Prepared for Psalms Group, 4/25/21
In Book 5 of Psalms, the two great sequences of psalms sung at Israel’s three Pilgrim Feasts — Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles — reveal the authentic joy of relying on the LORD in all of life’s circumstances. The Egyptian Hallel (Psalms 113-118) and the Songs of Ascent (Psalms 120-135) echoed on the roads to Jerusalem, in the homes of the faithful, throughout the city of Jerusalem, and in the liturgy of worship in the Temple. “Hallel,” praise the highest God, reverberated for all to hear as Psalm 117, the shortest psalm and shortest chapter in the Bible, summarizes:
Praise Yahweh, all ye nations! Laud him, all ye tribes!
For his hesed is mighty over us, and the truth of Yahweh is eternal!
Praise Yahweh!
(Psalm 117, translated by Win Groseclose in his book The Egyptian Hallel Psalms, who defines “hesed” as God’s covenant faithfulness, his faithful care for his people.)