Daniel 3:51-90; 1 Peter 3:18-20 One of the most beloved songs from the Bible, used in worship throughout the centuries is the hymn known in the Western Church as Benedicte es (“Blessed art thou”) or in the East as the Song of the Three. Sung by the faithful three from the fiery furnace, it isContinue reading “Light From (and Upon) the Readable Books 3: Blessed art Thou”
Category Archives: A Lamp for Today
Light from the Readable Books 2: Let Them Know that You are God!
Daniel 3:37-50; Psalm 50/51; 1 Ezra 8:71-87 How sad that so few Christians know the luminous confession of Azariah! In the last episode, we spoke generally of the Readable Books and shorter extended texts, how they have been bequeathed to us by the fathers, how they are found in the Old Greek (Septuagint) versions ofContinue reading “Light from the Readable Books 2: Let Them Know that You are God!”
Light From (And Upon) the Readable Books I
Daniel 3:25-36, Genesis 15, Psalm 79, Romans 3:4, Rev 16:7 One of the dividing points between Orthodox and Protestant, and to a lesser extent, between Orthodox and Roman Catholic, is the extent of the Old Testament. If we are perfectly candid, we must admit also that among Orthodox there is not complete uniformity in thisContinue reading “Light From (And Upon) the Readable Books I”
Light from the Psalter 23: Homo Adorans
Psalm 148-150; Genesis 1-2, Isaiah 6, Revelation 4-5. We come to the end of the Psalter, to the last three psalms called the “Praises” that are sung during Sunday’s morning prayer, and to the end of this series on “Light from the Psalter.” Of course, there are more psalms to be prayed, and there isContinue reading “Light from the Psalter 23: Homo Adorans”
Light from the Psalter 22: The Great Confession
Psalm 50 (MT 51), 2 Kingdoms/2 Samuel 11-12, Romans 5:12-17 David’s confession, Psalm 50/51, is one of the most well-known psalms. It is used both liturgically and personally in prayer. Though it has a historical “anchor”—King David’s sin of adultery with Bathsheba and murder of her husband Uriah—its framing in the first person makes itContinue reading “Light from the Psalter 22: The Great Confession”
Light from the Psalter 21: Mercy and Oil
Psalm 134, Psalm 135 (MT 135 and 136), Numbers 21:21-35, Isaiah 44:9-21, Jeremiah 10:1-16, Romans 1:18-23. With the singing of Psalms 134 and 135 (in the Hebrew, 135 and 136), we come to the high point of the matins service, in which the doors to the altar are opened, and the Gospel will be read.Continue reading “Light from the Psalter 21: Mercy and Oil”
Light from the Psalter 20: Arriving in Zion
Psalm 131-133/132-134; 2 Samuel (Kingdoms) 6-7 With Tone 5 of the Ascent Songs, we arrive at the end of our journey to the heavenly Zion. There are more morning antiphons sung in tones 6 through 8, but these return to the Ascent Psalms that we have already heard, and stress themes already touched upon. TheContinue reading “Light from the Psalter 20: Arriving in Zion”
Light from the Psalter 19: Out of the Depths
Psalms 128-130 (MT 129-131); Isaiah 42:6-7; 1 Peter 4:12-14. We continue with our pilgrimage up to God’s holy presence in the Orthros Psalms and Songs of Ascent, this time focusing on the Tone Four anabathmoi, and Psalms 128-130 (MT 129-131). These three psalms, with the antiphons that are based on them, emphasize the humble conditionContinue reading “Light from the Psalter 19: Out of the Depths”
Light from the Psalter 18: The Generous God
Psalms LXX 125-127 (MT 126-128); Col 1:9-14; Eph 4:4-8; 1 Cor 15:43. As we reach this third grouping of steps in the Songs (and Psalms) of Ascent, we move out of the darkness and into the light. Psalms 125-127 (MT 126-128) still remember exile, but primarily celebrate the generosity of God, who has rescued, andContinue reading “Light from the Psalter 18: The Generous God”
Light from the Psalter 17: The Step of Safety, Sanctification, and the Holy Spirit
Psalms LXX 122-124 (MT 123-125); Eph. 6:10-17; 2 Peter 3:9; Romans 8:26-27 On our pilgrimage to the holy abode of God, as we prepare during Matins for the Divine Liturgy, we come to the second step of the climbing songs, based on Psalms 122-4 (MT 123-5). Like the Jewish pilgrims to Jerusalem of old, weContinue reading “Light from the Psalter 17: The Step of Safety, Sanctification, and the Holy Spirit”
Edith M. Humphrey 