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HG Bishop Youssef

Introduction

00:00

  • Title: "To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. A Song.
    • The author is King David
    • It's directed to the Chief Musician
      • Some suppose this to be the Lord Jesus Christ
      • Other suppose it to be one of the leaders of the musicians in the time of David like Asaph or Heman
    • Song is the older term of a "hymn" which was intended to be sung in public worship
      • Isaiah 30:29
      • Amos 8:3
  • Structure:
    • Prayer
    • Description of God
    • Praise to God
  • Time:
    • We don't know when, but because of its thankfulness and praise connected to flocks and grain, many think it was composed for a harvest festival (e.g. Feast of Tabernacles)
    • Some think it's composed at the time of bringing the Ark of God back to Zion
  • Themes:
    • Importance of giving thanks and being grateful to God all the time
    • God is our Redeemer, Creator, Provider
  • Liturgical Use:
    • First two verses are used on the Feasts of the Cross and Hosanna Sunday
    • "Praise is awaiting You, O God, in Zion; And to You the vow shall be performed"
    • Because through the Cross, the Lord opened the door to all who believe in Him to praise Him because they are saved
  • Outline:
    • v1-4: Praise be to the Redeemer
    • v5-8: Praise be to the Creator
    • v9-14: Praise be to God for Prosperity (i.e. the Provider)
The Redeemer

03:50

1 Praise is awaiting You, O God, in Zion;
And to You the vow shall be performed.

  • Praise rightfully belongs to God in Zion
  • Zion represents the Church: We come to the Church to praise the Lord
  • Zion is the Mountain on which Jerusalem was built. Sometimes it can refer to the city itself. Zion is also the location of the Temple. So the people thought that Zion is the place where God dwells (because the Temple where they worship God, is in Zion)
  • The Church is waiting for the believers to come, to praise the Lord
  • When God comes to His dwelling place, He would be received with praise
    • Like how we receive our father the Bishop with praises Ⲕⲥⲙⲁⲣⲱⲟⲩⲧ
    • The Bishop is the icon of the Lord Jesus Christ, and we receive him with the praise to God Ⲕⲥⲙⲁⲣⲱⲟⲩⲧ
  • St Augustine
    • He considers the Psalm as referring to the captives of Babylon
    • Either to dwell in Jerusalem ("peace") or Babylon ("confusion")

2 O You who hear prayer,
To You all flesh will come.
3 Iniquities prevail against me;
As for our transgressions,
You will provide atonement for them.

4 Blessed is the man You choose,
And cause to approach You,
That he may dwell in Your courts.
We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house,
Of Your holy temple.

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