Psalm | Psalm 78:14-26 (with Tom Gastil)

Opening Song:
Psalm 78 by Jesse and Leah Roberts

Lyrics:
O people, listen, incline your ear
To the mysteries, to the teaching here
Things that we have heard, things that we have known
Parables our fathers told, oh no, we won't hide them
We'll let the children hear

He divided the sea and let them pass through it
Made the waters stand there as a heap
In the day He led by cloud, but with firе in the night
He split the rock for watеr so they could drink
He opened up the skies, the very doors of Heaven
Poured the bread of angels there to eat
By His very might, on the wind He fulfilled every hungering

In spite of all of this they sinned, they sinned
In spite of all of this they rebelled again
In spite of all of this they sinned, they sinned

He had made the river blood, sent the swarms to devour
He gave the crops to beasts, the harvest of their labor
The hail destroyed the vine, the flocks by lighted sky
Amidst the thundercloud
He let loose His anger by a company of angels
And when the path was made, from death He wouldn't save
Struck down the firstborn, first fruits of Egypt's strength
Then He led his people out

In spite of all of this they sinned, they sinned
In spite of all of this they rebelled again
In spite of all of this they sinned, they sinned
In spite of all of this they sinned, they sinned
In spite of all of this they rebelled again
In spite of all of this they sinned, they sinned

So full of wrath, God rose
Against His own, laid low
The young men and the strong, they fell
He delivered up His glory
Into fire all-consuming
The women had no marriage song, the priests fell by the sword
The widows they made no lament
But then the Lord

Full of compassion
His anger was restrained
Yet full of compassion
He remembered them again
Yet full of compassion
With a pure heart and skillful hand
Yet full of compassion
He remembered them again

Passage:
14 In the daytime he led them with a cloud,
and all the night with a fiery light.
15 He split rocks in the wilderness
and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep.
16 He made streams come out of the rock
and caused waters to flow down like rivers.

17 Yet they sinned still more against him,
rebelling against the Most High in the desert.
18 They tested God in their heart
by demanding the food they craved.
19 They spoke against God, saying,
“Can God spread a table in the wilderness?
20 He struck the rock so that water gushed out
and streams overflowed.
Can he also give bread
or provide meat for his people?”

21 Therefore, when the Lord heard, he was full of wrath;
a fire was kindled against Jacob;
his anger rose against Israel,
22 because they did not believe in God
and did not trust his saving power.
23 Yet he commanded the skies above
and opened the doors of heaven,
24 and he rained down on them manna to eat
and gave them the grain of heaven.
25 Man ate of the bread of the angels;
he sent them food in abundance.
26 He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens,
and by his power he led out the south wind;

Musical Reflection:
O Lord, Hear My Prayer by Jacques Berthier

Reflection Notes:
This song from the Taizé community contains a series of pleas: “O Lord, hear my prayer, O Lord, hear my prayer; when I call, answer me.” The repeated notes emphasize the insistence of the sung prayer, while the descending lines indicate a deep, almost despairing desire to connect.

Prayer:
Father, what we know not, teach us; what we have not, give us; what we are not, make us; for the sake of your Son our Savior. Amen.
-Old Anglican Prayer