PsalmImmersion.com
Adventurous, imaginative songs for the ever-evolving church
Psalm 147: God's Word is Among Us
Read Psalm 147
Open the translation of your choice...
-
Chabad.org (with Rashi commentary)
-
NIV at BlueLetterBible.org (with interlinear)
... and be welcome to the immersion
materials below.
In the stories of the Older Testament and for Jews today, God is very present also.
In the Psalms, the people of Israel praise God and long for God in Jerusalem. God is embodied in the Temple. It’s very much an analog to how Christians consider Jesus Christ the embodiment of God.
A Happy Little Psalm
Psalm 147 was probably written post-exile, though no one knows for sure. It's a joyful song praising the Holy One for compassion, justice, wisdom and strength.
Most of all, it sings of God's presence with creation.
In Advent, Christmas and Epiphany, Christians celebrate God present in Jesus Christ as Emanuel-- "God With Us."
Pic by Riesma Pawestri
Word, yo.
One interesting bit in Psalm 147 is the word word.
Since Psalm 147 shows up in the lectionary around Christmas, let's consider how this song of ancient Israel resonates with the prologue of the gospel of John, written centures later.
In John's community, God's word that came to "dwell among us" is Logos-- the immense idea, presence, and eschatological communique' of the Holy One. In the Christian tradition, this is how Jesus Christ is introduced in the latest of the four gospels written.
In Psalm 147-- written a thousand-ish years earlier, God’s “word” (as it reads in English, verse 15 and 18) is different than Logos.
Here, “word” is ruach. Ruach can be translated wind, breath and spirit of the Holy One. It’s this ruach spirit that in Psalm 147 enacts God’s presence and purpose. See Genesis creation story number one, see Jesus’ baptism, see Day of Pentecost, etc., wherever pneuma and ruach play in our pages.
In both the Psalm and John's gospel, God is celebrated as being unquestionably present in the world.
Pic by Craig Toron
The Thawmeister
Who can send snow, hail and frost and then with a word (a breath) melt it all into a flowing river?
That's be God.
In the world of ancient Israel, there were ideas about how weather worked, and in fact, how different geographical areas were governed by the gods. Across the scope of the Hebrew Bible, theologies are evolving:
Sometimes there are many gods, the best of which is YHWH, the God of Israel. Other moments, there is no God but YHWH-- the rest of them are frauds people are foolish to believe in.
Silly, I know. From "A Year Without Santa Claus,"1976.
In Psalm 121, for example: "I lift my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come from?"
One way to read that is the Psalmist scaning the horizon and knowing that YHWH is present in this particular location, the holy hill. In the Psalmist's imagination would be the traditional stories of other hills being claimed by other gods.
In Psalm 147, the God of Israel claims God's people in a most powerful way (verse 19-20). God's word comes directly to them, and with it a beautiful, solemn covenant to be celebrated.
Singing the Psalm
God's Word is Among Us (Psalm 147)
A Gospel Acclamation for Christmastide
God’s Word is among us
Hallelujah!
©2012 Augsburg Fortress Publishing www.AugsburgFortress.org
Contact: Richard@worldmaking.net
Music Resources
God's Word Is Among Us is on the "Shout For Joy" album. Album songbook available here.
God's Word is Among Us Charts:
-
piano score
-
lead sheet
-
guitar/bass chart
-
jpg of congregational line
-
songleader's notes
God's Word is Among Us
Charts
$10.00
God's Word Is Among Us Accompaniment Pack:
-
all charts above
PLUS:
-
powerpoint & keynote lyric slides
-
original recording
-
instrumental accompaniment track
God's Word is Among Us
Accomp Pack
$12.00
Yachal (Psalm 147)
A songof delight and hope.
Refrain:
Yachal, Yachal We wait and hope Yachal, Yachal We stay
Yachal, Yachal We trust your love
Lai-dai-dai Dai-dai-dai-dai-dai Dai-dai-dai-dai-dai
Verse 1:
Rebuilding from the ruins Gathering the beloved scattered
Lai-dai-dai Dai-dai-dai
Healing all the broken hearts Counting the stars, naming each one
Lai-dai-dai-dai-dai Dai-dai-dai
Lai-dai-dai-dai-dai Dai-dai-dai
Verse 2:
Sustaining all the needy Throwing evil to the ground
Lai-dai-dai Dai-dai-dai
Sending gracious rain to the fields Feeding the bear and the raven when they cry
Lai-dai-dai-dai-dai Dai-dai-dai
Lai-dai-dai-dai-dai Dai-dai-dai
Verse 3:
It’s not the strength of horses Not the speed of the graceful athlete
Lai-dai-dai Dai-dai-dai
It's the life lived in awe. It's the life lived in awe
Lai-dai-dai-dai-dai Dai-dai-dai L
ai-dai-dai-dai-dai Dai-dai-dai
Words and music by Richard Bruxvoort Colligan
©2023 Worldmaking.net (ASCAP) All rights reserved.
Please use only with permission. Licensed via OneLicense.net and CCLI.
Music Resources
Yachal is on the "Hope Wait Stay" album. Album songbook available here.
Yachal Charts:
-
piano score
-
lead sheet
-
guitar/bass chart
-
2 jpgs of congregational lines
-
songleader's notes
Yachal Charts
Only $10.00
Yachal Accompaniment Pack:
-
all charts above
PLUS:
-
original mp3 recording
-
powerpoint lyric slides
-
Two mp3 instrumental accompaniment tracks
Yachal
Accompaniment Pack
$12.00
Music Resources
Praise and Thanks to You is on the "Shout For Joy" album.
Album songbook available here.
Praise and Thanks to You Charts:
-
piano score
-
lead sheet
-
guitar/bass chart
-
jpg of congregational line
-
songleader's notes
Praise and Thanks to You
Charts
$10.00
Praise and Thanks to You Accompaniment Pack:
-
all charts above
PLUS:
-
powerpoint & keynote lyric slides
-
original recording
-
instrumental accompaniment track
Praise and Thanks to You
Accomp Pack
$12.00
Praise and Thanks to You (Psalm 147)
An upbeat song of praise
Refrain
Praise and thanks to you, Holy One
Praise and thanks to you, our God
Praise and thanks to you, Holy One
Praise and thanks to you, our God
Verse 1
For God is rebuilding the holy city,
gathering the outcasts disowned
And God is healing the brokenhearted,
giving us all a home, giving us all a home
Verse 2
For God the creator has named the stars,
raining on the mountain grass
And God’s giving courage to the downtrodden,
calling very one of us back, calling every one of us back
Verse 3
Our God doesn’t value strength, speed and power
when God sends the Word
And God blesses all who trust in the LORD,
waiting on God’s perfect love,
waiting on God’s perfect love
©2012 Augsburg Fortress Publishing
Contact: Richard@worldmaking.net