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”
Category Archives: A Lamp for Today
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”
Light from the Psalter 16: Ascending to God
Psalms LXX 119-133 (MT 120-134); Hebrews 12:18-29 Orthros is full of snippets of psalms, joined to various hymns and responses. The most well-known may be the “Songs of Ascent” (anabathmoi) that are composed on the foundation of Psalms 119-133 (in the Hebrew 120-134). These fifteen psalms, called “psalms of ascent” in the Psalter, were traditionallyContinue reading “Light from the Psalter 16: Ascending to God”
Light from the Psalter 15: Mercy in the Morning
Psalm 142 (143 MT); Romans 4:8; Philippian 3:12; 2 Samuel/2 Kingdoms 15-18, Rev 20:11, Luke 21:17-18 We come to the last of the six censing Psalms of Orthros. Psalm 142 (MT 143) retains the petitionary flavor of the other Psalms, but looks forward to the light—to deliverance from enemies, to being lifted from the pit,Continue reading “Light from the Psalter 15: Mercy in the Morning”
Light from the Psalter 14: Bless the Lord, O My Soul!
Psalm 102 (LXX)/ 103 (MT), Hebrews 7:7, Colossians 1:12-13, James 2:13 Someone said to me this week, “I read that it is a mark of intelligence to talk to yourself.” I’m not sure that I concur, but it was certainly a habit of mine as an only child, and I still engage in it fromContinue reading “Light from the Psalter 14: Bless the Lord, O My Soul!”
Light from the Psalter 13: Showing Wonders To the Dead
Psalm 87 (LXX)/88 (MT); Luke 2:29-35; 2 Cor 5:21; Gal 3:13; John 12:20b-36); Psalm 21(LXX) /22 (MT). In the last episode, when we were supposed to be pursuing the Psalms of Orthros, we made an unwarranted detour into a Psalm of praise (Psalm 86 LXX/ 87 MT), due to my own mistaking of the numberingContinue reading “Light from the Psalter 13: Showing Wonders To the Dead”
Light from the Psalter 12: Glorious Things are Spoken!
Psalm 86 LXX/87 MT; Joshua 2; John 4:14; 7: 37-39; Galatians 4:26-7 My deepest apologies to those who have read an earlier version of this blog, or who have listened to the matching podcast. In a careless moment, I mistook the fourth Psalm for matins (which should be Psalm 87 LXX/88 Hebrew) and took us into anContinue reading “Light from the Psalter 12: Glorious Things are Spoken!”
Edith M. Humphrey 