Hope. Peace. Joy. Love. Messiah.
The last section includes my own translation of the 89th Psalm.
Tomorrow marks the first Sunday of Advent and many will light a candle to represent Hope. I offer a few tidbits from my study notes on the Psalms in Hebrew, the first language of all the tongues that have raised their voices in hope throughout 3,000 years.
The Hebrew word is Tikvah. Hope in a time of waiting. Hope is waiting for a new day to dawn although this night is dark and long. Biblical hope is more than wishful thinking or dreaming.
Tikvah is expectation, and expectation is not a passive word. It is preparation.
Expectation is a woman awaiting the birth of her child. It is labor, sometimes painful.
Hope is no misty daydream; hope comes with faith which "gives substance to things hoped for" and makes our hope "sure and certain."
Tikvah is living and acting today as if our hope had already come while we wait for the coming.
Tikvah. The Hebrew root refers to a cord or a binding together.
It is Rahab's red cord, the hope of her family's salvation although the walls of Jericho will tumble.
Hope is the rope lowered into a pit to rescue the one who is trapped.
Hope is the lifeline tossed to one who has been overwhelmed in the sea after the ship has floundered and all is lost. All is lost, except the life that reaches for and grabs the lifeline, holding tight,, waiting the promised rescue.
Psalm 9:18 "For the needy shall not always be forgotten, and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever."
Psalm 33:18,22 "Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love... Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.
Psalm 39:7 “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you."
Psalm 42:11 & 43:5 "Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God."
Psalm 62:5 "For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him."
Psalm 71:5,14 "For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth." "But I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more."
Psalm 78:7 "So that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments."
Psalm 119:81 "My soul longs for your salvation; I hope in your word."
Psalm 119:74 "Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your word."
Psalm 119:114 You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.
Psalm 130:5, 7 "I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope..."
"O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption."
Psalm 146:5 "Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God."
Psalm 147:11 "...the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love."
Shalom, Shalom. Peace, perfect peace.
“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, for in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength” (Isaiah 26:3-4).
"Shalom" appears more frequently in The Prophets than in the Psalms. It is a word spoken and promised by Yeshua, Jesus. Paul, the Apostle, defining the unity of Jew and Gentile in Christ/Messiah wrote: “For He is our shalom, the One who made the two into one and broke down the middle wall of separation” (Eph. 2:14).
This idea of Shalom, both one of the names of the LORD and the doing of YWWH, is one of the most significant themes of Hebrew Scripture. "Shalom" and its New Testament Greek counterpart "eirene" and their cognates appear 550 times in the Bible.
In most of our English Bibles, we translate "shalom" as "peace" and it means so much more than an absence of war or conflict. It is not a passive feeling, but an active making. God makes peace; the children of God are called to be peacemakers. The concept of shalom is one of the most significant themes in Hebrew Scripture.
What is peace? What is this "peace that passeth understanding?"
Quoting Dr. Cornelius "Neal" Plantinga's book Not the Way It's Supposed to Be:
"Shalom is …the webbing together of God, humans, and all creation in justice, fulfillment, and delight…Shalom means universal flourishing, wholeness and delight – a rich state of affairs in which natural needs are satisfied and natural gifts fruitfully employed. Shalom, in other words, is the way things ought to be…the full flourishing of human life in all aspects, as God intended it to be."
Where there is Shalom, there is:
Righteousness, Justice, Community, Integrity, Well-being, Wholeness, Connectedness, Salvation...
When God give us peace, we find that God has also given us:
Health, Reconciliation, Contentment, and Abundance.
In the Psalms, the emphasis is on the interdependent relationship of righteousness and peace. In the Psalms, Shalom is frequently associated with Torah/the Word or Law of the LORD.
Advent is a season of expectant waiting.
We await the coming and the coming again of our Messiah, our Sar Shalom, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)
The 72nd Psalm is believed to be Solomon's Coronation hymn and foreshadows the coming of the everlasting kingdom promised to the house of David.
So, we light candles to push back the darkness.
We wait.
We hope.
We renew our faith and continue the work of peace which is God at work within us and through us.
Psalm 4:8 I will lie down in peace and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
Psalm 29:11 The LORD will give strength to His people; The LORD will bless His people with peace.
Psalm 34:14 Keep apart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.
Psalm 37:37 Mark the blameless man, and behold the upright; For the man of peace will have a posterity.
Psalm 72:3, 7 Let the mountains bring peace to the people, And the hills, in righteousness…. In his days may the righteous flourish, And abundance of peace till the moon is no more
Psalm 85:8 I will hear what God the LORD will say; For He will speak peace to His people, to His godly ones; But let them not turn back to folly.
Psalm 85:10 Lovingkindness and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
Psalm 119:165 Those who love Your law have great peace, And nothing causes them to stumble.
Psalm 122:6,7, 8 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May they prosper who love you. May peace be within your walls, And prosperity within your palaces."
For the sake of my brothers and my friends, I will now say, "May peace be within you.
Psalm 125:5 But as for those who turn aside to their crooked ways, The LORD will lead them away with the doers of iniquity. Peace be upon Israel.
Psalm 128:6 Indeed, may you see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel!
Psalm 147:14 He [the LORD} makes peace in your borders; He satisfies you with the finest of wheat. "
Some thoughts for the 3rd Sunday of Advent:
First, Hope-- waiting in expectation.
Second, Peace—the webbing together of God, humans, and all creation in justice, fulfillment, and delight.
While we wait in hope, while we sit in prayer seeking peace and do the work of peacemaking, finally there comes a spark to light the night. That spark is joy.
Happiness is dependent on events but joy is deeper; it grows, and glows, from the inside out.
It is the fruit of wisdom that comes from delight in the Word, the Law, Torah. Joy is relationship, gratitude, and worship.
Light the candle of Joy and
“Let us be weary of the dark voices crying doom;
let us be weary of the fearful voices crying only for their nation;
let us be weary of the disinherited voices crying in hopelessness;
let our voices sing the laughter of God;
let our voices sing good news to the poor;
let our voices sing restitution of the oppressed;
let our voices sing healing of the violated;
let our voices sing the return of the banned;
let our voices be the laughter of God.
Amen.” -- paraphrased from the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, during the 18th century*
Let our voices sing for Joy:
Psalm 4:7 You have put gladness in my heart, more than when their grain and new wine abound.
Psalm 16:11 You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.
Psalm 21:6 For You make him most blessed forever; You make him joyful with gladness in Your presence.
Psalm 30:11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness,
Psalm 43:4 Then I will go to the altar of God, To God my exceeding joy; And upon the lyre I shall praise You, O God, my God.
Psalm 45:7, 15 Psalm 45:7 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; Therefore God, your God has anointed You with the oil of joy… They will be led forth with gladness and rejoicing; They will enter into the King's palace.
Psalm 51:8 Make me to hear joy and gladness, Let the bones which You have broken rejoice.
Psalm 68:3 But let the righteous be glad; let them exult before God; Yes, let them rejoice with gladness.
Psalm 97:11 Light is sown like seed for the righteous, And gladness for the upright in heart.
Psalm 100:2 Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing.
Psalm 106:5 That I may see the prosperity of Your chosen ones, That I may rejoice in the gladness of Your nation, That I may glory with Your inheritance.
Psalm 137:6 May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth If I do not remember you, If I do not exalt Jerusalem Above my highest
Tomorrow night we light a candle for Love.
This Hebrew word for love is Chesed and is used 130 times in Psalms, half the times it is used in all of Hebrew Scripture. What does this word mean?
Chesed is
always and ever loving-kindness, mercy, pity, grace,
always sufficient, pressed down & overflowing loving provision,
always caring, tender, shepherding, compassionate, doing the best thing for the other
always steadfast, never to be shaken, never-coming-to-an- end, without limit
Faithful Love.
Interestingly, “chesed” derives from a primitive Hebrew root “chacad” which evokes the image of bowing one’s head in courtesy to an equal and means to show kindness to another. Thus, God’s chesed originates in Creation: “Let us create humankind in our own image.”
Any instance of God’s chesed is an invitation to relationship, to conversation, to friendship, to a life walked in company with God as Abraham, Moses & David experienced.
That invitation and relationship is affirmed by Jesus, our Immanuel, God-with-Us, in his final discourse where he said “but I have called you friends.” (John 15)
Psalms 5:7 “…as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy…”
Psalms 6 “O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your anger, Nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak; O Lord, heal me, for my bones are troubled. My soul also is greatly troubled; But You, O Lord—how long? Return, O Lord, deliver me! Oh, save me for Your mercies’ sake!
Psalms 13:5-6 “I have trusted in Your mercy; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, Because He has dealt bountifully with me.”
Psalms 17:6-8 “I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God; Incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech. Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand, O You who save those who trust in You From those who rise up against them. Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings…”
Psalms 23:6 “Surely goodness and mercy (chesed) shall follow me all the days of my life.”
Psalms 36:7-9 “How precious is your faithful love, O God! All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.”
Psalms 33:18 “Truly the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his love.”
Psalms 63:1, 3: “O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water… Because your love is better than life, my lips will praise you.”
85:9-12 “Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, That glory may dwell in our land. Mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed. Truth shall spring out of the earth, And righteousness shall look down from heaven. Yes, the Lord will give what is good…”
86:5, 15-16 “Thou, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.” “You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious,
Psalm 107:1-2 “Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so…” I like to use this verse to introduce a listing of all the ways God has loved me and people I know when I offer a prayer of thanksgiving.
Read the 89th Psalm to see the covenant with the House of David.
Read the 103rd Psalm for a catalog of God’s chesed.
Tonight, we light the “Christ” candle and celebrate the most unlikely birth of the King of kings. “Christ,” like the Hebrew “Messiah”, means “Anointed One.” There are many biblical instances of anointing. Oils, specially prepared, fragrant with spices and perfumes,were used for healing, for preparing brides and grooms, for confirming legal contracts, for preparing the dead for burial.
Holy oil (using a special recipe that could be used for no other purpose) was used to consecrate, make sacred, confirm the holiness of everything in the Tent of Presence in the Tabernacle and in the Holy of Holies of the Temple. This anointing of material things set them apart from the ordinary, dedicated them to the service of God, a preparation for and reminder of the Presence of God in the midst of God’s people.
Special oils were used to anoint people. These holy oils were prepared and consecrated to be “poured out” to the last drop over the head, to flow down the face and into the beards and over the bodies, and so confirm that these ordinary flesh and blood people were chosen, dedicated, set apart for the service of God and a reminder of God’s Presence in the midst of God’s people.
Priests were anointed.
Kings were anointed.
Prophets were anointed.
Generation after generation.
In Israel, it was known that the LORD had made a covenant with David that could not be broken. The prophets spoke of an Anointed One, Messiah, who was coming to redeem the nation, to reign as Highest King on David’s throne, to make right all that was wrong. For the sake of God’s people, this Messiah would suffer and through suffering prove God’s faithful love and would be lifted up, victorious. The Light of Israel’s God would become the Light of the world.
For this Messiah, they waited.
For this Messiah, we wait.
There are many Psalms that are Royal or Messianic Psalms: Psalms 2, 8,16, 22, 23, 24,40, 41, 45, 68, 72, 89, 102, 110, 118. There are other psalms that while not strictly messianic are related to the person, life, rejection, suffering, resurrection of Messiah. The messianic Psalms are often quoted and interpreted by New Testament writers. The 110th Psalm is the most frequently quoted Psalm and the Hebrew Scripture most frequently cited by the writers of the New Testament. Jesus himself offered teaching from the 110th Psalm.
Psalm 22:22-31
“I will declare Your name in the midst of the assembly.
All you who honor and worship the LORD, sing praises!
Honor and stand in awe!
The LORD has not spurned nor scorned the affliction of the lowly.
God has seen.
God has heard.
God has acted.
For You, Lord, my praise in the assembly…
The poor will eat and be filled.
Those who seek the LORD, sing praises!
May you be of good cheer forever.
All the far ends of the earth will remember
And return to the LORD.
Let all the families of the nations bow down,
For the LORD is king…
All generations will serve Him
They shall come and declare righteousness to a people yet unborn.
God has done it! It is finished!"
Psalm 24:8-11
"Who is the king of glory?
The LORD, most strong and mighty
The LORD, who is valiant in battle.
Lift up your heads, O gates,
And lift up, eternal portals,
That the king of glory may enter.
Who is he, the king of glory?
LORD Sabaoth, He is the king of glory."
Psalm 45:3-8
"You are loveliest of the sons of man,
Grace flows from your lips.
Therefore, God has blessed you forever.
Gird your sword on your thigh, O warrior,
Your glory and grandeur.
And in your grandeur pass onward,
Mounted on a word of truth, humility, and justice…
Your throne of God is forevermore.
A scepter of right, your kingship’s scepter.
You loved justice and hated evil.
Therefore, did God your God anoint you
With oil of joy over your fellows.
Myrrh and aloes and cassia…"
Psalm 110
"The LORD has sworn.
He will not change heart.
You are priest forever.
By my solemn word, my righteous king*.”
*This less familiar translation is that of Robert Alter in his The Hebrew Bible (2019). Melchizedek means “righteous king.” Melchizedek was the priest and king of Salem. The word “salem” is related to shalom, peace. Jesus is indeed Sar Shalom (Prince of Peace), priest forever and righteous king “in the order of Melchizedek.”
Psalm 89:1-29, 33-37
[This is my own phrasing although in many places I follow other translations, most notably KJV, New English Bible (1970), Amplified Classic, Green’s Interlinear (1985), and Robert Alter’s The Hebrew Bible.]
I will sing of the mercy and loving-kindness of the LORD forever;
with my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness for all generations.
For I have said,
Mercy and loving-kindness shall be built up forever;
Your faithfulness will You establish in the very heavens, unchanging and perpetual.
You have said [These are the words of God]:
“I have made a covenant with My chosen one,
I have sworn to David My servant,
Your Seed I will establish forever,
and I will build up your throne for all generations.”
Selah
Let heaven praise Your wonders, O LORD,
Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy.
For who in the heavens can compare to the LORD?
Who among the mighty can be likened to the Lord,
a God held in awe in the council of the holy ones, and worshipped in awe above?
YHWH Elohim Sabaoth, who is a mighty one like unto You, O Lord, with Your faithfulness round You?
You rule the tides of the sea; when waves arise, You still them.
You have broken Rahab in pieces; with Your mighty arm You have scattered Your enemies.
The heavens are Yours,
the earth is Yours;
the world and all that is in it is Yours;
You created them.
The north and the south, You created them;
Mount Tabor and Mount Hermon shout joy of Your name.
You have a mighty arm; strong is Your hand,
Your right hand is soaring high.
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne;
mercy and loving-kindness and truth go before Your presence.
Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound;
they walk, O LORD, in the light of Your presence!
In Your name they rejoice all the day,
and in Your righteousness they are exalted.
For You are the glory of their strength
and by Your favor our horn is lifted up!
For YHWH is our shield and the Holy One of Israel is our king.
You once spoke in a vision to Your faithful and did say:
“I have gifted a mighty One with the power to help;
I have lifted up one chosen from among the people.
I found David, My servant;
with My holy oil I anointed him,
And my hand shall hold firm with him forever
and my arm will strengthen him.
No enemy shall strike him; no wickedness shall bring him low.
I will beat down his foes before his face and defeat those who hate him.
My faithfulness and mercy and loving-kindness shall be with him,
and in My name shall his horn be lifted up.
I will set the sea in his hand; the rivers in his right hand.
He shall cry to Me,
You are my Father,
my God,
and the Rock of my salvation!
And I will make him My firstborn,
the King of kings of the earth.
Forever My mercy and loving-kindness will keep him
and My covenant with him shall stand fast and be confirmed.
His seed will continue
and his throne endure as the days of heavens…
I will never remove my mercy from him;
my faithfulness will not fail.
I have spoken a covenant and I will not change.
Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness which cannot be violated,
I do not lie to David.
His seed will endure forever
and in My presence David’s throne will last
like the Sun and the Moon in the heavens, a faithful witness. "[Selah.]
