Eastertide

May 1, 2019

Scripture Reading: Psalm 30

Sing praises to the Lord, O you his faithful ones,
   and give thanks to his holy name.
For his anger is but for a moment;
   his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may linger for the night,
   but joy comes with the morning. –Psalm 30:4-5

The Hebrew word rinnah* translated joy in the above scriptures means a ringing cry. Possible translations include cry, gladness, joy, proclamation, rejoicing, shouting, singing, triumph

From ranan; properly, a creaking (or shrill sound), i.e. Shout (of joy or grief) — cry, gladness, joy, proclamation, rejoicing, shouting, sing(-ing), triumph

The header for Psalm 30 in my NRSV Bible is: Thanksgiving for Recovery from Grave Illness
A Psalm. A Song at the dedication of the temple. Of David.

I remember the unexplainable feeling experienced the first time after major surgery I slept through the whole night without pain after no pain medicine. In such a situation most, I think, experience a euphoric seen of relief. Our culture is less likely to cry out in public, but the feeling is the same. I have observed Middle Eastern citizens expressing a shrill cry when dealing with the deaths of loved ones or the destruction of their villages. News reports, I am sorry to say, more often report on sad times in stories from the Middle East than healings.

I feel the same response would be appropriate, if we ever figure out how to beat our weapons into plowshares and love our neighbors as we love ourselves. I look forward to that day.

Prayer:
When morning gilds the sky,
our hearts awaking cry:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
in all our work and prayer
we ask his loving care:
May Jesus Christ be praised**! Amen.

*https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7440.htm
**Author is anonymous.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.