I have been member of our
local church choirs for over 27 years and I never tire of singing liturgical
music, especially the Psalms.
Psalms can be sung as a hymn or as a responsorial Psalm which is how they were first intended; the verse/chorus is repeatedly sung by the congregation after the choir sings the verses.
The Psalms have several authors; with many attributable to King David. Most people are familiar with The Lord is my Shepherd which is prefaced simply as a Psalm of David. Whether it was actually written by King David is problematic as scholars recognize many of the events described within these Psalms attributed to him happened many centuries later.
What I find interesting about the collections of 150 Psalms is the extent of the full range of emotions and drama that are cleverly interwoven to describe celebrated past events and hopeful aspirations of a community; of a rich theology.
They reflect the poetic nature of the Hebrew Bible which in turn is indicative of the popularity of poetry in Israel and its surrounding regions at the time. According to the Jerusalem Bible’s introduction to the Psalms they fit into three categories, Hymns, Entreaty (for use in public and temple court) and thanksgiving.
This Psalm would fit under the heading of an "Entreaty" and is simply headed: For the Choirmaster ~ of the sons of Korah (which is a reference to the sons of Korah who were musicians at that time of the original composition.)
Psalms can be sung as a hymn or as a responsorial Psalm which is how they were first intended; the verse/chorus is repeatedly sung by the congregation after the choir sings the verses.
The Psalms have several authors; with many attributable to King David. Most people are familiar with The Lord is my Shepherd which is prefaced simply as a Psalm of David. Whether it was actually written by King David is problematic as scholars recognize many of the events described within these Psalms attributed to him happened many centuries later.
What I find interesting about the collections of 150 Psalms is the extent of the full range of emotions and drama that are cleverly interwoven to describe celebrated past events and hopeful aspirations of a community; of a rich theology.
They reflect the poetic nature of the Hebrew Bible which in turn is indicative of the popularity of poetry in Israel and its surrounding regions at the time. According to the Jerusalem Bible’s introduction to the Psalms they fit into three categories, Hymns, Entreaty (for use in public and temple court) and thanksgiving.
This Psalm would fit under the heading of an "Entreaty" and is simply headed: For the Choirmaster ~ of the sons of Korah (which is a reference to the sons of Korah who were musicians at that time of the original composition.)
Selection of texts
My
inner self thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold
the face of God?
Just
as a deer longs for running streams, God, I long for you.
For
thou art God my strength: why hast thou cast me off? and why do I go sorrowful
whilst the enemy afflicteth me?
A
white-tailed deer drinks from the creek; I want to drink God, deep draughts of
God. I’m thirsty for God-alive. I wonder, “Will I ever make it— arrive and
drink in God’s presence?” I’m on a diet of tears— tears for breakfast, tears
for supper. All day long people knock at my door, Pestering, “Where is this God
of yours?”
My
soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face
of God?
As
the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, O God.
I
long for the True God who lives. When can I stand before Him and feel
His comfort?
My
soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before
God?
My
soul thirsted to God, the quick well/(the) well of life (My soul thirsted for
God, the living well/the well of life); when shall I come, and appear before
the face of God?
My
soul thirsted for God, for the living God, When do I enter and see the face of
God?
Extracts from what we sing
As
the deer longs for running streams,
so I long, so I long, so I long for you.
A-thirst my soul for you the God who is my life!
When shall I see, when shall I see,
see the face of God?
As the deer longs for running
streams,so I long, so I long, so I long for you.
A-thirst my soul for you the God who is my life!
When shall I see, when shall I see,
see the face of God?
so I long, so I long, so I long for you.
Continually the foe delights in taunting me:
“Where is God, where is your God?”
Where, O where, are you?
As the deer longs for running streams,
so I long, so I long, so I long for you.
Then I shall go unto the altar of my God.
Praising you, O my joy and gladness,
I shall praise your name.
As the deer longs for running streams,
so I long, so I long, so I long for you.
5 comments:
It's been awhile since I've been to church. I do remember though that the psalms were the verses that were repeated in response to a prayer. When it is first recited by the priest, it's often very sing-songy, with the words going up and down in a rhythmic fashion. They were never very long phrases, but they always carried such emotion.
"My inner self thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God?
Just as a deer longs for running streams, God, I long for you."
Oh to be the Eagle that can look into the face of God.
Hi Nova,
Yes, a lay person can act as the Cantor or it can be a priest to direct a chant. It has always been an important feature of both Jewish and Christian worship and aims to invokes participation as in one voice of unity. The Biblical texts do not tell us a great deal about how psalms were originally performed. However there is little doubt psalm singers were accompanied by musical instruments such as the bass lyre.
There was I imagine, even more emotion then.
Best wishes
Hi Tom,
Indeed – but for a moment, were you not raised up as if on eagle's wings!
Best wishes
Most assuredly!
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