Cleaning House

A commentary series on Psalm 139 in haiku poetic form.

If only you would slay the

       wicked, O God!
   Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!
They speak of you with evil intent, your adversaries misuse your name.

                                                               Psalm 139:19-207-18

Cleaning House

Evil thirst for blood

Spews God’s name with raw distaste,

Debased intentions.

The God who knows all,

Hears all, sees all, sustains all,

Gives evil the boot.

I align with God,

None of this devilish brew

Scorching his good name.

 Quote to Ponder . . .

For the good make use of this world in order to enjoy God, whereas the evil want to make use of God in order to enjoy the world.

        — Augustine of Hippo, City of God

MUSIC LINKS 

Non nobis Domine – sung here in the movie Henry V (includes graphic war scenes). 

War is always a terrible thing, brought about by unrestrained evil in the heart’s of people. The song text comes from Psalm 115:1. The Psalm goes on to say in verse 13 “The Lord. . . will bless those who fear the Lord, small and great alike,” and in verse 17 & 18, “It is not the dead who praise the Lord, those who go down to silence; it is we who extol the Lord, both now and forevermore.” 

Here is verse 1a, the song’s text:

               Non nobis, Domine, non nobis, sed nomini tuo da gloriam.

               Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but to your name give the glory.

The “Dies Irae” or “Day of Wrath” has been set to music by most of the major composers throughout the history of classical/sacred music. Explore the source of the text and the lyrics with English translation here.

Listen to several of the links below and hear how these composers set such terrifying words to music:              

Dies Irae (Day of Wrath) – Mozart, 1791

Dies Irae —Verdi, premiere in 1874

Dies Irae —Dvořák, 1890

DiesIrae —Krzysztof Penderecki, 1980

Dies Irae —Arvo Pärt, (1989-1992) begins at 7:50, from his work “Miserere.” Here is a video with information and brief interview excerpts from this contemporary composer. His works are the most performed of any living classical contemporary composer.  

Artwork:  The Temptation in the Wilderness, 1898 Briton Revieri

 

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