Psalm 98: Sing a New Song!

Hang on dear people ... I'm about to share a Psalm from a beautiful book called Rejoice, Beloved Woman!   "If a woman wrote the psalms, this is what they would sound like."  (excerpt from back cover)


Let's ... Sing a New Song!


Much has been written about gender-inclusive language.  Many translations and versions now include women in translating passages which were clearly intended to be addressed to all people in the original Greek language.  Perhaps this has invited people to open their minds a little ... fear not!


With a fresh reading of Psalm 98, perhaps you will be invited to open your mind a lot.  I invite you to open your mind and your heart to the God who refuses to be put in a box, whether it is a box in the form of an ark in the Ancient Near East or in the form of the narrow-mindedness of human beings, whether they be man or woman!


People often find it amusing that in "serious" bible study classes people laugh at the Israelite people who thought God resided IN that Ark of the Covenant but ... don't we keep God, the great I AM locked in an ark of our own making when we refuse to welcome the tapestry of images of God that are woven together in our bible and other spiritual writings, in the songs of faith, in the beauty of creation, and in the hearts of some of the most faithful people in the world.


While living in Canada, I was a member of a church that was committed to being inclusive by using gender-neutral language for God.  This is good.  My eyes and my heart were opened to God in exciting new ways.  However, I didn't actually weep all the way to my soul and my toes until God was referred to as "her" during our reading of the Affirmation of Faith in the midst of the worshiping community at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, California.  Something within my deepest truest self made a healing shift that Sunday night as my public image of God grew and I truly felt connected to God my Mother IN community!  Truth be told, my own dear Mother God had been coming to me in my prayers for some time but I had been too afraid to embrace Her ...


How are you feeling with all of this ... excited, fearful, elated, angry?  Where are you feeling your reaction in your body?  Is your "inside self" responding with "yes, yes, yes!" or "no, no, no!"   


Take a few moments and sit in the stillness of God's Presence with all of your feelings and just breath until you feel the peace of God envelope you.   Wherever you are, it is truly ok!  Remember ...


Wherever you are, God is!   Let's ... Sing a New Song!


Read Psalm 98 slowly and consider these images of God as you read.

Sing a new song to Shaddai, for She has done marvelous things.  

Her gentle hands and strong arms have shown her saving power.  

She has shown mercy and revealed her love to the loyal children.  

The ends of the earth know her ways.  

Make happy sounds to praise her.  

All the cosmos worships her with the song of its being.   

The melody of life rises to her hearing.  

The entire body of creation sways in worship of Shaddai. 

The seas rumble and the fish dance for her.  

Hills cover themselves in the softness of blossoms to praise her.  

Reeds sing their thin song and 

elephants trumpet the fullness of their being for her to hear.  

The waters of the seashore clap in praise of her works.  

Joy comes to all beings living in her.

Perhaps you can consider this prayer psalm for a few moments longer ... where is all of this taking me?   Where am I being drawn to God in the text?  Where do I seem to be resisting an invitation?   Where has my attention been captured by the words?


Read the Psalm again.  Is there a word or a phrase that shimmers up ... or perhaps shouts out to you?  Take that word or phrase and Reflect upon it.  What questions arise from this word or phrase to affirm you or to challenge you?   Is there a gift for you?   What are you receiving from your pondering the text?


Read the Psalm again.  Perhaps you will stay with your word or phrase and perhaps another word or phrase is calling you ... How do you Respond to what you are hearing from God?  Is there a prayer or refrain of gratitude that arises within you to offer to the world?  


Read the Psalm one last time and Rest.  Stay with your feelings, whatever they may be, for as long as you can.  Let the silence wrap you in comfort and peace ... until you are ready to move on


As you move on ... what "new song" are you singing?   


If this post/subject has stirred something within you, check out this Patheos.com article Giving Up a Too-Small God: How to let go of the God of whom you are certain and open yourself to the One who is beyond your imagining by Christine Valters Paintner


Shalom dear people!