Psalm 67: A word in season

Traditionally, observant Jews recite Psalm 67 daily in this period of counting the omer (grain sheaves), from Pesach/Passover to Shavuot/Pentecost. Apart from the title line, Psalm 67 has seven verses and 49 words in Hebrew, corresponding to the seven weeks and 49 days of counting the omer: one word to contemplate per day and one verse per week.

Particularly striking is the psalm's echo of the priestly blessing in verse 1 (using the common English numbering, which ignores the superscription). Verses 2-7 form a symmetry that hinges on v4b, the climax, of God judging (governing) the peoples of the earth fairly. Moving out from the centre, verses 4a and c speak of the nations. Verses 3 and 5 are the same: the peoples praise God. Verses 2 and 6 speak of the earth, and verses1 and 7 assure us of God's blessing. So the whole song is mirrored on the middle (a chiasm/chiasmus), like a mountain reflected in a lake.

Another interesting feature is the psalmist's deliberate use of three different, but closely related, words: goyim (nations), amim (peoples), and l'ummim (nations). This makes Psalm 67 especially suitable for mixed multitudes to join together with Israel in praising God who has indeed made his salvation known among all nations through his Anointed One, Yeshua (Jesus) himself! Like a Passover lamb, he was executed on Passover day. God resurrected him on the third day, the Festival of Firstfruits; as Paul wrote that Messiah's resurrection is the firstfruits of those who have "fallen asleep"—there is a great harvest (resurrection of the righteous dead) yet to come when he returns! On the fiftieth day (Pentecost), God poured out his Holy Spirit on the disciples of Yeshua in the temple (the [Holy] House) where they were gathered. Now God's salvation has been proclaimed in every nation, as the psalmist anticipated. Yet we still await the fulness of his Kingdom, when he shall reign through Messiah, judging all nations with fairness. May he bring it speedily and soon, and in our days, Amen!

A Pentecost on Passover?

The first person to speak in tongues in the famous Azusa Street Revival did so on 9 April 1906. This was the 14th day of Nisan, that is, Passover. (Use https://www.hebcal.com/converter to check.) Just a fluke, or truly an appointed time? Yet the Pentecostal renewal in 1906 didn't come easily; extended and fervent fasting and prayer led up to it.

The history seems all the more pertinent for my home country (and many others) when we consider that the Revival came through the preaching of an African American, William Seymour—an object of ethnic prejudice in his time. And there seems rich irony in that Seymour was blind in one eye; he could "see" better than his contemporaries what the unseen God wanted to do!

May the LORD strengthen us to seek Him wholeheartedly in our days, and at the imminent Passover, that we too may be refreshed by his Holy Breath!

Remembrance of Polycarp

Although the date of Polycarp's martyrdom is disputed, at least one source names today (2 Nisan) as the day of his death. In any case, he's worthy of remembrance as a leader of the ecclesia in the mid-second century and as a martyr for the faith in Messiah (against Roman paganism). I also honour him for his firm stance on Quartodecimanism [1] (Passover on 14 Nisan, according to the biblical calendar) and for transmitting premillennialism [2] (the future kingdom of God on earth).

Just one of Polycarp's works remains, a letter he wrote the the congregation in Philippi. Here is chapter 2 of that letter from Rick Brannan's accessible new translation [3]:

2.1 Therefore prepare yourselves. Serve God in reverence and truth, leaving behind empty, fruitless talk  and the deception of the crowd, believing in the one who raised our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead and gave him glory and a throne at his right hand, to whom all things in heaven and earth are subject, whom every breathing thing worships, who is coming as judge of the living and dead, whose blood God will require from those who disobey him. 2 But the one who raised him from the dead also will raise us if we do his will and follow in his commandments and love the things he loved, refraining from all unrighteousness, greediness, love of money, evil speech, and false witness, not paying back evil for evil or abuse for abuse or blow for blow or curse for curse, 3 but remembering what the Lord said when he taught: Do not judge so that you may not be judged; forgive and then you will be forgiven; show mercy so that you will be shown mercy; with what measure you measure out it will be measured again to you; and blessed are the poor and those being persecuted for the sake of righteousness; for theirs is the kingdom of God.

I pray and trust, in accord with Revelation 6:9–11, for the vindication and proper vengeance of the blood of all the martyrs—including Polycarp.

[1]  This includes both the remembrance of the original Passover of the Hebrews and the execution of Jesus/Yeshua.

[2] Disputed, but I believe a firm case can be made.

[3] Brannan, Rick, trans. The Apostolic Fathers in English. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012.