Ps 15 with commentary by Dr Noel Donnelly
for Sunday 33B
Words: From The Psalms: A New Translation © 1963 The Grail (England), published by HarperCollins. Music Gerry Fitzpatrick (c) Kevin Mayhew Recorded by members of the St Mungo Singers. Graphic (c) Netta Ewing.
Words and music (c) Noel Donnelly
Psalm 15 C ND 33B – Full Score
Psalm 15 Commentary for Sunday 33B
This weekend we sing six of the eleven verses of Psalm 15. Verse one is repeated as the regular response: “Preserve me, God. I take refuge in you!” We omit verses 3 and 4 which are strangely deemed “very obscure” by some commentators, “He has put into my heart a marvellous love for the faithful ones who dwell in his land …” What is obscure about this marvellous love? one wonders. Here is a love for the faithful ones in the community.” Let this love flourish among us!
On the other hand, the unfaithful members are rejected from the full biblical text of the psalm where the singer cries: “Those who chose other gods increase their sorrows. Never will I offer their offerings of blood.” To be positive, we will sing, “O Lord, it is you who are my refuge; you yourself who are my prize!” The psalmist stresses companionship with the Lord: “I keep the Lord ever in my sight. Since he is at my right hand I will keep the Lord ever in my sight and stand firm!”
The song ends with the joyous acclamation: “Fulness of joy and eternal happiness are to be found in God’s presence.”
There is much confidence and joy in this psalm! It follows the positive ending of the judgement scene in the first reading from the Book of Daniel where “many shine bright as stars for all eternity!”. It leads into the wonder-filled Gospel scene of the Last Judgement in Mark where Jesus assures us, “Heaven and earth may pass away, but my words will not pass away!”
Yes, “Stay awake!” is the cry of that Gospel passage. And the psalm encourages us into apositive anticipation for the one who is coming: “Since he is at my right hand, I shall stand firm!”
The Greek for these last two words form the military command, “Attention!!” Let’s be alert for what is coming!
