms in year D, most other lectionary followers were using Year A.  In Advent of 2020 we rejoined those who use the lectionary in year B.  Advent of 2021 year C.  Advent of 2022 year A.

I use the Vanderbilt Divinity Library’s resource for lectionary readings to make text selections.

Year A Psalms

1^st Sunday in Advent Psalm 122, 2^nd Sunday in Advent Psalm 72, 3^rd Sunday in Advent Psalm 146, 4^th Sunday in Advent Psalm 80, Christmas Psalm 96, Psalm 97, Psalm 98, 1^st Sunday after Christmas Psalm 148, New Year Psalm 8, Epiphany Psalm 72, 1^st Sunday after Epiphany Psalm 29, 2^nd Sunday after Epiphany Psalm 40, 3^rd Sunday after Epiphany Psalm 27, 4^th Sunday after Epiphany Psalm 15, 5^th Sunday after Epiphany Psalm 112, 6^th Sunday after Epiphany Psalm 119, Transfiguration Sunday Psalm 2 or Psalm 99.

Ash Wednesday Psalm 51, 1^st Sunday in Lent Psalm 32, 2^nd Sunday in Lent Psalm 121, 3^rdSunday in Lent Psalm 95, 4^th Sunday in Lent Psalm 23, 5^th Sunday in Lent Psalm 130, 6^th Sunday in Lent Psalm 118 or Psalm 31.

Holy Week: Monday Psalm 36, Tuesday Psalm 71, Wednesday Psalm 70, Thursday Psalm 116, Friday Psalm 22, Saturday Psalm 31.

Easter Psalm 118 or Psalm 114, 2^nd Sunday of Easter Psalm 16, 3^rd Sunday of Easter Psalm 116, 4^th Sunday of Easter Psalm 23, 5^th Sunday of Easter Psalm 31, 6^th Sunday of Easter Psalm 66, Ascension of the Lord Psalm 47 or Psalm 93, 7^th Sunday of Easter Psalm 68, Pentecost Psalm 104.

1^st Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 8, 2^nd Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 33 or Psalm 50, 3^rd Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 116 or Psalm 100, 4^th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 86 or Psalm 69, 5^thSunday after Pentecost Psalm 13 or Psalm 89, 6^th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 45 or Psalm 145, 7^th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 119 or Psalm 65, 8^th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 139 or Psalm 86, 9^th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 105 or Psalm 119, 10^th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 17 or Psalm 145, 11^th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 105 or Psalm 85, 12^th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 133 or Psalm 67, 13^th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 124 or Psalm 138, 14^thSunday after Pentecost Psalm 105 or Psalm 26, 15^th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 149 or Psalm 119, 16^th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 114 or Psalm 103, 17^th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 105 or Psalm 145, 18^th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 78 or Psalm 25, 19^th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 19 or Psalm 80, 20^th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 106 or Psalm 23, 21^stSunday after Pentecost Psalm 99 or Psalm 96, 22^nd Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 90 or Psalm 1, 23^rd Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 107 or Psalm 43, 24^th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 78 or Psalm 70, 25^th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 123 or Psalm 90, 26^th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 100 or Psalm 95.

Sources and notes:

“The liturgical sequence represents the movement of subjects into the presence of their sovereign, there to bow in submission awaiting a royal declaration from the throne. So the psalm is another that depicts and interprets the reign of the LORD. The theology is clear: The LORD is “the great king” because he is maker and ruler of the universe and maker and shepherd of his people; therefore his people should heed his voice. In its literary structure and in other features, Psalm 95 is similar to Psalms 50 and 81″ Mays p. 305

“The conduct of Israel at Massah-Meribah (Exod. 17:1-7; see Num. 20:1-13) is cited as a waring that such failure is a real possibility for people of the LORD.” Mays p. 306

“Putting God to the test is a self-centered demand for signs and wonders for me and us in the present, as if the signs and wonders of God’s creation and salvation were not enough reason to trust him, and him alone.” Mays p. 307

“The story of Mariah and Massah, related in Exodus 17, is about provision of water. It occurs not long after God delivered the people from the Egyptian army at the reed Sea (Exod 14-15). The people camped at Rephidim but there was no water to drink. They complained against Moses, saying, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?” (Exod 17:3). God instructs Moses to strike the rock at Horeb with his staff, and water comes gushing out (Exod 17:6). The God who tamed the chaotic waters at creation (Gen 1:2) and provided water to the thirsty Israelites in the wilderness continues to provide the essential elements of life to God’s people. The words of Psalm 95:8-11 would have been powerful to the Israelites in exile in Babylon and to members of the postexilic community’ they remain powerful words today to women and men living in various “wildernesses” and exiles”. W p. 28

“The enthronement psalms are the heart of book 4, which, according to the storyline of the Psalter , is sent in the exilic period of the life of ancient Israel but calls on the people to recall the exodus and wilderness wanderings fo their ancestors. The Babylonian exile and the wilderness wanderings were “bookends,” both times when the people of YHWH were outside the land of promise, waiting to return to that land. These were undoubtedly times of great insecurity and questioning for the people.” W p.41

WBC Allen, Leslie C. 1983. Word Biblical Commentary: Psalms 101-150. Vol. 21. Waco, TX: Word Books, Publisher.

Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. 1974. Psalms: The Prayer Book of the Bible. 8th ed. Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Press.

Bourgeault, C. (2006). Chanting the psalms: A practical guide Audio Book. New Seeds.

Brueggemann, Walter. 2007. Praying the Psalms: Engaging Scripture and the Life of the Spirit. 2nd ed. Eugene, OR: Cascade.

Brueggemann Brueggemann, Walter. 2014. From Whom No Secrets Are Hid: Introducing the Psalms. Edited by Brent A. Strawn. 1st ed. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press.

Brueggemann, W. (2002). Spirituality of the psalms. Augsburg Pub. House. 

Chilson, Richard, ed. You Shall Not Want: A Spiritual Journey Based on the Psalms. Ave Maria Press, 2009.

Chittister Chittister, Joan. (2011). Songs of the heart: reflections on the psalms. John Garratt Publishing. 

Cudjoe-Wilkes, G., Wilkes, A. J., & Moss, O. (2022). Psalms for black lives: Reflections for the work of Liberation. Upper Room Books. 

WBC Craigie, Peter C. 1983. Psalms 1-50–Word Biblical Commentary. Vol. 19. Waco, TX: Word Books.

Creach Creach, Jerome Frederick Davis. 1998. Psalms: Interpretation Bible Studies. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press.

DAFLER, J. (2021). PSOBRIETY: A journey of recovery through the psalms. Louisville, KY: WESTMINSTER JOHN KNOX.

W de Claisse-Walford, Nancy L. WISDOM COMMENTARY: Psalms Bks. 4-5. Edited by Barbara E. Reid. Vol. 22. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical, 2020. 

W Hopkins, Denise Dombkowski. WISDOM COMMENTARY: Psalms Bks. 2-3. Edited by Barbara E. Reid. Vol. 21. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical, 2016. 

NIB Keck, Leander E. 2015. The New Interpreters Bible Commentary. Vol. 3. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press.

Lewis, C. S. (2017). Reflections on the Psalms. Harper One, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers. 

Mays Mays, James Luther. 1994. Psalms. Louisville, KY: John Knox Press.

McCann McCann, J. C. (1993). A theological introduction to the book of Psalms: The Psalms as Torah. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press.

McCann, J. C., & Howell, J. C. 2001. Preaching the Psalms. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press.

Merrill, N. C. (2020). Psalms for praying an invitation to wholeness (10th Anniversary Edition ed.). London, England: Bloomsbury Publishing.

Miller Miller, Patrick D. 1986. Interpreting the Psalms. Philadelphia, PA: Fortress Press.

Schlimm Schlimm, Matthew Richard. 2018. 70 Hebrew Words Every Christian Should Know.Nashville, TN: Abington Press.

Spong Spong, M. (Ed.). (2020). The words of her mouth: Psalms for the struggle. Cleveland, OH: The Pilgrim Press.

WBC Tate, Marvin E. 1990. Word Biblical Commentary: Psalms 51-100. Edited by David Allan. Hubbard and Glenn W. Barker. Vol. 20. Waco, TX: Word.

OTL Weiser, Artur. 1998. Old Testament Library: Psalms. Translated by Herbert Hartwell. 3rd ed. New York, NY: Manchester University Press.