No less than the idealization of humans the land, the country,
the nation. Every language and every culture has its own special
terms of endearment for Home Sweet Home, La Patrie, Die Vaterland,
Mein Vlast. In Hawaii tears will flow at the thought of 'na opio'
and the aina. The Psalmist has captured these idealizations in a
'baker's dozen' Songs of Zion
Psalm #15
(a song of Hawaii's kona coast)
Sea girded mountains
stilling the noise of waves
soft showered sunshine
The valleys stand rich with cane
We shout for joy, laugh and sing.
Psalm #65
(a spring song)
Pastures clothed with flocks,
valleys covered with ripe corn,
ridges, furrows, soft
and wet with springtime showers;
the year is crowned with goodness.
Psalm #125
(a song of geopolitics)
Be as the mountain
which cannot be removed
but ever abides
Where the mountains are round
they're round about the people.
Psalm #122
(a song for walled cities)
Oh Jerusalem
built as a compact city
with prosperous palaces,
our feet stand within its gates
praying for peace in Zion.
Psalm #48
(a song of political geography)
The Mount of Zion
beautiful in situation
high upon the hill;
mark well her northern bulwarks.
Ships of Tarshish run aground.
Psalm #80
(a song of growth
Thou didst plant a vine.
It took deep root, filled the land,
covered the mountain,
sent out branches to the sea
and shoots to the river.
Psalm #114
(the Whiffenpoof song)
Psalm #19
(a song of blackouts
Thunder in heaven,
arrows of lightning, then dark.
Blackness under foot!
Dark black makes a secret place.
Will someone light a candle?
Psalm #97
(a song of calamitous joy)
A fire burned before,
clouds and darkness round about
hills melted like wax.
Lightnings enlightened the world.
Zion saw, heard, and was glad.
Psalm #77
(a song of safety at sea)
The voice of thunder,
lightnings light, filled the heavens.
Clouds poured out water.
Terra firma trembled, shook.
Stand to sea, safety's pathway.
Psalm #93
(a song of tsunamis
Floods have lifted up.
Floods have lifted up their voice.
Floods lift up their waves,
the mighty waves of the sea,
the noise of many waters.
Psalm #42
(a song of the deep)
Deep calls unto deep
at the noise of waterspouts
The waves of the sea,
the billows go over me,
thirsty, tearful, night and day.
Psalm #107
(a song of the sea
They that go down to sea,
who go down to sea in ships,
dwell in great waters.
They see the works of the Lord
and his wonders in the deep.
Psalm #147
(a song of winter
Winds blow, waters flow,
snow like wool, ice like morsels,
hoarfrost like ashes.
Cast, given, scattered, sent
who can stand before that cold.