READING THE BOOK OF PSALMS
PART LXXIV
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Psalms 124 and 129
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Let Israel now say,
we read in Psalms 124 and 129.
The ancient Hebrews were not naive; they understood geopolitical perils, the Fall of Samaria, the Fall of Jerusalem, and the Babylonian Exile. In subsequent generations, they also understood the Seleucid oppression and the Roman occupation. Furthermore, Jews of the Diaspora understood localized oppression and marginalization. Generations of ancient Jews prayed Psalms 124 and 129 in full awareness of repression and national defeat. Through it all, they prayed:
Our help is in the name of the LORD,
maker of heaven and earth.
–Psalm 124:8, TANAKH: The Holy Scriptures
They also prayed:
The LORD is just.
He has slashed the bonds of the wicked.
–Psalm 129:4, Robert Alter
Why not? Divine love is always more powerful than human hatred.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
FEBRUARY 17, 2023 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF AUGUST CRULL, GERMAN-AMERICAN LUTHERAN MINISTER, POET, PROFESSOR, HYMNODIST, AND HYMN TRANSLATOR
THE FEAST OF SAINT ANTONI LESZCZEWICZ, POLISH ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST, AND HIS COMPANIONS, MARTYRS, 1943
THE FEAST OF EDWARD HOPPER, U.S. PRESBYTERIAN MINISTER AND HYMN WRITER
THE FEAST OF JANINI LUWUM, UGANDAN ANGLICAN ARCHBISHOP AND MARTYR, 1977
THE FEAST OF JOHANN HEERMANN, GERMAN LUTHERAN MINISTER AND HYMN WRITER
THE FEAST OF JOHN MEYENDORFF, RUSSIAN-FRENCH-AMERICAN ORTHODOX PRIEST, SCHOLAR, AND ECUMENIST
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BLOGA THEOLOGICA 
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