From the Organ Bench

Psalm 33
Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous!
Praise befits the upright.
Praise the LORD with the lyre,
Make melody to him with the harp of ten strings!
Sing to him a new song,
Play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.

Psalm 33 is a hymn which describes the Lord as the God of creation and the
Lord of all history. Hymns are songs which are sung in the context of a
worshipping community. Hymns are an identifying mark of people of faith,
gathered in prayer. The prayer of the gathered faithful is characterized by the
elements of praise directed to and expounding the divine. The opening verses of
Psalm 33 are a call to worship the Lord and are addressed to the worshipping
community.
The opening announcements of this particular call to worship not list important
activities happening in the parish, or who is benefiting from the second collection.
The announcement is addressed to those who are forming themselves; shaping
themselves and walking in the Lord’s way. Living in this way yields, naturally, a
response of rejoicing. A righteous person is a rejoicing person. In fact, praise is an
appropriate behavior. It becomes or suits the praying person. Praise befits us.
The psalmist continues the invitation to praise by spelling out the details. It is
time, so to speak, to strike up the band for the Lord. Get out those guitars. Put the
tuning key to the harp. Play skillfully on the strings. There is nothing in this ordo
that describes quiet supportive chords on the organ. We are to sing praise to God
with melody and with gusto. There is nothing plaintive about this sung speech.
Now that we are prepared, tuned up and focused, it is time to sing the opening
hymn recalling the character of our LORD.
Upright is the word of the LORD
All of the LORD’S works are trustworthy.
The LORD loves justice and right;
Of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.

The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;

The LORD frustrates the plans of the peoples.
 The counsel of the LORD stands forever,
The thoughts of the LORD’S heart to all generations.
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
The people whom the LORD has chosen as his heritage!

The LORD looks down from heaven,

And sees all the sons of men;

From where the LORD sits enthroned,

The LORD looks forth on all the inhabitants of the earth,
The Lord who fashions the hearts of them all,
And observes all their deeds.

A king is not saved by his great army;

A warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
A war horse is a vain hope for victory,
Even by its great might, it cannot save.

Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him,

On those who hope in his steadfast love,
That he may deliver their soul from death,
And keep them alive in famine.

Our soul waits for the LORD;

The LORD is our help and our shield.
Yes, our heart is glad in him,
Because we trust in his holy name.

The praise of Psalm 33 closes with a prayer of petition:

Let thy steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us,
Even as we hope in You.

Delma Rouleau
2nd Sunday of Lent
20 March 2011