a 5 star vacation

This is the sort of resort

That provides a view

And an escape

Where your needs

are met by the staff

A star for the location

A star for peace

A star for the food

A star for the staff

A star because it does it all

You are safe from the residents

And crime

And unsightly poverty

That could ruin your time.

How this resort elevates this place!

This is the sort of church

That gives you a view

And an escape

Where you needs

Are met by the staff

A star for the campus

A star for the speaker

A star for the music

A star for the programs

A star to make a difference.

You are safe from the world

And its strife

And those who have fallen

Into poverty, addiction and despair.

How this church elevates this place?

 

Psalm 113 and the “-ologies”

 

This Psalm is a reflection on the name of God (Yahweh) which is rendered LORD in most modern translations.

 

First I notice the variations on the phrase “Praise the Lord” which are all variations on the word Hallelujah (“praise Yahweh”).

• Praise the Lord (hallelu jah)
• Praise  (him) the servants of the LORD (hallelu abedey yahweh)
• Praise the name of the LORD (hallelu eth shem yahweh)
• Let the name of the LORD be blessed (yahi shem yahweh mebarak)
• Praise to the name of the LORD (mehulal shem yahweh)

This reminds me of musical compositions that take a theme and vary it through the piece, both in classical music and jazz.  It seems a kind of memditation by repetitive variation.

Then I notice contrasts in categories of time, space, people.  So I made this outline.

These show the LORDS praiseworthiness in regards to

• time (now and forever)
• location (place of sun rising and setting)
• the nations
• the heavens (which the Lord has to stoop down to even see)
• classes of people (Poor, princes, childless woman, mother)

It’s a bit ironic that in the tradition of the text, we change the actual NAME of the LORD to the word “LORD” so as not to break the commandment against taking the LORD’s name in vain.