Hallelujah. Jesus is Lord

I can't verify the Hallelujah story, but it's a good one.

Erling Olsen in his Meditations in the Book of Psalms writes in 1937 (on Ps. 147, p. 1013) that the word Hallelujah (Praise the Lord) was taboo in Germany because it is a Hebrew word.

His book is enjoyable not only for all the history and analysis of the Psalms, but because he was living in and comments on the era of terrible economic depression, a time of terrible drought and crop loss, and the build up to WWII.

Hitler tried to blame all Germany's problems on the Jews and diminished them as human beings. Forbidding certain words is not new to our era--like stolen election or even an acronym like MAGA. It's typical in power grabs. Hitler considered Jews inferior to the German master race. He convinced many Germans that Jews weren't worthy of the rights enjoyed by other Germans even thought they'd been neighbors and friends for decades and centuries. That power enhancing trick is being used today by certain totalitarians in government, entertainment, business and education aided by Big Tech. Demonize Trump supporters and then on a larger scale, all white people, and on to Western Civilization and its core values. It's been a growing crescendo for at least 3 decades, maybe more. It's in "studies" curricula, "woke" speech, intersectional group speak, behavior demands, shadow banning and cancel culture. It's in the 1619 myth and in the climate change hysteria. We've been here before. The House Un-American Activities Committee lasted from 1938-1965, then got a name change. If you look at a list of the committee members in Wikipedia, by far the majority were Democrats.

Olsen says (it was a radio show later published in book form) Hallelujah is the language of heaven. Brush up on it now, he says, so you will be fluent when you get there. Olsen also warns us not to forget our knee exercises--don't forget to pray and praise. Our hearts can grow cold without praise.

Would a united Christian church bring us out of this mess?

It’s been suggested before. I don’t see for this time in history.

I was reading Erling Olsen’s meditation on Psalm 124 this morning which begins, “If it had not been the LORD who was on our side . . .” Olsen had a Sunday afternoon radio broadcast in the mid-1930s on the Psalms, which was so popular it was later published and has been through many printings. In 1937 he wrote:

“The entire world is now being swamped by a tidal wave of materialism and the hearts of many are filled with apprehension concerning the future.  The whole earth appears to be in a state of turmoil as some of the nations of the earth seem bent on war, while the unrest in other nations resembles a war scare.  It seems as if all the world is seated upon a keg of dynamite, with everybody playing around the keg with a lighted torch.”

He moves from the Depression era and war threats coming from Europe in 1937  back to ancient Israel and when it did not through its own power make it to the promised land, and that’s what Psalm 124 celebrates.

Than back to 1937.  It seemed, he said, that we had turned the corner, that we were on the road to prosperity (that wasn’t the case—the economy was heading for a recession with the Depression), but he lamented that men hadn’t ceased to be materialists and doubted they had learned any lessons.  One prominent Christian, very wealthy (he didn’t give his name) suggested that only a “united Christian world could stem the rising tide of materialism, of selfishness, of broken traditions and crumbling moral standards and point the way out.”  He lamented the failure of the church visible, with its sects, still clinging to its denominationalism “in a drifting, disillusioned, discouraged world which sees in the church confusion rather than hope.”

That certainly describes the church today, so I’m thinking the proposal of that rich and influential Christian didn’t work. Olsen goes on to say, . .

“I wholeheartedly endorse the comments which that gentleman made and I agree with him that the world is on the brink of disaster as its very foundations are being shaken.  I agree with him that the only thing for the church today is to bear a united testimony, so that she may be a bulwark against the raging storm.  But let me be clear.  There can be no united Christian church except it be founded on a solid rock.. . . I am wholeheartedly for Christian unity if that unity is based on the deity of Christ, on the impregnable rock of Holy Write, on the cardinal truth of the Christian faith revealed at the cross of Jesus Christ which towers ‘o’er the wrecks of time.’ I am for unity of the Christian church in bearing an effectual testimony to a world of moral failure when it invites the individual members of society to come to the ‘fountain filled with blood, drawn from Immanuel’s veins,’ . . . What power the Christian church would have in this world if it would give faithful testimony concerning these verities of our faith.”

The church is no more united now than 80+ years ago. And during our present national and world crisis, it seems to have closed its doors and settled for the title, “non-essential.” Although individual congregations went to court to keep their doors open, most just quietly folded and turned to their technology staff, if they had one. A few used their parking lots and speaker systems.  Various religious voices brightly proclaim the church is moving into the community via technology like Zoom, Facebook, Tik Tok and on-line services, but I hardly think that replaces the hundreds of ministries that have closed which evangelize, feed, clothe, build, educate and visit the millions who need the church.

Olsen suggested that in the 1930s the failure of the church was the responsibility of those that have not been faithful to the Gospel of Christ, who have undermined faith in the scriptures and stripped Jesus of his Glory bringing him down to a life devoted to a principle.  That Jesus can transform lives and is not a mere social message is a message lost in today’s (1937) world, he said. That might be part of it, but I know some Bible-believing, gospel preaching churches that were just too comfortable and lukewarm to Stand up for Jesus. They looked to the government, to science, to social media and the confusing advice of the experts to see them through.   Prayer, worship, fasting, service—well, they can wait on a vaccine, or a new president, or a less virulent mutation while we hunker down in our homes.

A message from the Great Depression years

 Every morning I read the daily readings for Catholics from Magnificat, a small magazine which usually includes, several hymns, one or two passages from the Psalms (one responsive), an Old Testament history reading, the Gospel and usually an Epistle, a story about a saint, and perhaps a reading from the writings of a saint, not necessarily the same person, because some saints were not literate or are known only through the writings of others. Sample copy: Magnificat Request a sample copy There is some comfort (actually a lot) knowing that Catholics all over the world are using the same passages, and that they are also being read and commented on during daily mass.  When I attend mass at St. Andrew I will hear from the pulpit the same passages I read with my morning coffee (actually, my hot chocolate since I don't drink much coffee anymore). If I tune into one of the EWTN radio selections for that day, I may hear another meditation on one of those passages. It is marvelous to see how all these fit together when read that way. (Hear it, see it, say it, do it is the best way for us to learn, particularly elders and small children)

However, as I've mentioned before, this summer I picked up a "like new" book from a Little Library on the Psalms, Meditations in the Book of Psalms, by Erling C. Olsen, (3rd. ed 1952) c. 1967, 4th printing.  New these are about $20, but Little Library is take one, leave one, or take and read and put it back. It's the "best deal" I got all summer. The author's preface and the cover explain the evolution of this 1,050 page book.  It began on February 18, 1934 as radio broadcasts of the Psalms, originally with only the most well known, and then he went back and added in the rest, ending finally on November 27, 1938. Then he edited his scripts and did more research to make sure all the scripture passages and quotes from scholars, listeners and friends were correct. This must have been a Herculean effort--240 radio messages, 68 hours of broadcasting, 1000+ hours of research.  The first edition of "Meditations" was published in 1939 in 2 volumes, 2nd in 1941, 3rd in 1952 (in one volume), the copyright was renewed in 1952, and the 4th printing of that was 1967. And all that explanation, particularly the dates of the broadcasts, is to bring us to Psalm 127, the reading from "Magnificat" for December 17, 2020. In most broadcasts, Olsen comments on something contemporary, but doesn't mention dates, although dates may have been in earlier editions. I'm sometimes caught up short when I am reminded there is nothing new under the sun, and that God has rescued our nation before from the bad decisions of his people. That said, I've read elsewhere that Olsen may have been a dispensationalist, and thought the ending was nigh.

One thing on our minds (at least of patriotic, conservative Americans) is the packing of the Supreme Court, if the Republicans in Georgia don't win the run-off this coming January. This attempt has only happened one other time, if my knowledge of U.S. history is correct.  President Roosevelt tried it during the Great Depression of the 1930s. In order to get all he wanted in the "New Deal," FDR needed to get rid of, or lessen the influence of certain members of the Supreme Court.  They were old and in my opinion, wiser than FDR, considering the things they struck down that he wanted.  The average American retires around mid-60s, but even today SCOTUS members may serve well beyond that (Ruth Bader Ginsberg was 87, and had been in ill health for some time). Roosevelt wanted to appoint up to 6 additional justices for every justice older than 70.5 years who had served 10 years or more which would lessen the influence of those on the court (to decide cases according to FDR's demands). FDR's response to the world wide economic crisis was to lessen capitalism and strengthen socialism. (Sounds like 2020, doesn't it?)  He wasn't successful, but more members of the court did eventually swing his direction.

Which brings us  to Olsen's comments about Psalm 127. He comments that the first verse applies in every sphere "Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it" and "except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain." was particularly about the U.S. Now here I'm assuming this broadcast was in 1937 when FDR was up to all sorts of mischief.

"Take the problem now up for discussion in our own land: the matter of the Supreme Court.  Some of us have been urged to petition our representatives.  No one can take exception to that.  Our representatives should know what we desire if they are to represent us properly.  There is only one way through which they can accurately determine our wishes, and that is from our own expression.  However, while a petition is desirable, prayer is infinitely more powerful.  I repeat what I said on another occasion; I believe that our difficulties would soon be past if the godly people of this country would earnestly pray. . ."

We are certainly on a precipice right now--socialism is bearing down on us and many Americans are asleep to the danger, or worse, suggesting open rebellion and violence to stop it.  Olsen, back in 1937, had already seen a lot, and he suggested prayer (as well as letting your representatives know your desire).

This Is How FDR Tried to Pack the Supreme Court - HISTORY

Mr. Olsen was not a pastor, he was Executive vice president of The Fitch Investors Service, in New York and in addition to the Sunday morning broadcast, he also hosted a mid-week program where he interviewed knowledgeable guests. In a brief look through the internet, I see that some of these programs are also available. 

Psalm 107—message for today from 1936

Yesterday morning the Psalm selection in Magnificat was Psalm 107—titled, "A Psalm with a message for America Today." Erling C. Olsen is so good at going back in history and explaining what was going on in Israel when the psalm was written, what its significance is for the life of Jesus, and then our lives. Except. He was speaking/writing in 1936. That was the Great Depression. The book is based on his radio broadcasts. He comments about the warnings God had given Israel--the people would taste the goodness of God, they would back slide, he would warn them, they would get in great trouble, then cry out and God would save them. He was merciful. Then it would start all over.

By 1936, when he gave this broadcast about Psalm 107 the U.S. had been in depression for 7 years, and in 1934 and 1935 there were serious droughts (the people on the east coast barely noticed because is was happening in the wheat belt and plains). The Americans blamed everybody and everything for our circumstances, he said, except our own sins. The government had ordered the farmers to plow under their fields and slay their livestock. Olsen said he didn't wish to get political but from the president on down, these were godless, wicked doings.**

"Just as God will turn a fruitful land into barrenness because of the wickedness of the people that dwell therein, so upon their repentance He will turn the wilderness into a standing water, and the dry ground into water springs so that the people may sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase. . . . That kind of blessing only comes when a nation bows itself before God and repents of its wickedness. Would to God Americans would do that!"

Maybe he's waiting for the churches to open.

**Note: Olsen is referring to the Agriculture Adjustment Act of 1933 (sort of like "Cash for Clunkers" under Obama) when the elitists in government decided prices were too low and the production too high, so herds were slaughtered, and food destroyed, even though people were starving. The farmers had to cooperate or they would get no aid from the government. Is this ridiculous plan beginning to sound like 2020?