Psalm 105

The land of Ham

Read/pray the psalm. (Full text at bottom.)

M. Pageau, Language of Creation, 326

• Matthieu Pageau describes the “spatial syntax” of the geography surrounding Israel, “up” and “down”:

Noah bore three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth . . .

Geographically, these associations simply correspond to the altitudes of those lands relative to the region of Canaan (which acted as a bridge between Africa and Eurasia). This topography was clearly visible in ancient times from the current of the Jordan River, which started in the mountains of Lebanon in the north and flowed toward the Dead Sea at the edges of Edom in the south. For this reason, Israel’s Egyptian exile is always described as a “descent” into Egypt, because it was known to be lower than Canaan.

Of course, from a historical and scientific perspective, this topographical information is mildly relevant. However, in a cosmology based on meaning and knowledge, this journey was associated with traveling into the depths of the ‘earth.’ [Matthieu Pageau, Language of Creation, 105; emphasis added.]

• This geography is also associated with light and bright as “up.” And darker as “down.”

• So the people of Africa are darker, Israelites lighter, and farther north and more elevated, lighter still.

  • (Is this racialism? No, in the Bible, it does NOT have that connotation, though some have tried to read it that way. So for example, Jacob’s relative Laban, meaning “white” and living in the northern and higher region, is a “shady” character indeed, ethically. And we remember that Moses’ wife was Ethiopian, and favored of God. And that some Egyptians join Israel at the Exodus.)

• Ultimately, although God judges the people who mistreat Abraham’s descendants, all the families of the world will be blessed in Abraham, according to the promise.

So…

• At the end of our story, all the peoples of the world are represented around the throne, redeemed, and praising God.

• Look at your skin and other bodily physiognomy.

• God loves it, because God loves you!—all of you, body and spirit—and wants to bring you into the joy of that day.

• Pray:

     Let the peoples praise you, O God;
        let all the peoples praise you!" [Psalm 67:5]

Psalm 105
Confitemini Domino

1	Give thanks unto the Lord and call upon his Name; * 
		tell the peoples what things he has done.
2	O let your songs be of him, and praise him, *
		and let your speech be of all his wondrous works.
3	Rejoice in his holy Name; *
		let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
4	Seek the Lord and his strength; * 
		seek his face evermore.
5	Remember the marvelous works that he has done, * 
		his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth,
6	O seed of Abraham his servant, *
		O children of Jacob his chosen.
7	He is the Lord our God; *
		his judgments are in all the world.
8	He has always been mindful of his covenant, *
		and the promise that he made to a thousand generations,
9	Even the covenant that he made with Abraham, * 
		and the oath that he swore to Isaac,
10	Which he appointed to Jacob for a law, *
		and to Israel for an everlasting testament,
11	Saying, “To you will I give the land of Canaan * 
		to be the portion of your inheritance.”
12	When there were yet but a few of them, * 
		and they were strangers in the land,
13	And they wandered from nation to nation, * 
		and from one kingdom to another,
14	He allowed no one to do them wrong, * 
		but reproved even kings for their sakes:
15	“Do not touch my Anointed, *
		and do my prophets no harm.”
16	Moreover, he called for a famine in the land * 
		and destroyed all the provision of bread.
17	But he had sent a man before them: * 
		Joseph, who was sold to be a bondservant,
18	Whose feet they hurt in the stocks; *
		they put an iron collar around his neck.
19	Until the time came that his sayings were fulfilled, * 
		the word of the Lord tried him.
20	The king sent and delivered him; *
		the ruler of the people let him go free.
21	He made him lord over his house, * 
		and ruler of all his possessions,
22	That he might instruct his princes according to his will * 
		and teach his elders wisdom.
23	Israel also came into Egypt, *
		and Jacob was a stranger in the land of Ham.
24	And he increased his people exceedingly, * 
		and made them stronger than their enemies,
25	Whose heart he turned, so that they hated his people, * 
		and dealt deceitfully with his servants.
26	Then he sent Moses his servant, *
		and Aaron whom he had chosen,
27	And they worked his signs among them, * 
		and wonders in the land of Ham.
28	He sent darkness, and it was dark; *
		but they were not obedient to his word.
29	He turned their waters into blood * 
		and caused their fish to die.
30	Their land brought forth frogs, * 
		even in their kings’ chambers.
31	He spoke the word, and there came all manner of flies, * 
		and gnats in all their borders.
32	He gave them hailstones for rain, *
		and flames of fire in their land.
33	He smote their vines also, and their fig trees, *
		and destroyed the trees that were in their borders.
34	He spoke the word, and the grasshoppers came, and locusts innumerable, *
		which ate up all the grass in their land and devoured the fruit of their ground.
35	He smote all the firstborn in their land, *
		even the firstfruits of all their strength.
36	He brought forth Israel with silver and gold; *
		in all their tribes there was not one who stumbled.
37	Egypt was glad at their departing, * 
		for they were afraid of them.
38	He spread out a cloud to be a covering, * 
		and fire to give light in the night season.
39	At their desire he brought quail, *
		and he filled them with the bread of heaven.
40	He opened the rock, and the waters flowed out, * 
		so that rivers ran in the dry places.
41	For he remembered his holy promise *
		and Abraham his servant.
42	And he brought forth his people with joy, * 
		and his chosen ones with gladness,
43	And gave them the lands of the nations, *
		and they took the labors of the peoples in possession,
44	That they might keep his statutes *
		and observe his laws. Praise the Lord.

New Coverdale Psalter