Psalm 132 is a song reminding the people of the Lord’s great promise to David that his descendants would always rule in Zion. The psalmist is a contemporary of the royal descendents of David or the anointed one is Zerubbabel, the post-exilic descendant of David. Nan Merrill in Praying the Psalms opens this psalm with “Enter into the Silence, into the Heart of Truth; For herein lies the Great Mystery where life is ever unfolding; Herein the Divine Plan is made known, the Plan all are invited to serve.” The psalmist, in Psalm 133 rejoices at the sight of the returning exiles living in and about the Holy City, crowning its mountaintop and spreading down over its slopes like a precious oil or a heaven-sent dew. “Behold how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!” Psalm 134 is a short song of encouragement to the priests and Levites who tend the temple on the evening shift. They respond with blessings to all. Psalm 135 begins and ends with praise of the God of creation and defender of his chosen people. Psalm 136 is a litany that extols the Lord’s greatness in creating the universe, as well has his goodness in bringing Israel to the Promised Land and having pity on the misery of the people who have been in Babylonian exile. In psalm 137 the psalmist recalls how the Jews refused to sing for their captors because they thought joyful songs out of harmony with their mournful remembrance of Zion. Nan opens this psalm with “Plunge into the Ocean of Love; where heart meets Heart, Where sorrows are comforted, and wounds are mended.” Psalm 138 is a prayer of thanksgiving for answered prayer. The psalmist wishes that all the great ones of the earth might join him in his hymn of gratitude for he is confident of the Lord’s continual help. Nan prays these words in psalm 138, “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve my life; You are a very Presence as I face my fears and doubts; Your strength upholds me.”
Psalm 132 is a song reminding the people of the Lord’s great promise to David that his descendants would always rule in Zion. The psalmist is a contemporary of the royal descendents of David or the anointed one is Zerubbabel, the post-exilic descendant of David. Nan Merrill in Praying the Psalms opens this psalm with “Enter into the Silence, into the Heart of Truth; For herein lies the Great Mystery where life is ever unfolding; Herein the Divine Plan is made known, the Plan all are invited to serve.” The psalmist, in Psalm 133 rejoices at the sight of the returning exiles living in and about the Holy City, crowning its mountaintop and spreading down over its slopes like a precious oil or a heaven-sent dew. “Behold how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!” Psalm 134 is a short song of encouragement to the priests and Levites who tend the temple on the evening shift. They respond with blessings to all. Psalm 135 begins and ends with praise of the God of creation and defender of his chosen people. Psalm 136 is a litany that extols the Lord’s greatness in creating the universe, as well has his goodness in bringing Israel to the Promised Land and having pity on the misery of the people who have been in Babylonian exile. In psalm 137 the psalmist recalls how the Jews refused to sing for their captors because they thought joyful songs out of harmony with their mournful remembrance of Zion. Nan opens this psalm with “Plunge into the Ocean of Love; where heart meets Heart, Where sorrows are comforted, and wounds are mended.” Psalm 138 is a prayer of thanksgiving for answered prayer. The psalmist wishes that all the great ones of the earth might join him in his hymn of gratitude for he is confident of the Lord’s continual help. Nan prays these words in psalm 138, “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve my life; You are a very Presence as I face my fears and doubts; Your strength upholds me.”
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