If it were not for You, O Beloved, You who make all things new,
Fear and chaos would reign in every heart; in You will I trust forever.
When doubt threatens to overwhelm and separate me,
when anger makes me blind,
Then You, O Merciful One, are ever-ready to Awaken the holy,
the sacred within me;
Then do your Living Streams of Grace enfold me.
Blessed are You, who are a very Presence to us, a comfort to troubled hearts!
Grant us the strength of eagle wings, the courage to soar to new heights!
Break within us the bonds of fear that we may live with love!
Our guidance comes from You, O Counselor,
Blessed are You, O Giver of Life!
Beloved of my heart!
Nan C. Merrill Psalms for Praying
Reflection:
In the NRSVUE, the enemies are separate from us (and from God who is on our side). The enemies are the people who cause chaos. Who trap and destroy others. Who enslave, oppress, and support systems that harm others. They are not God’s people. They are not like “us”.
Sounds partisan. Sounds like the current state of America. “US and THEM”. But, something changes between verse 1 and verse 8, and the psalm moves from partisan to universal, in other words, there is no more “them”, only “us”. We are in this together.
In Nan Merrill’s Psalms for praying, the enemies are inside all of us. We are all capable of harming others. We are all capable of harming ourselves. The enemies isolate, threaten, and instill crippling fear. The enemy is the idea that we are separate from God and each other. We need to reorient our thinking and our actions. There is no ‘them’. We are not separate. We are connected. This connection has different names, God, spirit, universe, love, etc., but there is something sacred that connects us. We are in this together.
There are no enemies, only neighbors to love.
Wisdom comes from you Beloved. Grant us wisdom and courage to live in peace and follow the ways of Love.
Holy God awake the sacred with each of us and help us to see the sacred in each other. Set us free from bondage. Set us free from binding others. Rid us of fear and hatred and fill us with love and grace.
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
Past reflection links:
Psalm 124 Year B (2023-2024)
Psalm 124 Year B (2020-2021)
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. Advent of 2024 year C. I finished year C early, so I began work on psalms I missed: Psalm 119, Year D and others not in the lectionary. By the end of 2025, I have written a reflection for each psalm.
Advent of 2025 year A.
I use the Vanderbilt Divinity Library’s resource for lectionary readings and the PCUSA planning calendar to make text selections.
Year A Psalms
1st Sunday in Advent Psalm 122, 2nd Sunday in Advent Psalm 72, 3rd Sunday in Advent Psalm 146, 4th Sunday in Advent Psalm 80, Christmas Psalm 96, Psalm 97, Psalm 98, 1st Sunday after Christmas Psalm 148, 2nd Sunday after Christmas Psalm 147, 1st Sunday after Epiphany Psalm 29, 2nd Sunday after Epiphany Psalm 40, 3rd Sunday after Epiphany Psalm 27, 4th Sunday after Epiphany Psalm 15, 5th Sunday after Epiphany Psalm 112, Transfiguration Sunday Psalm 2 or Psalm 99.
1st Sunday in Lent Psalm 32, 2nd Sunday in Lent Psalm 121, 3rdSunday in Lent Psalm 95, 4th Sunday in Lent Psalm 23, 5th Sunday in Lent Psalm 130, 6th Sunday in Lent Psalm 118 or Psalm 31.
Easter Psalm 118 or Psalm 114, 2nd Sunday of Easter Psalm 16 or Psalm 111, 3rd Sunday of Easter Psalm 116 or Psalm 34, 4th Sunday of Easter Psalm 23 or Psalm 100, 5th Sunday of Easter Psalm 31 or Psalm 119: 9-32, 6th Sunday of Easter Psalm 66 or Psalm 115, 7th Sunday of Easter Psalm 68 or Psalm 21, Pentecost Psalm 104.
1st Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 8, 2nd Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 33 or Psalm 50, 3rd Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 116 or Psalm 100, 4th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 86 or Psalm 69, 5th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 13 or Psalm 89, 6th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 45 or Psalm 145, 7th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 119: 105-112 or Psalm 65, 8th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 139 or Psalm 86, 9thSunday after Pentecost Psalm 105 or Psalm 128 or Psalm 119: 129-136, 10th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 17 or Psalm 145, 11th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 105 or Psalm 85, 12th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 133 or Psalm 67, 13th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 124 or Psalm 138, 14th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 105 or Psalm 26, 15th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 149 or Psalm 119, 16th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 114 or Psalm 103, 17th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 105 or Psalm 145, 18thSunday after Pentecost Psalm 78 or Psalm 25, 19th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 19 or Psalm 80, 20thSunday after Pentecost Psalm 106 or Psalm 23, 21st Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 99 or Psalm 96, 22ndSunday after Pentecost Psalm 90 or Psalm 1, 23rd Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 107 or Psalm 43, 24thSunday after Pentecost Psalm 78 or Psalm 70, 25th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 123 or Psalm 90, 26thSunday after Pentecost Psalm 100 or Psalm 95.
Sources and notes:
“They [pilgrims] have learned and here confess that the people of God cannot live merely as “man,” because the human powers around the will engulf them in the history that “man” makes. That is the negative truth the pilgrims know.” Mays p. 125
“Therefore the pilgrims declare: “Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heave and earth.” That is the positive truth they know, the confessional meaning of their choral recollection. IN prayer stye had called on the name of the LORD, and the one whose name they called had helped them.” Mays p. 125
“Psalm 124, the fifth of the Songs of Ascents, answers the cry for mercy voiced by the singers of Psalm 123, who feel overwhelmed by the “contempt” and “scorn” of “those who are at ease” (123:3-4). Thus Psalm 124 may be heard as words of trust and praise in answer to the singers of Psalm 123.” W p. 190
“In verse 2 the attacker is rendered in the NRSV as “enemies,” but it is actually the Hebrew collective noun, recalling the creation story in Genesis 2 in which humanity is formed by God from the ground.” W p. 191
“The translation of the Hebrew word in verse 2 as “enemies” seems, to this commentator, to allow for a certain degree of abstraction of the ones who are threatening to “swallow up alive” the psalm singers. An “enemy” can become a nameless, faceless entity–an “other”. The Hebrew word used here connotes no such idea. The Common English Bible translation renders the word “those people,” conveying a sense of full knowledge of the names and faces of those threatening to “swallow up”. W p 192
“When we confront many of the larger issues facing the world in which we live– income disparity that affects equal access to secure housing and nourishing food, child trafficking and prostitution, inequalities of money and power–the “enemy” is often abstracted, becoming a nameless, faceless “other”. The “enemy” in each case, though, is “those people,” people more interested in their own profit, well-being, and lifestyle than in the good of “all people.” The singers of Psalm 124 have names “those people” as; they are humanity, all who contribute to the vast divine separating those of privilege and those struggling to contribute and survive. Nevertheless, the psalm singers accept and celebrate God’s help in escaping the rain waters and snares that threaten them. Unless we, like them, can find it within ourselves to name “those people” and perhaps recognize ourselves in “those people,” we will not be able to fully enlist and accept the “help” of God in finding a solution for these troubling issues in our world today.” W pp 192-193
“The conclusion in verse 8 sounds like a serene verdict that tis based on the preceding particulars. The source of the theological affirmation is interesting. It ends with a strong affirmation of Yahweh’s powerful sovereignty over all he has made, heaven and earth, waters and snares. Nothing is in doubt at this point in the psalm. But the same discussion begins at a very different point in verse 1 with the passionate, partisan claim that Yahweh is for Israel. The Psalm thus does from partisan claim to universal affirmation. In our pattern of presentation, the psalm reflects a move from the anxiety of disorientation to the stability and confidence of the new orientation. The psalm is a move from an anxious specificity to a confident generalization. Israel’s new life, free from threat, is utterly focused on this God who will never hand us over.” Brueggemann, The Message of the Psalms pp. 139-140
“This is a collective thanksgiving psalm, though some of the language is drawn from the traditional formulations of individual thanksgiving psalms. The Hebrew, with its abundant use of incremental repetition, has a strong rhythmic character that would have lent itself to singing or chanting.” Alter p. 443
“This condoling line is quite close to Psalm 121:2, and in general some exchange of language is noticeable among the various songs of ascent. The imposition of “the name of the LORD” between God and Israel as a kind of mediation is a development that become progressively pronounced in the Second Temple period.” Alter p. 443
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 and Wilkes 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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