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How does this psalm piece interpret the psalm?
This psalm piece captures the whole of Psalm 13, which is a classic form of prayer. The psalmist honestly voices desperation with four questions of “How long?”. Then comes three petitions with three reasons. The most important part is the turning point of verse 5 when the psalmist chooses to trust in God’s covenantal love, so it forms the song’s hook line. Because the psalmist has received light for his eyes and, though circumstances have not changed, trusts deeply in God’s love, the psalmist is still able to sing the song of salvation with joy. We often use a minor key to express sadness or pain, but this melody uses octaves and the pentatonic scale to express the psalmist’s emotions. The dance interpretation of this psalm piece enriches the expression with another form of art. The black-and-white video highlights the psalm’s lament. The dancer’s postures and movements express the psalmist’s movement from lament to petition to trust. This psalm piece helps us to learn how to honestly voice out our cries and desperation before God and to express our deep faith and trust in God in the face of traumatic events and grief.
English Translation:
How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever?
How long will You hide Your face from me?
How long must I bear pain in my soul,
and have sorrow in my heart all day long?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
O Lord, please do not ever leave me,
Consider and answer me, O Lord my God!
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death,
and my enemy will say, “I have prevailed”;
my foes will rejoice because I am shaken.
But I trusted in Your steadfast love;
which is a love of covenant and will never change.
My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation
For I belong to You and I will turn my eyes upon You.
But I trust in Your steadfast love;
Though my wearies and trials have not been changed,
I will sing to You, because You have dealt bountifully with me
and I will rejoice in You my whole life.
This contemporary song is to be sung in Cantonese (a tonal language). This song is suitable for singing as a prayer to express our trust to God in any situation, as we remember God’s grace. It is also appropriate for singing during Lent or when the congregation is facing severe grief and sorrow.
Text: Psalm 13; Yvette Lau
Jared Ortiz, professor at Hope College, Holland, Michigan, describes the Nicene Creed as a dramatic and powerful statement where every word is like a declaration of war, saying yes to the truth and no to many falsehoods.
Jane Williams, professor of theology at St. Mellitus College in London, England, sees the Nicene Creed, crafted 1700 years ago, as an extraordinary creative and exciting description of who God is and therefore what we trust in as Christians in God's world.
Maria Eugenia Cornou and Mikie Roberts serve on a planning team for an October worship event in Egypt to mark the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea and the ecumenical creed that emerged in the year 325 and remains firmly embedded in the worship practices of the church today.
Jared Ortiz, professor at Hope College, Holland, Michigan, describes the Nicene Creed as a dramatic and powerful statement where every word is like a declaration of war, saying yes to the truth and no to many falsehoods.
Jane Williams, professor of theology at St. Mellitus College in London, England, sees the Nicene Creed, crafted 1700 years ago, as an extraordinary creative and exciting description of who God is and therefore what we trust in as Christians in God's world.
Maria Eugenia Cornou and Mikie Roberts serve on a planning team for an October worship event in Egypt to mark the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea and the ecumenical creed that emerged in the year 325 and remains firmly embedded in the worship practices of the church today.
This expression of Psalm 148 was submitted by Ed Willmington, who wrote it with Clayton J. Schmit. The nature of Psalm 148 is total exuberance as all of nature offers praise to God.
