Anita Mathias: Dreaming Beneath the Spires

Anita Mathias's Blog on Faith and Art

The Lord is my Shield. Psalm 18, Day 53, Feb 22, Blog Through the Bible Project

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Psalm 18

 For the director of music. Of David the servant of the LORD. He sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said:

 1 I love you, LORD, my strength.

The opening verses sum up the theme of the Psalms, that David has found the Lord a reliable defender against his enemies.
 2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
   my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
   my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
David describes the protection to be found in God in many images–God is his rock, on which he is firmly grounded, a fortress or stronghold of protection, a shield, a deliverer.
NIV. 
Rock, a common poetic metaphor for God was particularly appropriate to David’s experience for the Lord was his true security.
 3 I called to the LORD, who is worthy of praise,
   and I have been saved from my enemies.
4 The cords of death entangled me;
   the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.
5 The cords of the grave coiled around me;
   the snares of death confronted me.
 6 In my distress I called to the LORD;
   I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice;
   my cry came before him, into his ears.
7 The earth trembled and quaked,
   and the foundations of the mountains shook;
   they trembled because he was angry.
8 Smoke rose from his nostrils;
   consuming fire came from his mouth,
   burning coals blazed out of it.
9 He parted the heavens and came down;
   dark clouds were under his feet.
10 He mounted the cherubim and flew;
   he soared on the wings of the wind.
11 He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him—
   the dark rain clouds of the sky.
12 Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced,
   with hailstones and bolts of lightning.
13 The LORD thundered from heaven;
   the voice of the Most High resounded.[d]
14 He shot his arrows and scattered the enemy,
   with great bolts of lightning he routed them.
15 The valleys of the sea were exposed
   and the foundations of the earth laid bare
at your rebuke, LORD,
   at the blast of breath from your nostrils.
The turning point for David, as for many of God’s people through the ages was this: In this distress, he called to the Lord. And the Lord comes to his assistance, in a fearsome theophany
 16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
   he drew me out of deep waters.
17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
   from my foes, who were too strong for me.
18 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
   but the LORD was my support.
19 He brought me out into a spacious place;
   he rescued me because he delighted in me.
God’s unexpected protection that astounds you when you experience it. 
The opposite of being hemmed in by threats and dangers.

 20 The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness;
   according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.
21 For I have kept the ways of the LORD;
   I am not guilty of turning from my God.
22 All his laws are before me;
   I have not turned away from his decrees.
23 I have been blameless before him
   and have kept myself from sin.
24 The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness,
   according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.
This is generally the way God deals with his people.
 25 To the faithful you show yourself faithful,
   to the blameless you show yourself blameless,
26 to the pure you show yourself pure,
   but to the devious you show yourself shrewd.
27 You save the humble
   but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.
This eventually proves true.
28 You, LORD, keep my lamp burning;
God helps David’s life and undertakings to flourish.
   my God turns my darkness into light.
29 With your help I can advance against a troop;
   with my God I can scale a wall.
How can we know this is true? We act with the confidence that God is with us. And if what we are doing is the right thing, in accordance with his will, then, of course, he is.
 30 As for God, his way is perfect:
   The LORD’s word is flawless;
   he shields all who take refuge in him.
31 For who is God besides the LORD?
   And who is the Rock except our God?
32 It is God who arms me with strength
   and keeps my way secure.
33 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
   he causes me to stand on the heights.
34 He trains my hands for battle;
   my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35 You make your saving help my shield,
   and your right hand sustains me;
   your help has made me great.
36 You provide a broad path for my feet,
   so that my ankles do not give way.
Having had a life-changing (in terms of loss of fitness) serious ankle sprain, this is something I often pray.
 37 I pursued my enemies and overtook them;
   I did not turn back till they were destroyed.
38 I crushed them so that they could not rise;
   they fell beneath my feet.
39 You armed me with strength for battle;
   you humbled my adversaries before me.
40 You made my enemies turn their backs in flight,
   and I destroyed my foes.
41 They cried for help, but there was no one to save them—
   to the LORD, but he did not answer.
42 I beat them as fine as windblown dust;
   I trampled them like mud in the streets.
43 You have delivered me from the attacks of the people;
   you have made me the head of nations.
People I did not know now serve me,
 44 foreigners cower before me;
   as soon as they hear of me, they obey me.
45 They all lose heart;
   they come trembling from their strongholds.
 46 The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock!
   Exalted be God my Savior!
47 He is the God who avenges me,
   who subdues nations under me,
 48 who saves me from my enemies.
You exalted me above my foes;
   from a violent man you rescued me.
49 Therefore I will praise you, LORD, among the nations;
   I will sing the praises of your name.
 50 He gives his king great victories;
   he shows unfailing love to his anointed,
   to David and to his descendants forever.
NIV note–What David claims in this grand conclusion, and indeed in the whole psalm has been and is being fulfilled in Jesus Christ, David’s great descendant.

The Lord is my Shield. Psalm 18, Day 53, Feb 22, Blog Through the Bible Project

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Psalm 18

 For the director of music. Of David the servant of the LORD. He sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said:

 1 I love you, LORD, my strength.

The opening verses sum up the theme of the Psalms, that David has found the Lord a reliable defender against his enemies.
 2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
   my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
   my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
David describes the protection to be found in God in many images–God is his rock, on which he is firmly grounded, a fortress or stronghold of protection, a shield, a deliverer.
NIV. 
Rock, a common poetic metaphor for God was particularly appropriate to David’s experience for the Lord was his true security.
 3 I called to the LORD, who is worthy of praise,
   and I have been saved from my enemies.
4 The cords of death entangled me;
   the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.
5 The cords of the grave coiled around me;
   the snares of death confronted me.
 6 In my distress I called to the LORD;
   I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice;
   my cry came before him, into his ears.
7 The earth trembled and quaked,
   and the foundations of the mountains shook;
   they trembled because he was angry.
8 Smoke rose from his nostrils;
   consuming fire came from his mouth,
   burning coals blazed out of it.
9 He parted the heavens and came down;
   dark clouds were under his feet.
10 He mounted the cherubim and flew;
   he soared on the wings of the wind.
11 He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him—
   the dark rain clouds of the sky.
12 Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced,
   with hailstones and bolts of lightning.
13 The LORD thundered from heaven;
   the voice of the Most High resounded.Matthew 17
Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Boy

 14 When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16 I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.”

   17 “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” 18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.
Jesus was always truthful. He was not always “nice.” He just said it as it was. 
The faith of those who had walked with Jesus, and seen his glory wavered.
To think and act with faith: That is one of my life’s endeavours. And to realize when I am not thinking and acting with faith.
19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
 20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” 
Jesus often uses rhetorical figures of speech–chiefly hyperbole– to make a point. For instance, when he says that faith as small as a mustard seed can move a mountain.
Though I myself have moved some hills in my own life, though prayer and faith. And I have some more to move. 
Jesus says if we act in faith, in step with God, nothing will be impossible to us. I believe that. 
What is the biggest mountain you need to move right now? Stop and pray for it to move. Think how you would move it if you had faith that God would help you to do that. And then, begin. Left foot, right foot. Left foot, right foot. 

Okay, trying to sort out my thoughts. If one has a big project, like, say, paying off a mortgage, or finishing a big book–You pray. You believe God will help you. You ask him for what steps you should take. And then you take them. Left foot, right foot, march.
The disciples were not devoid of faith. Their faith was just not strong enough to heal the boy.

How do other people interpret this?
ESV notes–Moving a mountain was a common metaphor in Jewish literature for doing what is impossible.

Jesus Heals, Matthew 17, Day 52, Feb 21st, Blog Through the Bible Project

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Matthew 17
Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Boy

 14 When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16 I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.”

   17 “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” 18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.
Jesus was always truthful. He was not always “nice.” He just said it as it was. 
The faith of those who had walked with Jesus, and seen his glory wavered.
To think and act with faith: That is one of my life’s endeavours. And to realize when I am not thinking and acting with faith.
19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
 20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” 
Jesus often uses rhetorical figures of speech–chiefly hyperbole– to make a point. For instance, when he says that faith as small as a mustard seed can move a mountain.
Though I myself have moved some hills in my own life, though prayer and faith. And I have some more to move. 
Jesus says if we act in faith, in step with God, nothing will be impossible to us. I believe that. 
What is the biggest mountain you need to move right now? Stop and pray for it to move. Think how you would move it if you had faith that God would help you to do that. And then, begin. Left foot, right foot. Left foot, right foot. 

Okay, trying to sort out my thoughts. If one has a big project, like, say, paying off a mortgage, or finishing a big book–You pray. You believe God will help you. You ask him for what steps you should take. And then you take them. Left foot, right foot, march.
The disciples were not devoid of faith. Their faith was just not strong enough to heal the boy.

How do other people interpret this?
ESV notes–Moving a mountain was a common metaphor in Jewish literature for doing what is impossible.

You might also

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When in Rome–Michaelangelo’s Moses and Santa Maria Maggiore

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Michaelangelo’s Moses

Saw this today in San Pietro in Vincoli.


Just look at him. Isn’t he majestic? My father had been to Rome before I was born, and bought a little black and white postcard of Moses which was in our kitchen. I must have absently looked at it a hundred times, so it was thrilling to see it for real.


We have rented a car for the week, which means we can get around from place to place fairly quickly and efficiently. We visited 3 churches this afternoon, and were not tired. So glad we didn’t listen to the guide-book, or the lady we rented our apartment from who warned us not to drive in Rome. It was actually easy with our sat nav which we brought with us (my birthday present to Roy) and so far, we haven’t had trouble finding parking or had to pay for it. Maybe, it was just the luck of the Mathiases, or maybe the places weren’t strictly legal. A bit of each, I suspect.


According to legend, Michaelangelo was so captivated by the lifelikeness of his creation that he struck its knee with his hammer and said, Speak.


Moses was carved by Michaelangelo for the tomb of Julius II, his muse and nemesis, his mentor and tormentor. Julius commanded him to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, which he did, on his back, over 4 uncomfortable years. Michaelangelo demurred, saying that he was a sculptor, not a painter. Turns out he was superlative in each art!


The tomb of Julius II was something he really wanted to do. It occupied him for decades, while each successive Pope distracted him with commissions, and when he died, he left it unfinished. A real life “Mr. Holland’s Opus.” 


Trivia: Why is Michaelangelo’s Moses horned? Because The Douay-Rheims Bible translates the Vulgate as, “And when Moses came down from the Mount Sinai, he held the two tables of the testimony, and he knew not that his face was horned from the conversation of the Lord.” Horned was a clumsy translation for glorified or radiant!!


We next drove to Santa Maria Maggiore


It had lavish marble walls, and breath-taking mosaics. Must get Roy to sort out some of our attempts at photography, and put them here.


I love the lavish Medici use of marble. It reminds of Florence with gorgeous pietre dure and inlaid marble everywhere; it was such an ecstatic experience for me, though it’s been 12 years since we last visited it. 






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Quest for Joy-4. An Hour in St. Paul’s Within the Walls, Rome. Pre-Raphaelite Art

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Today was a glorious day. We visited the little known but glorious American Episcopal Church, St. Paul Within the Walls, with Byzantine inspired mosaics by Burne-Jones, and tiles from William Morris. 


I first read about it in Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s introduction to the gorgeous exhibition of Pre-Raphaelite paintings from his private collection. On a school trip to Rome, he slipped away, and spent the day in this American Church, getting into trouble for returning with little knowledge of Classical Rome, but much of the Pre-Raphaelites. How English!!–and arguably, how sane!


I next saw Burne-Jones paintings from this project in a wonderful exhibition in the Ashmolean I’ve reviewed here http://wanderingbetweentwoworlds.blogspot.com/2010/11/pre-raphaelites-in-italy-ashmolean.html.


And today, I saw the real thing. Pictures from the Victorian Web. My iPhone couldn’t do justice to it. 


mosaic by Burne-Jones


“The great mosiac of the rear wall represents Christ the Lord in glory. At the very top against the blue of the sky is glimpsed a glittering vision of angels. Below sits the majestic figure of Christ, enthroned upon the cherubim and seraphim. In Christ’s left hand he holds the orb of the earth and His right hand is upraised in blessing. From his feet issue the streams of living water and a rainbow is ’round about the Throne’ (Revelation 4).  (St. Paul’s within the Walls, pp. 2-3).

mosaic by Burne-Jones
The Tree of Forgiveness
“On the second arch over the choir, Burne-Jones has represented the Tree of Forgiveness. Christ, hands outstretched powerfully, is supended before the green-leaved Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. On one side stands Adam and the other Eve with her firstborn. The thistles from which spring the lily symbolize the hardness of man’s labor from which springs his divine possibilities, concretized in the story of the Annunciation. Under the scene is written in Latin: ‘In the world, ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world.’ (John 16:33).” (St. Paul’s within the Walls, p. 2)





mosaic by Burne-Jones
The Heavenly Choir





mosaic by Burne-Jones
The Angels and the Waters of Life




mosaic by Burne-Jones

mosaic by Burne-Jones
Living Waters Flowing from the Throne




We had the church to ourselves, and it was glorious. What a gift. What peace and glittering beauty.


I found myself praying to have my soul flushed out and then filled with those rivers from the throne of life.


See also Quest for Joy–3 Fireflies. 




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Update

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Blogger on break for half-term.
Will be back to daily blogging on Sunday 27th Feb.

A week in Rome

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We are here for the week. Zoe has worked very hard this term with her G.C.S.E’s; Irene’s worked superlatively hard in Year 7, far beyond the call of duty. Her work is mainly projects, and she produces little well-researched books on each of them. Roy worked hard clearing much of a back-log of years of procrastinated family, personal and business projects, and I over-blogged. So we thought a week away would renew our energy and zest for the next 6 week term.

“A change is as good as a rest” is one of my life-mottoes. I really believe it. It refreshes and enlarges one’s perspective as much as a beach holiday would do.

We’ve mainly come here for Renaissance art and architecture, but will see some stuff from the ancient world, of course.

So today, the Pantheon. An amazing dome, even though the bronze covering it was looted by the Byzantine emperor, and taken to Constantinople, and the interior bronze was looted, a 1000 years later by the Pope.

That lovely eye is called the oculus, and it sends an eerie shaft of sunlight into the building.

Just behind the Pantheon was the church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome’s only Gothic church, and one of the most beautiful and enchanting churches I’ve ever seen.

The ceiling was  what is called a Giotto blue, with gold stars, and lavish paintings. It was like fairyland, like an enchanted world, like Paradise.

Here are some public domain images (I just had my iPhone.)

Isn’t it lovely? Unfortunately, I made a basic travel error, and packed on preconceptions rather than weather forecasts. Rome, hot, right? Wrong!

And so I am fighting a monster cold. Prayers for health will be gratefully received.

We really enjoy travelling in Mediterranean countries. Italians, Spaniards and Greeks seem to me like Indians–with lighter skin. Voluble, excitable, loud, gregarious, fun-loving.

My French tutor, who is a real Parisian intellectual,  actor and director, and playwright who has adapted novels for the stage told me he would never go to Italy. Why? Because the manners of the Italians who come to Paris are “tres mauvaise.” Why? They talk so loudly? Is that necessarily bad-mannered, I ask shame-facedly. (Our family gets involved in animated discussions and arguments, which, yes, get loud wherever we are!) It is impolite, he says primly.

Have you been to Rome before? he asks. (Our rule is French only, and I am sure our hour of conversation amuses him). “Yes, 25 years ago.” “Oh, it must have changed a lot,” he says.

But Rome is the eternal city, and the Pantheon has not changed.

Neither I hope has the Vatican,which we will visit tomorrow, if I can shake off this monster cold.
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