Reflecting on the Psalms: The Faithfulness of God

Our human nature compels us to go down on our knees crying out to God when trouble storms our peaceful lives. This can come in the form of sickness, pain, suffering from failed relationships, misunderstandings and financial woes.

Jul 24, 2021


By Msgr James Gnanapiragasam

Our human nature compels us to go down on our knees crying out to God when trouble storms our peaceful lives. This can come in the form of sickness, pain, suffering from failed relationships, misunderstandings and financial woes. When “the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune” strike the target, humans tend to throw their hands up to heaven imploring the Almighty to intervene. And if our prayers are answered, we say a prayer in gratitude.

But it was not so with the people of the bible. The Israelites went through a tumultuous history. It was not just personal pain and suffering that threatened them, but disaster often struck them as a people, a community, a nation ruled by kings and served by priests and prophets. When they begged God for assistance, they were rescued from their enemies. This was not just followed simply by a prayer of thanksgiving. On the contrary, an outburst of praise and gratitude was formulated to be repeated regularly in their synagogue and temple worship.

Among the vicissitudes of their history, two events are clearly etched in their memory: The Exodus after the slavery in Egypt around the year 1250 BCE and the Babylonian exile in 586 BCE. Witness the joyous outburst of Miriam after the crossing of the Red Sea, Ex 15:19-21. At the end of the desert journey, Moses had to remind the people of what the Lord had done for the people he had chosen lest they forget. “… For Israel was the Lord’s possession, Jacob the one he had chosen. God found him in the wilderness, in fearful, desolate wastes; he surrounded him, he lifted him up, he kept him as the apple of his eye.” (Dt 32:9-10. Everyday Prayer Week 2 Sat Morning prayer page 530). We will see in the following psalm the reason why Yahweh favoured Israel.

Psalms of Praise to Creator and Saviour (2) Ps 135 (136) DO Everyday Prayer Week 4 Mon Evening Prayer page 629.

This is a liturgical hymn of praise with lines sung by a soloist followed by a refrain by the people after each line. The hymn opens with a general acclamation of thanksgiving to the God of gods and the Lord of lords (first stanza Verses 1-3). It is a public declaration of faith in the One almighty and powerful God. To give thanks is to make known to one and all their faith in this One God. The hymn then goes on to articulate three aspects of the people’s faith in this God: He created the universe (Verses 4-9), He delivered them from bondage (Verses 10-20), and He has given them the land while preserving and continuing to nourish them (Verses 21-26).

Why does God look after this people with so much care and deliver them from all adversaries? The reason (and this is important to understand the psalm) is found in the refrain: For his love endures forever. In other words, God’s love is eternal. This word hesed is found many times in the psalms because of its importance. The word belongs to the language of the covenant. It expresses faithfulness and loyalty to the agreements as prescribed in the covenant ritual. Both parties must adhere to the requirements of the covenant. The Bible emphasises the faithfulness of God to the covenant he made with the people through Abraham, Moses and David.

In our translations today, hesed is rendered as love (liturgical translation), mercy, kindness, tenderness, and faithful love. It emphasises a concrete act, and reflects the fact that God acts in concrete ways to deliver his people. I believe Luke in his Gospel has Mary in the Magnificat and Zachary in the Benedictus using this idea with the words ‘mercy’ and ‘loving-kindness’ respectively. Both thank God for his faithfulness to the covenant.

Jesus prayed this psalm, which is called the Great Hallel, after the last supper. He prayed knowing that God is faithful and was with him as he celebrated the Passover and was now going to his own ‘passing over’ through the cross to the resurrection. The Church has adopted over this synagogue practice of antiphons and responsorial singing. As we pray this psalm let us remind ourselves that the faithfulness of God is manifest in the resurrection of Jesus. And therein lies our hope.

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