To Differ is Divine:
Feb 15, 2023 |
Episode 5: Speaking of the Psalms: Psalm 51
| The Rt. Rev. Samuel Rodman, Rabbi Raachel Jurovics
Episode 5: Speaking of the Psalms: Psalm 51
In this episode, Bishop Sam and Rabbi Raachel discuss one of the psalms that speaks most powerfully to Bishop Sam: Psalm 51. It is a plea for forgiveness attributed to King David after he is rebuked by the prophet Nathan for his role in another man’s death. Our hosts dive deep on the ideas of repentance, forgiveness, sacrifice and reconciliation, with God and with each other. It is a theologically and spiritually enriching conversation.
Episode 5 Notes
We’ve aggregated helpful resources and additional information about the religious writings, practices, symbols and thinkers discussed in this episode.
God’s Compassion
Rachamim, from the Hebrew root associated with womb, implying maternal love.
T'shuvah
The understanding of repentance in Judaism, t’shuvah is a Hebrew word rooted in the verb “to return,” as in, returning to a path of righteousness, realigning with Divine guidance.
You are the man. (2 Samuel 12:1-14)
But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord, and the Lord sent Nathan to David. He came to him, and said to him, ‘There were two men in a certain city, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had very many flocks and herds; but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. He brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children; it used to eat of his meager fare, and drink from his cup, and lie in his bosom, and it was like a daughter to him. Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was loath to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the wayfarer who had come to him, but he took the poor man’s lamb, and prepared that for the guest who had come to him.’ Then David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man. He said to Nathan, ‘As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die; he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.’
Nathan said to David, ‘You are the man! Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: I anointed you king over Israel, and I rescued you from the hand of Saul; I gave you your master’s house, and your master’s wives into your bosom, and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added as much more. Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, for you have despised me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife. Thus says the Lord: I will raise up trouble against you from within your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes, and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this very sun. For you did it secretly; but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.’ David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord.’ Nathan said to David, ‘Now the Lord has put away your sin; you shall not die. Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child that is born to you shall die.’
(New Revised Standard Version)
Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:10)
“And God said, What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries to me from the ground.”
Hosea 14:3
“Take with you words, and turn to the Eternal; say to God: forgive all iniquity, and receive us graciously; so will we offer the words of our lips instead of calves.”
Morning Prayer
The modern-language version of the service (known as Rite II) begins on page 75 of the The Book of Common Prayer, the main liturgical resource in The Episcopal Church.
Episode 5 Notes
We’ve aggregated helpful resources and additional information about the religious writings, practices, symbols and thinkers discussed in this episode.
God’s Compassion
Rachamim, from the Hebrew root associated with womb, implying maternal love.
T'shuvah
The understanding of repentance in Judaism, t’shuvah is a Hebrew word rooted in the verb “to return,” as in, returning to a path of righteousness, realigning with Divine guidance.
You are the man. (2 Samuel 12:1-14)
But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord, and the Lord sent Nathan to David. He came to him, and said to him, ‘There were two men in a certain city, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had very many flocks and herds; but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. He brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children; it used to eat of his meager fare, and drink from his cup, and lie in his bosom, and it was like a daughter to him. Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was loath to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the wayfarer who had come to him, but he took the poor man’s lamb, and prepared that for the guest who had come to him.’ Then David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man. He said to Nathan, ‘As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die; he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.’
Nathan said to David, ‘You are the man! Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: I anointed you king over Israel, and I rescued you from the hand of Saul; I gave you your master’s house, and your master’s wives into your bosom, and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added as much more. Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, for you have despised me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife. Thus says the Lord: I will raise up trouble against you from within your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes, and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this very sun. For you did it secretly; but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.’ David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord.’ Nathan said to David, ‘Now the Lord has put away your sin; you shall not die. Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child that is born to you shall die.’
(New Revised Standard Version)
Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:10)
“And God said, What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries to me from the ground.”
Hosea 14:3
“Take with you words, and turn to the Eternal; say to God: forgive all iniquity, and receive us graciously; so will we offer the words of our lips instead of calves.”
Morning Prayer
The modern-language version of the service (known as Rite II) begins on page 75 of the The Book of Common Prayer, the main liturgical resource in The Episcopal Church.
