13th Sunday after Pentecost, September 7, 2014

Psalm 149

Hallelujah! Sing to the LORD a new song; * sing his praise in the congregation of the faithful.

Let Israel rejoice in his Maker; * let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.

Let them praise his Name in the dance; * let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.

For the LORD takes pleasure in his people * and adorns the poor with victory

Let the faithful rejoice in triumph; * let them be joyful on their beds.

Let the praises of God be in their throat * and a two-edged sword in their hand;

To wreak vengeance on the nations * and punishment on the peoples;

To bind their kings in chains * and their nobles with links of iron;

To inflict on them the judgment decreed; * this is glory for all his faithful people. Hallelujah!

Reflections: What a mix this psalm gives us! It starts with this wonderful theme: we rejoice in God; God rejoices in us. But soon we find the themes of vengence and punishment—clear violations of the teachings of Jesus Christ. It is not our glory to inflict judgment—even if we think God is on our side. So what does this tell us about sacred scripture? If anything, it says that we must read the bible as a whole, and we must always read the Old Testament in light of the New.