Dancing and punishment
Jane Denniston
September 11, 2017
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Psalm 149
1 Praise the Lord!
Sing to the Lord a new song,
his praise in the assembly of the faithful.
2 Let Israel be glad in its Maker;
let the children of Zion rejoice in their King.
3 Let them praise his name with dancing,
making melody to him with tambourine and lyre.
4 For the Lord takes pleasure in his people;
he adorns the humble with victory.
5 Let the faithful exult in glory;
let them sing for joy on their couches.
6 Let the high praises of God be in their throats
and two-edged swords in their hands,
7 to execute vengeance on the nations
and punishment on the peoples,
8 to bind their kings with fetters
and their nobles with chains of iron,
9 to execute on them the judgement decreed.
This is glory for all his faithful ones.
Praise the Lord!
‘The Walking Dead’ is a gripping post-apocalyptic TV drama. In spite of the hardships of this new world that the characters face, for the old world has passed away completely and very little that is recognisable remains, the community find time to laugh together, to play together, to raise the few children, and even to beget some more. Children are precious, a source of joy, the future of the world.
Yet in the midst of dancing they are in sorrow as friends and neighbours, family and fellow community members, fall victim to ‘walkers’ or other marauding communities. The defence of the community can never be allowed to slacken. Any treachery, however small, is punished. The code of conduct is a rule of life which cannot be broken if the community is to survive.
All human life is infected by the virus that created the walkers and which overtakes the humanity of the individual in death. This leads to new rituals which surround a death. Life is precious still, but physical death is an enemy and there is no room for sentimentality in dealing with it.
Father, we do praise you
for you alone are worthy.
Help us to rejoice in the gift of life.
Help us to see in each day
an opportunity given by your hand.
Help us to sing a new song
as we create community
after your model
following your instructions
in your way.
Fill us with joy
and may it spill over
that all whom we touch
are infected by it,
Amen.
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