Psalm 32 Commentary Trinity B.
graphic (c) Netta Ewing
Ps 32: words and music Noel Donnelly. Recorded by Noel Donnelly
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Ps 32: words (c) The Grail, England. Music Gerry Fitzpatrick; recorded by Helen Healy and The St Mungo Singers
Commentary by Dr Noel Donnelly
Psalm 32 is a great joyful song of thanks for the gift of creation. The hearers are invited to look around and appreciate the amazing fact that “God fills the earth with his love!”
Our response is, “Happy the people the Lord has called his own!” This follows the first reading from Deuteronomy that we have been especially chosen. In the psalm that follows we must count our blessings. Yes! We are to be a happy people!
That first reading ends with a greeting that uses the same words we hear in Startrek: “Live long and prosper!”
The hymn ends in 20-22 with renewed hope in the faithful ongoing love of the Lord: “May your love be upon us O Lord, as we place all our hope in you!”.
On Trinity Sunday, following Christ’s ascension into heaven, the psalmist encourages us surely to wait for the Lord’s return, but in the meantime to do so remembering that “the Lord is our help and our shield!”
And the Gospel that follows says we are to do more than just “wait”. Jesus give us four verbs, “Go! Make disciples! Baptise! And Teach!” But we’re not alone: “I am with you always, right to the end of time!”
The full psalm starts with an instruction for the singers: they are encouraged to play skilfully and to remember they are playing “for the Lord” and not for their own satisfaction. “Give thanks to the Lord upon the harp; with ten-stringed lute sing God’s praises. Sing and play loudly with all your skill! We might remember the zeal of Louis Armstrong as he sang, “What a wonderful world!”
Our psalm concludes with a prayer for hope: “May your love be upon us O Lord, as we place all our hope in you!”. With this love may you love long and prosper!
