This Sunday's Psalm selection that will be read in many churches is Psalm 62:6-14. Because I think we should sing/chant/ read all of the verses of the Psalms, I will present you with the whole thing,
62 Nonne Deo
1 For God alone my soul in silence waits; *
from him comes my salvation.
2 He alone is my rock and my salvation, *
my stronghold, so that I shall not be greatly shaken.
3 How long will you assail me to crush me,
all of you together, *
as if you were a leaning fence, a toppling wall?
4 They seek only to bring me down from my place of honor; *
lies are their chief delight.
5 They bless with their lips, *
but in their hearts they curse.
6 For God alone my soul in silence waits; *
truly, my hope is in him.
7 He alone is my rock and my salvation, *
my stronghold, so that I shall not be shaken.
8 In God is my safety and my honor; *
God is my strong rock and my refuge.
9 Put your trust in him always, O people, *
pour out your hearts before him, for God is our refuge.
10 Those of high degree are but a fleeting breath, *
even those of low estate cannot be trusted.
11 On the scales they are lighter than a breath, *
all of them together.
12 Put no trust in extortion;
in robbery take no empty pride; *
though wealth increase, set not your heart upon it.
13 God has spoken once, twice have I heard it, *
that power belongs to God.
14 Steadfast love is yours, O Lord, *
for you repay everyone according to his deeds.
This Sunday the depracatory verses 3-5 are omitted by the Lectionaty editors. I suspect the goal is to present a sanitized version of the Bible to the simple pewsitters so as to not scare them away from weekly worship. It also makes it a little easier for revisionist preachers to steer the conversation/sermon in the direction they want it.
The Lectionary editors do a real disservice to the Psalm by presenting a version that omits the initial repeat of "For God alone my soul in silence waits" and its different response, "from him comes my salvation." When we see repeated verses in the Bible, we are supposed to pay special attention to them. Alas, this Sunday most folks will miss it.
And most will sit in silence waiting to hear a sermon.
62 Nonne Deo
1 For God alone my soul in silence waits; *
from him comes my salvation.
2 He alone is my rock and my salvation, *
my stronghold, so that I shall not be greatly shaken.
3 How long will you assail me to crush me,
all of you together, *
as if you were a leaning fence, a toppling wall?
4 They seek only to bring me down from my place of honor; *
lies are their chief delight.
5 They bless with their lips, *
but in their hearts they curse.
6 For God alone my soul in silence waits; *
truly, my hope is in him.
7 He alone is my rock and my salvation, *
my stronghold, so that I shall not be shaken.
8 In God is my safety and my honor; *
God is my strong rock and my refuge.
9 Put your trust in him always, O people, *
pour out your hearts before him, for God is our refuge.
10 Those of high degree are but a fleeting breath, *
even those of low estate cannot be trusted.
11 On the scales they are lighter than a breath, *
all of them together.
12 Put no trust in extortion;
in robbery take no empty pride; *
though wealth increase, set not your heart upon it.
13 God has spoken once, twice have I heard it, *
that power belongs to God.
14 Steadfast love is yours, O Lord, *
for you repay everyone according to his deeds.
This Sunday the depracatory verses 3-5 are omitted by the Lectionaty editors. I suspect the goal is to present a sanitized version of the Bible to the simple pewsitters so as to not scare them away from weekly worship. It also makes it a little easier for revisionist preachers to steer the conversation/sermon in the direction they want it.
The Lectionary editors do a real disservice to the Psalm by presenting a version that omits the initial repeat of "For God alone my soul in silence waits" and its different response, "from him comes my salvation." When we see repeated verses in the Bible, we are supposed to pay special attention to them. Alas, this Sunday most folks will miss it.
And most will sit in silence waiting to hear a sermon.
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