Devotional

Reading Psalm 137 in church

The editors who assembled the Psalter were astute, and one way this can be seen is in the juxtapositions and trajectories implicit in the placement of the imprecatory psalms. Consider, for example, Psalm 137, which is appointed to be said on the evening of the 28th day. Here, perched between Psalm 119 and the lyrical psalms of ascent, on the one hand; and on the other, the hymns of praise that end the book, such as Psalm 148, is a psalm with one of the most blood-curdling lines in all of holy writ: Psalm 137’s final verse.

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Lent begins—with a threat

The Book of Common Prayer traditionally began Lent with a service called “A Commination” (which means “a threatening”). You can read the service here. You might find it a bit harsh. Many others have found it too difficult and the service has been excised from modern editions of the prayer-book. The

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Empty vessels

What would you say is the defining characteristic of a Christian? Faith? Love? Kindness?  Zeal for the gospel? A Christian certainly should cultivate these and many other virtues, but is there one that underlies all the others? From the list above, my guess is that most people would say love

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white ceramic vase on brown wooden table

Aspiring to heaven

Inflamed with ardour half divine,For heaven I earthly gain resign;Those starry lamps that grace the pole,Inspire with joy my raptured soul. O the dear festivals of night,What glorious dazzling to the fight!A fair angelic band maintainsDelightful watch o’er heavenly plains. Why am I kept a prisoner here,So distant from that

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black and white mountains under cloudy sky during daytime
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