The Greatest Song Ever Sung - Leonard Sweet, Premiered 28 February 2021, Lectionary LenTalk #50

About this sermon

Jesus spent the last two days of his life singing the psalms (Psalms 114 to 118, 31, 22). Did Jesus comfort those who had to watch him die with a song they all knew and loved? When Jesus sang about his mother on the cross from Psalm 22, do you think his mother joined in with him, and they sang together like when Jesus was a child? Second Sunday in Lent Lectionary Readings Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 Psalm 22:23-31 Romans 4:13-25 Mark 8:31-38 or Mark 9:2-9 “When danger approaches, sing to it” counsels an old Arab proverb "Jewish liturgy, from the first worship service on, when King Solomon dedicated the first Temple, consisted of two elements: word and sound, or as King Solomon refers to it: tefillah and rinah. A service based on the word of God and sound became the style for all Jewry. The unity of word and sound was carried out by two parties, Kohanim and Levites, not only through song but also through the use of assorted musical instruments." Cantor Pinchos Minkowski, "Hazzanut" (1924), as cited in Quotations on Jewish Sacred Music, ed. by Jonathan L. Friedmann (2011), 43. Psalms are meant to be sung. Jewish prayers are rendered in song. The Hebrew word for “psalm” is מזמור (mizmor), derived from the root זמר which means “to pluck” as in the “plucking” of fruit or “plucking” a stringed musical instrument, such as a כנור (kinnor). The only exceptions to the mandate of singing a psalm are whispering the words or reciting/reading them silently in a meditative posture. “In the ancient world a trophy was something you took from an enemy, fastened to a wooden stake, and put on display. All who saw that wood wearing that Trophy would know exactly to whom the Victory belonged. Nailed to a slice of wood, Christ became our sign of victory.” David McDonald And Psalm 22 became our song of victory, Jesus' Victory Song. Jesus’ words from the cross “Into Your Hands I commit my spirit” comes from Psalm 31:5: In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; Be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. Keep me free from the rtrap that is set for me, for you are my refuge. Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God. We would love for you to hit the "subscribe" button for these vlogs. Hit the 🛎 Notification Bell so that you never miss our most recent video. Support Len’s Ministry through his 510-c-3 “SpiritVenture Ministires” (SVM) https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted...​ Become a SpiritVenture Ministries (SVM) Supporter at $9/month or a Tribe of Issachar Member at $49/month https://preachthestory.com/cart/​ Follow Leonard Sweet on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leonard.sweet​ Twitter: https://twitter.com/lensweet​ (Sweet’s daily micro-blogs) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lensweet​ (Sweet’s daily blogs) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/preachthestory​ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/preac...​ (Specifically for preachers and others who love those who preach) Access sermons, conferences, and more Leonard Sweet activities: https://preachthestory.com/​ (hundreds of written sermons) https://www.facebook.com/thesalishsea...​ (Sweet’s newest publications) https://salishsea.press/​ https://the-salish.com​ (Orcas Island getaway cottages for board, staff and church advances (aka “retreats”) #Psalm22 #GoodFriday #Cross #Hymn #Mizmor #LeonardSweet #Semiotics