from the ground,
And righteousness look down
from the sky.
Psalm 85:11
Psalm 85:8-13
8 Let me hear what God the Lord will say;
For God will speak peace to his people, to the godly ones;
To those who turn heavenward in their hearts.
9 Surely salvation is near to those who reverence God,
That glory may dwell in our land.
10 Mercy and truth are met together;
Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
11 Faithfulness will spring up from the ground,
And righteousness look down from the sky.
12 Indeed, the Lord will give what is good,
And our land will yield its increase.
13 Righteousness will go before him
And will make a path for his steps.
Psalm 85
Psalm 85 comes along in the lectionary during Advent and at other times. Besides, I fitfully use the PCUSA Daily Prayer App that features Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, and Night Prayer, it cycles through the psalter every few weeks. Every time I hear verses 10 and 11, I vividly remember singing Ralph Vaughan Williams' cantata, Dona Nobis Pacem when I was an undergrad.
In 1936, three years before the outbreak of World War II as fascism threatened Europe, Ralph Vaughan Williams wrote Dona Nobis Pacem–Give Us Peace.
The first reading for this Sunday is Amos' oracle of a plumbline in the midst of the city: Amos 7:7-15
Are the leaders, the institutions, the "regular people," and the outcomes of their words and actions, straight, just, and true? If they are, mercy and truth, justice and shalom will become the reality of our lives together. Glory will dwell in our land!
• Thanks to Naxos recordings, here's the complete text: Dona Nobis Pacem
• Recordings on Amazon
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