Commentary on Ps 89 by Dr Noel Donnelly
Script and recording of the commentary by Dr Noel Donnelly
Words of the Rs (c) The Grail, England
Recorded by Grace Buckley
Video: Commentary Ps 89 18C – Small
script of the Commentary
Psalm 89 is an urgent prayer for help. It expresses the cry of a soloist on behalf
of a community weighed down after enduring a long period of political and
social disorder.
Our sung response is from verse one and it’s repetition is intended to remind
God to continue his constant steady help in the past: “You have been our
refuge from one generation to the next!”
The whole psalm is concerned with time: it speaks of “from age to age”, and
“the span of our years” and “the number of our days” and “the dawn”, and
“the years when we looked on evil.” This is all in contrast with God’s eternity:
“to your eyes a thousand years are like a day that has gone by, or like a watch
in the night.”
Our second stanza is from verse 14 of the whole psalm. It says, “In the
morning, fill us with your love and give us joy now to balance the afflictions we
have endured for so long!” Why do we need God’s love so urgently? Because
“We are like the new grass in the morning which springs up new but by
evening it is dry and withered”.
Life is indeed short, so in the third stanza we emphasise this as we sing “Teach
us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom” Teach us” means
wisdom has to be learned. Time is short for us, so use it wisely! He prays not
just for “head-wisdom” but for wisdom of the heart. True wisdom of the heart
recognises that the vanity of wealth, status and power are all of fleeting
significance when we are faced with human frailty and mortality
The psalm is, as usual, a bridge between the readings. When it stresses the
need for wisdom of heart, it follows the first reading which comes from the
wisdom of Ecclesiastes: there the Preacher sees so much vanity around him.
The wisdom in our psalm leads to the Gospel parable of the un-wise vain rich
man storing up riches for himself in place of trying to become rich in the eyes
of God.
Our singing ends in the fourth stanza with a prayer of hope: “Satisfy us with
your unfailing love, so that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days!”
That enduring love of God can put a lively smile on our faces and a joyful spring
to our step, singing as we go into the week ahead, using time well by acting
responsibly with true wisdom of the heart.
audio of a setting:
graphic (c) Netta Ewing
