By Jeremy Bell
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I am going to share my personal study on Psalm 102 using groupings from my motif analysis. I have taken these groupings of the Psalm and put them together. So, the entirety of the Psalm will be posted, but these groupings will present the text in a different order. They are color coded in my book, Psalms in Motif Visualization.
Bones can be musical instruments. Not just in cartoons, but in real life, people play the bones! To be clear, these are leg bones or large rib bones of animals, played on wood. This is the most authentic, but people usually play sticks today or metal spoons. Though I never had opportunity to hear, it was the sophisticated spoon playing of one of my great uncles that nearly got him booked for a television appearance. I like to think he never practiced with animal bones, but I don’t want to put myself in the snobbish role of the elite. The practice of playing the bones has history in ancient China, Egypt, Greece, and Rome. Immigrants brought it to the U.S., and it is still included in many genres ranging from Zydeco to Blues music.
Playing Bones
Playing the bones, or the spoons, requires technique and practice. There is a fine balance of finger manipulation along with moving the playing along a person’s chest. The production is rhythmic clicking that may be like that of a tap dancer. As with all practiced musicians, the talent of the bone player is impressive as they master multiple clicks, using their body and two hands to play this instrument.
A spiritual song titled ‘Dem Bones’ was recorded first in 1928. I do not know if a recording exists with the bones as an instrument, but I like to imagine there is one. This song was inspired by Ezekiel 37: 1-14. Of course, I Have to put all of this together, but I will be kind and read the first verse and chorus of the song only, you will get the point. First, a reading of Ezekiel.
[ Ezekiel 37: 1-14 ]
Yahweh’s hand was on me, and he brought me out in Yahweh’s Spirit, and set me down in the middle of the valley; and it was full of bones. He caused me to pass by them all around: and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and behold, they were very dry. He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”
I answered, “Lord Yahweh, you know.”
Again he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and tell them, ‘You dry bones, hear Yahweh’s word. The Lord Yahweh says to these bones: “Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and you will live. I will lay sinews on you, and will bring up flesh on you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you will live. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.”’”
So I prophesied as I was commanded. As I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold, there was an earthquake. Then the bones came together, bone to its bone. I saw, and, behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh came up, and skin covered them above; but there was no breath in them.
Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the wind, prophesy, son of man, and tell the wind, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Come from the four winds, breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.”’”
So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up on their feet, an exceedingly great army.
Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost. We are completely cut off.’ Therefore prophesy, and tell them, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Behold, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, my people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel. You will know that I am Yahweh, when I have opened your graves, and caused you to come up out of your graves, my people. I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live. Then I will place you in your own land; and you will know that I, Yahweh, have spoken it and performed it,” says Yahweh.’”
Dem Bones Excerpt
Chorus
Dem bones Dem bones Dem dry bones
Dem bones Dem bones Dem dry bones
Dem bones Dem bones Dem dry bones,
Hear the word of the Lord.
Verse 1
Toe bone connected to the foot bone
Foot bone connected to the heel bone
Heel bone connected to the ankle bone
…
I think you either know this tune or get the picture. It is actually pretty detailed.
Can you imagine playing the bones and then they all start joining together? I can’t either, that’s strange. Still, God has done some strange things, so, who knows! In my motif analysis, this Psalm is a set of five verses. I will post the groupings of the motifs here, so, you won’t really see the verses here. Please read the Psalm as is for the most accurate understanding, but hear for now, how the motifs provide insight.
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[ Psalm 102 ]
Grouping A
Hear my prayer, Yahweh!
Let my cry come to you.
Don’t hide your face from me in the day of my distress.
Turn your ear to me.
Answer me quickly in the day when I call.
For my days consume away like smoke.
My bones are burned as a torch.
My heart is blighted like grass, and withered,
for I forget to eat my bread.
By reason of the voice of my groaning,
my bones stick to my skin.
I am like a pelican of the wilderness.
I have become as an owl of the waste places.
I watch, and have become like a sparrow that is alone on the housetop.
My enemies reproach me all day.
Those who are mad at me use my name as a curse.
For I have eaten ashes like bread,
and mixed my drink with tears,
because of your indignation and your wrath;
for you have taken me up and thrown me away.
My days are like a long shadow.
I have withered like grass.
for it is time to have pity on her.
Yes, the set time has come.
For your servants take pleasure in her stones,
and have pity on her dust.
He has responded to the prayer of the destitute,
and has not despised their prayer.
to hear the groans of the prisoner,
to free those who are condemned to death,
He weakened my strength along the course.
He shortened my days.
I said, “My God, don’t take me away in the middle of my days.
Grouping B
But you, Yahweh, will remain forever;
your renown endures to all generations.
You will arise and have mercy on Zion;
So the nations will fear Yahweh’s name,
all the kings of the earth your glory.
For Yahweh has built up Zion.
He has appeared in his glory.
This will be written for the generation to come.
A people which will be created will praise Yah,
for he has looked down from the height of his sanctuary.
From heaven, Yahweh saw the earth,
that men may declare Yahweh’s name in Zion,
and his praise in Jerusalem,
when the peoples are gathered together,
the kingdoms, to serve Yahweh.
Your years are throughout all generations.
Of old, you laid the foundation of the earth.
The heavens are the work of your hands.
They will perish, but you will endure.
Yes, all of them will wear out like a garment.
You will change them like a cloak, and they will be changed.
But you are the same.
Your years will have no end.
The children of your servants will continue.
Their offspring will be established before you.”
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Hope in the Suffering
The Psalmist says his bones are burned as a torch; his bones stick to his skin. I doubt very much he sang Dem Bones as he suffered or thought about bones as musical instruments. Certainly, I do not mean to make light of suffering or poke fun at affliction. I do think the Bible tells stories of redemption, salvation, and God making a way, with ways, humans can only be awed by. God can take the bones of Jesus and save His people. God can mold the wooden sticks of the cross, a torture device of death, to make them a thing of beauty.
The set time has come. God sent Jesus and he had pity on the dust His people were ground into. He took their bones and made a people who were not a people and put hearts of flesh in them. Jesus came to His people in Jerusalem, offering salvation through repentance and faith in Him, and sent His disciples to tell the whole world they were included. This has been written for generations. We gather together and we present Him with the nature of our tired and often broken bones. He gives them life, He brings to them a melody, and all we can do is thank Him and adore Him in the Nature of Joy.
Resources and Notes
All scripture in this article is from the WORLD ENGLISH BIBLE (WEB). The World English Bible (WEB) is a Public Domain (no copyright) Modern English translation of the Holy Bible. The World English Bible is based on the American Standard Version of the Holy Bible first published in 1901, the Biblia Hebraica Stutgartensa Old Testament, and the Greek Majority Text New Testament.
For more related to this blog, check out my post on Equipping the Saints for Local Missions Truths.
This is a reliable translation, but it is always good to read other translations as well. Biblegateway.com has a multitude of translations to read from. It is a great resource.
Another great resource is Biblehub.com. There are multiple translations, commentaries, and so much more. Great research can be done on this platform.
One more I use regularly is Gotquestions.org. This is a great site to answer questions and find threads of related questions.
There are many resources. The key is that God wants relationship directly with you, the individual. His primary source for revealing who He is and growing in intimacy is His word, the scriptures. Don’t just read for instruction. Analyze and read for understanding. Explore, ask questions, and be transformed in Jesus every moment you possibly can. There is no dispute this is a key desire of God. People are brough to the Father, in the Son, by the power of the Holy Spirit. This… This is the Nature of Joy.
Jeremy is an author, musician, and business intelligence manager. His mission is to equip and encourage those in Christ, to equip and encourage others in Christ. Jesus, Christ, is the Nature of Joy and melody of the heart. Jeremy unites business analytics (business intelligence), songs, and Scripture for Christian living in the power of the Holy Spirit.