Chapter: Psalm 86

Hymns

Hymns extol the glory and greatness of God as it is revealed in nature and history, and particularly in Israels’s history. Hymns praise God in general terms for his power and faithfulness as creator of the cosmos, ruler of history, and creator/redeemer of Israel to bring blessing to all the world. Israel’s hymns stress God’s active involvement in the life story of Israel. Hymns typically demonstrate motives for worshipping and praising God. A clear example is Psalm 117, the shortest psalm, just two verses:

¹ O praise the Lord, all you nations; *

praise him, all you peoples.

² For (= Hebrew ki) great is his loving-kindness towards us, *

and the faithfulness of the Lord endures for ever.

Praise the Lord.

Hymns were used for exuberant worship in the temple and the synagogue. The people of God before the Incarnation invite us to celebrate and praise with them in hope of the kingdom of God and his Messiah. Hymns, like all psalms, show Christians how to praise God who has acted in creation, in revelation, and in redemption, and who is acting decisively in establishing his kingdom on earth. They do not ask anything; they simply rejoice in God’s presence.

Examples: Psalms 8, 19:1-6, 33, 66:1-12, 100, 103, 104, 145-150, and others

Songs of Zion

Several psalms express the view that God chose Zion as the earthly center of the divine rule. Mount Zion was the site of the Jerusalem temple. It was the place where God chose to be present in the midst of the people. So it became a sanctuary to which the people made pilgrimages. To the psalmists, Zon was the center of historical meaning that God had disclosed to Israel and, through Israel, to the whole world. The psalmists glorify Zion at that location. Zion came to represent the meeting place of heaven and earth and a foreshadowing of eternal life.

Examples: Psalms 46, 48, 76, 84, 87, 121, 122

86

Inclina, Domine

¹ Bow down your ear, O Lord, and hear me, *

for I am poor and in misery.

² Preserve my life, for I am faithful; *

my God, save your servant who puts his trust in you.

³ Be merciful unto me, O Lord, *

for I will call daily upon you.

⁴ Comfort the soul of your servant, *

for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.

⁵ For you, Lord, are good and gracious, *

and of great mercy to all those who call upon you.

⁶ Give ear, Lord, unto my prayer, *

and attend to the voice of my humble supplications.

⁷ In the time of my trouble I will call upon you, *

for you answer me when I call.

Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord, *

nor are there any deeds like yours.

⁹ All nations that you have made shall come and worship you, O Lord, *

and shall glorify your Name.

¹⁰ For you are great and do wondrous things; *

indeed, you are God alone.

¹¹ Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; *

O knit my heart to you, that I may fear your Name.

¹² I will thank you, O Lord my God, with all my heart, *

and will praise your Name for evermore.

¹³ For great is your mercy toward me; *

you have delivered my life from the nethermost Pit.

¹⁴ O God, the proud have risen up against me, *

and the company of violent men have sought after my life, and have not set you before their eyes.

¹⁵ But you, O Lord God, are full of compassion and mercy, *

long-suffering, plenteous in goodness and truth.

¹⁶ O turn then unto me, and have mercy upon me; *

give your strength unto your servant, and help the son of your handmaid.

¹⁷ Show me some token of your favor, that those who hate me may see it and be ashamed, *

because you, Lord, have been my helper and comforter.