Praise the Beloved!
Praises be to You in earth’s sanctuary;
praises be to You in the mighty firmament!
Praise the mighty works of Love;
Praise the glory and extol the greatness of Love Divine!
Give praise with trumpets; give praise with lute and harp!
Give praise with timbrel and dance; give praise with strings and reed!
Give praise with booming drums; give praise with crashing cymbals!
Let everything that breathes praise the Beloved with their lives!
May it be so now and forever!
Amen.
Nan C. Merrill Psalms for Praying
Reflection:
In the end, we think about the beginning. How did we arrive at this psalm of praise? Where did this joy come from? Perhaps joy’s source is found in the beginning, in Psalm 1, which tells us that our delight is in the Torah, the laws by which we live, the way of life we have chosen (Psalm 1:2). God’s law is Love. And it is this steadfast love that governs the relationship between God and us. God loves and we respond to Love. God chooses again and again to be in loving relationship with us, even when we aren’t paying attention; without us doing anything to earn it or deserve it, God’s love never ends.
But a lot happens between Psalm 1 and Psalm 150. There is praise and lament. Petitions are offered for individuals, community, and all of creation. Needs are met, famine sustained, new growth emerges. Healing and wholeness are found even when all else seemed lost. Kings are anointed, betrayed, loved, and feared. The psalmist cries out against corruption and evil. Enemies do harm and go unpunished, or at least in the way the psalmist would like to see them suffer. Hurt people hurt people. Battles are won and lost. Bones ache, throats are parched, ribs can be counted, wild animals gnash teeth and threaten to tear flesh; suffering seems limitless. And suddenly, steams of living water, lush gardens, abundance comes by Divine order. People love God and each other, but eventually rebel against everything good, and usually come back around in the end. Ordered life is followed by disorientation, and reorientation, or new orientation. And throughout the cycles of life in communion with God, love is always there, even when we think it isn’t possible. Love finds us in the depths of the sea, on the tallest mountain; in life and in death, Love is there.
The psalter ends with unbridled joy. The last five psalms start with an individual’s hymn of praise, the community joins the song, then all of creation sings, and finally there is nothing left but joy. It is the joy of those who lived faithfully to the law of Love even when it was difficult.
And maybe that’s the whole problem. I’m expecting Love to always be difficult. When I think back on the last few years, that’s the only way I’ve known how to participate in the work of Love. Love despite a pandemic. Love that keeps others safe by wearing a mask despite pressure to unmask in false safety. Love works harder to make memories, community events, and worship work in the ways we’ve known in the past. Love has difficult conversations about race, gender, and whatever the newest political outrage is that we are all divided over. Love is lifting the oppressed, protecting the vulnerable, and visiting the sick and imprisoned. Love is doing all of the things… and forgetting to enjoy life.
Joy is lost when love is disoriented. Perhaps the psalms are ordered so that we follow the law of love all the way to praise. The path is not linear. And maybe that’s why there are psalms of praise scattered throughout the psalter to remind us that Love is leading us to joy. Maybe the Divine led us to put five praise psalms in a row at the end just to make sure that if our love got disoriented on the way, we would find our way to joyful praise.
Praise lets go of the to-do list, praise choses to trust that the God of Love will work it out, and praise take a moment for pure joy. It is not one person’s joy, nor is it one community’s joy over another. It is the joy of everything that has breath.
Friends, take a deep breath and find joy in it.
Check out other psalm reflections in the links below or find more of my writing published in Presbyterian Outlook or listen to my experiments in podcasting on the Period Pastor Podcast. Follow me @periodpastor
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. Many churches use the Revised Common Lectionary (RLC) that rotates scripture on a three-year cycle (A, B, and C). Starting in Advent 2019, the 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. When we returned to in person worship, we took the psalm reflections out of the order of worship. I continued to write them for the blog. Advent of 2022 year A. I left church work in July of 2023 but continued the practice of writing psalm reflections. Advent of 2023 year B.
I use the Vanderbilt Divinity Library’s resource for lectionary readings to make text selections.
1st Sunday in Advent Psalm 25, 2nd Sunday in Advent instead of a Psalm the lectionary gives Luke 1:68-79, 3rd Sunday in Advent instead of a Psalm the lectionary gives Isaiah 12:2-6, 4th Sunday in Advent Luke 1:46b-55 or Psalm 80, Christmas Eve or Christmas Day Psalm 96, Psalm 97, Psalm 98, 1st Sunday after Christmas, Psalm 148, New Year’s Day Psalm 8, 2nd Sunday after Christmas Psalm 147, Epiphany Psalm 72, 1st Sunday after Epiphany Psalm 29, 2nd Sunday after Epiphany Psalm 36, 3rd Sunday after Epiphany Psalm 19, 4th Sunday after Epiphany Psalm 71, 5th Sunday after Epiphany Psalm 138, 6th Sunday after Epiphany Psalm 1, 7th Sunday after Epiphany Psalm 37, Transfiguration Sunday (Sunday before Lent) Psalm 99
Lent: Ash Wednesday Psalm 51, 1st Sunday in Lent Psalm 91, 2nd Sunday in Lent Psalm 27, 3rd Sunday in Lent Psalm 63, 4th Sunday in Lent Psalm 32, 5th Sunday in Lent Psalm 126, 6th Sunday in Lent (Palm or Passion Sunday) Psalm 118 or 31
Easter: Easter Psalm 118 or Psalm 114, 2nd Sunday of Easter Psalm 118 or Psalm 150, 3rd Sunday of Easter Psalm 30, 4thSunday of Easter Psalm 23 or 114, 5th Sunday of Easter Psalm 148, 6th Sunday of Easter Psalm 67 or 109, Ascension Psalm 47 or Psalm 93, 7th Sunday of Easter Psalm 97, Day of Pentecost Psalm 104
Season After Pentecost (Ordinary Time): 1st Sunday after Pentecost (Trinity Sunday) Psalm 8, 2nd Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 42 and Psalm 43 or Psalm 22, 3rd Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 77 or Psalm 16, 4th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 30 or Psalm 66, 5th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 82 or Psalm 25, 6th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 52 or Psalm 15, 7thSunday after Pentecost Psalm 85 or Psalm 138, 8th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 107 or Psalm 49, 9th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 50 or Psalm 33, 10th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 80 or Psalm 82, 11th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 71or Psalm 103, 12th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 81 or Psalm 112, 13th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 139 or Psalm 1, 14thSunday after Pentecost Psalm 14 or Psalm 51, 15th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 79 or Psalm 113, 16th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 91 or Psalm 146, 17th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 137 or Psalm 37, 18th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 66 or Psalm 111, 19th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 119 or Psalm 121, 20th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 65 or Psalm 84, 21st Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 119 or Psalm 32, 22nd Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 145 or Psalm 98 or Psalm 17, 23rdSunday after Pentecost Psalm 98, 24th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 46.
Sources and notes:
“Psalm 150 is the fifth in the group of Hallelujah psalms that conclude the Book of Psalms. It is, in fact, the liturgical cry, “Hallelujah,” turned into an entire psalm. Its vigorous and enthusiastic repetition of the call to praise forms an inspiring and instructive conclusion to the sequence of hymns and to the book.” Mays p. 449
“This emphasis on music in the final psalm reminds us of all the introductory notations concerned with musical performance and the fact that even prayers adopted as psalms were set to music. It is a witness to the power of music, its amazing potential for evoking beauty and feeling and for carrying vision beyond the range of words into the realm of imagination. That we sing the praise of God is no accidental custom. Music performed, sung, enacted is so much a dimension of praise the words of praise without music need to be musical in rhythm and elegance if they are to sever as praise. The very poetry of the psalms is musical in quality and has been easily set to music of every age and culture. The name of the LORD set to music or voiced in language that is musical–that is praise.” Mays p. 450
“The final line calls upon everything that has death to praise the LORD. In the Old Testament vocabulary, “breath” (neshama) more than any other team designates the vitality of the physical life of the human being that comes from God.” Mays p. 450
“The correspondence between the repeated verb “praise” (hillel) and the title of the book in Hebrew, “Praises” (tehillim), argues that those who gave the book its name understood the book itself to contain the praises of the LORD offered to all that have breath. The book is the language by which life can say its dependence and obligation and gratitude to the LORD. Hallelujah!” Mays p. 451
“In the last psalm of the final Hallel collection in the Psalter the word “praise” begins each verse and occurs a total of thirteen times, forming a resounding doxological close the the book of Psalms.” W p. 316
“Verse 6’s call to “everything that breathes” to praise the Lord echoes the proclamation made by the singer of Psalm 145 in its closing verse 21 that “My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, and all flesh will bless his holy name forever and ever,” forming an envelope structure around the final doxological words of the Psalter.” W. p. 317
“The conclusion of the Psalter is this extravagant summons to praise, which seeks to mobilize all creation with a spontaneous and unreserved act of adoration, praise, gratitude, and awe. There are no “bases” given; no reason needs to be given. As a poem for the conclusion of the collection, this psalm is a good match for Psalm 1. We have suggested that Psalm 1 is a formal and intentional introduction to the Psalter. It asserts in a decisive way that life under torah is the precondition of all these psalms. In relation to that, Psalm 150 states the outcome of such a life under torah. Torah-keeping does arrive at obedience, yet, obedience is not the goal of torah-keeping. Finally, such a life arrives at unencumbered praise. As Israel (and the world) is obedient to torah, it becomes free for praise, which is its proper vocation, destiny, and purpose. In this light the Psalter intends to lead and nurture people to such a freedom that finds its proper life in happy communion that knows no restraint of convention or propriety. That is the hope for Israel and for all creation.” Brueggemann, The Message of the Psalms p.167
Alter, Robert. 2007. The Book of Psalms: A Translation with Commentary New York: W. W. Norton & Company
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, 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, Walter. Davis Hanskins, Editor. 2022. Our Hearts Wait: Worshiping Through Praise and Lament in the Psalms Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville KY.
Brueggemann, Walter. (2002). Spirituality of the psalms. Augsburg Pub. House.
Brueggemann, Walter. (1984). The Message of the Psalms: A Theological Commentary. Minneapolis: Augsburg.
Chilson, Richard, ed. You Shall Not Want: A Spiritual Journey Based on the Psalms. Ave Maria Press, 2009.
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, 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.
Green, Barbara. 1997. Like a Tree Planted: An Exploration of Psalms and Parables Through Metaphor. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press.
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, James Luther. 1994. Psalms. Louisville, KY: John Knox Press.
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, Patrick D. 1986. Interpreting the Psalms. Philadelphia, PA: Fortress Press.
Morgan, Michael. 2010. The Psalter for Christian Worship Revised Edition. Westminster John Knox Press.
Schlimm, Matthew Richard. 2018. 70 Hebrew Words Every Christian Should Know. Nashville, TN: Abington Press.
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.
Weems, Ann. 1995. Psalm of Lament. Westminster John Knox Pres
OTL Weiser, Artur. 1998. Old Testament Library: Psalms. Translated by Herbert Hartwell. 3rd ed. New York, NY: Manchester University Press.
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