Psalm 29, Psalm 30.
Psalm 29 is characterized as a hymn of thanksgiving that was intended for use in worship. In some ways it is difficult to read a hymn of praise to God's glory that was meant for community worship in the context of my home office. This is something that was meant to be shared and proclaimed, not quietly responded to. Even the image is dramatic -- referring to thunder and power and majesty and flames of fire and shaking the wilderness. Hardly the stuff for individual reflection.
Gunkel puts Psalm 30 in the category of individual psalms in the sub-group of personal thanksgiving, also used in worship, perhaps in conjunction with a sacrifice. This psalm has two oft-quoted verses: "weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning" (5b) and "you have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy." ( 11).
Today marks two weeks of blogging: only nine more to go! Some days this is easy, but today I found putting together coherent words more difficult. Thanks to those of you who are still reading this regularly.
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I'm here again - surprize surprize!!!Interesting thought that this Psalm is characterized as a hymn - in my presentation tomorrow I will be talking of someone who sees all psalms as prayers.
ReplyDeleteJoyce (now let's see if I can actually send this message!!!)
The thing that intrigued me as a amateur Egyptologist was the mention of Kadesh in Psalm 29. The famous Battle of Kadesh took place place between the Hittites and Egyptians (Ramsses II) in the 13th c BCE. (The only extrabiblical reference to Israel is in the Merenptah Stela - aka Israel stela -- which shows up in the reign of Merenptah, Ramsses's successor (13th son because Ramsses lived so long.) The reference to Kadesh didn't make sense -- it disappeared with the arrival of the Sea Peoples in the 12th c BCE. The wilderness of Kadesh is mentioned in the wandering of Israel in the the desert. This makes a lot more sense. From Lebanon in the north to Kadesh in the south, God is in control. From the cedars of Lebanon to the wilderness of Kadesh -- another parallelism. This is the only mention of Kadesh in the Psalms.
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