Author: Administrador

The word “extreme” seems to be especially popular in the language of our day. One hears of extreme sports, extreme programming, and there is a band with the name “Extreme.”  Whatever the word means in each of these connections, “extreme” refers to something that is not bland or middle-of-the-road, but rather pushing to the limits, … Continue reading “Psalm 138 Commentary by James Limburg”

Psalm 138 is a song of thanksgiving and trust. The text is comprised of three main sections. •Verses 1-3 contain confident proclamations of God’s greatness and God’s faithfulness to the psalmist in the past. •Verses 4-6 describe the implications of God’s faithfulness: systems of power are turned on their heads. •Verses 7-9 acknowledge the reality … Continue reading “Psalm 138 Commentary by Joel LeMon”

On the day I called. . . This psalm of thanksgiving–one of those songs that was composed after its author had its author had come through a rather tight scrape–offers praise to the Lord in response to an experience of deliverance. The poet had experienced what the psalms call “a day of trouble” (see Psalms … Continue reading “Psalm 138:1-8 Commentary by Rolf Jacobson”

Is it realistic to have faith? To some folks, that description might seem far too weak. For faith, they would say, ought to be optimistic. There is indeed something to be said for a confident and hopeful trust in God; however, most of us are wary of a facile optimism that leaves no room for … Continue reading “Psalm 138 Commentary by James K. Mead”

Psalm 138 is classified as an Individual Hymn of Thanksgiving, a psalm in which a single voice praises God for goodness to or on behalf of that individual, usually for deliverance from some trying situation. Hermann Gunkel, one of the great fathers of psalm studies, describes hymns of thanksgiving in this way: “A person is … Continue reading “Psalm 138:1-8 Commentary by Nancy deClaissé-Walford”

Psalm 138 is almost always categorized as a song of thanksgiving. God has answered the psalmist’s prayer (v. 2a); and quite appropriately, the psalmist thanks God enthusiastically (v. 1a), including apparently a visit to the Temple (v. 2). The focus on thanksgiving is reinforced by the three-fold repetition of the Hebrew root that is translated … Continue reading “Psalm 138 Commentary by J. Clinton McCann”

Psalm 133 is a Song of Ascents–a song for going up to a high place. For the Jewish people in ancient times, that high place was the Temple in the city of Jerusalem. One literally “goes up” to Jerusalem. The city crowns the hill and its Temple stood on a “mount.” In this exalted place, … Continue reading “Psalm 133 Commentary by Nancy Koester”

Behold! A psalm that oozes with hopefulness even in the face of perceived impossibilities. The unity this psalm calls for is between Democrats and Republicans. Impossible? It is between Christians and Muslims. Impossible? It is between Palestinians and Israelis. Impossible? Behold! How good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in full harmony. The … Continue reading “Psalm 133 Commentary by Shauna Hannan”

Psalm 133 is fourteenth of the fifteen “Songs of Ascents” in Book Five of the Psalter. These “songs” were most likely sung by pilgrims as they made their way to Jerusalem to celebrate a number of annual religious festivals, including Passover, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Tabernacles. In three short verses, the … Continue reading “Psalm 133 Commentary by Nancy deClaissé-Walford”

When I read the first line of Psalm 131 — “O LORD, my heart is not lifted up” — I immediately think of the sursum corda, the opening dialogue to the Great Thanksgiving, which is used across many Christian traditions as part of the eucharistic liturgy. “Lift up your hearts,” says the celebrant, and the … Continue reading “Psalm 131 Commentary by Cameron B.R. Howard”