Psalm 118.24 This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be
glad in it.
Carla and I recently attended the annual liturgical institute at
Valparaiso University. The focus this year was the Psalms. It was a
wonderful three days of praying, singing, and hearing the Psalms. Gifted
teachers opened the Psalms a little more completely than we do on a
typical Sunday morning, when the Psalm is just another of four scripture
lessons for the day.
The Psalms are the Bible's songbook. In the original language, there is
poetry and meter just like in our other hymns and songs today. Not all
Psalms are joyful praise…they express the whole range of human experience.
We may be more likely to remember the warm fuzzy Psalms, like Psalm 23
about the loving care of the good shepherd. But other Psalms give voice to
sorrow, anger, complaining, and despair as well as thankfulness and
praise. One teacher shared how some of her college students are reluctant
to study the Psalms according to the class calendar, not wanting words put
in their mouths that may not be what they are feeling today. That leader
helped us to remember that while the Psalms are certainly a perfect
resource for personal prayer, they are given first as the songbook of the
entire people of God. When the Psalm before us is about a feeling we don't
share right now, we should join in support of our neighbor to whom it is
speaking God's love. And more than likely, as we live in that Psalm we
will find it speaking to our souls as well, somewhere under the surface
where we don't want to think we feel that way too.
Many of us have memorized certain parts of Psalms. It was interesting to
be reminded that the context of the whole Psalm around that favorite part
makes the meaning so much bigger. As an example: we often say or hear just
the single verse Psalm 118.24: "This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it." It seems perfect for a beautiful spring
day or a joyful celebration. But go to Psalm 118 to read the entire song.
You'll see that this day to rejoice comes at a time of distress…a time of
being surrounded by enemies…a time of being severely punished, almost to
the point of death. Every day is a day the Lord has made, not only the
beautiful and happy days.
So I return from the liturgical institute on the Psalms with a conviction
to pay more attention to these treasured songs God has given. Maybe I will
start a "Psalm a Day" discipline…want to join me?
Ron Vanatta
Coming up at Salem:
May 22, 9:15 Last day of Sunday School and Volunteer Appreciation
celebration in fellowship hall…including a program by Salem PuppetPraise
May 29, 9:15 Honoring Military Servants in fellowship hall.
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