Friday, March 06, 2009

Nisi quia Dominus

The reading of Psalm 124 is part of the Lectionary for Saturday, March 7th. Tomorrow, the Church recalls Perpetua and her companions, also refered to as the Martyrs of Carthage.

1 If the LORD had not been on our side—
let Israel say-
2 if the LORD had not been on our side
when men attacked us,
3 when their anger flared against us,
they would have swallowed us alive;
4 the flood would have engulfed us,
the torrent would have swept over us,
5 the raging waters
would have swept us away.
6 Praise be to the LORD,
who has not let us be torn by their teeth.
7 We have escaped like a bird
out of the fowler's snare;
the snare has been broken,
and we have escaped.
8 Our help is in the name of the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

I've been asked to deliver a devotional message by Father Toby as tomorrow's Vestry meeting. I was humbled by the invitation and will strive to present cogent, actionable thoughts to the committee. Psalm 124 jumped off the page as an apropos message and a reminder to this body of elders of the source of their help.

The Latin subtitle of this Psalm, "Nisi quia Dominus", speaks volumes: Except for the Lord.

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