N.B. - This post is a reflection on Psalm 80 as I imagine Saint Joseph might have read it while he was with his family in Egypt.
O shepherd of Israel, hear us,
You who lead Joseph’s flock
My Lord, my shepherd, you have led me and my tiny flock so far from home. We dwell here, strangers in a strange land. Grant that I may always remember that you, Lord, are the shepherd, you are the Master of this flock that you have entrusted to me.
Shine forth from you cherubim throne1
upon Ephraim, Benjamin, Manasseh.2
As is written by the prophet Ezekiel, you are not bound to the temple in Jerusalem. Your cherubim throne has traveled with your people before, and I know you are with us, this family of mine whom you have so blessed.
O Lord, rouse up your might,
O Lord, come to our help.
Without your help, O Adonai3, how can I hope to fulfill this task which you have entrusted to me, poor man that I am. I hope in your promise and I obey, and yet my years, though few, weigh heavy upon my head. Who is there in Heaven but you. To whom should I turn.
God of hosts, bring us back;
Let your face shine upon us and we shall be saved.
Bring us back, Lord, to our own people. How long have we dwelt in a foreign land, the harsh tongue of foreigners about us. Mary and the child staying indoors, rightfully fearing to show their faces in the market square while I ply my wares to earn a pittance. How long, oh Lord. I long for your saving word.
Lord God of hosts, how long
Will you frown on your people’s plea?
How long will my plea for mercy, for return to my own land, go unheeded. Many years have I dwelt here, a stranger in a strange land. I trust in your time, in your guidance, as it was you who led me safely here in a dream. The child, though, your child, has sprung up among the Egyptians.
You have fed them with tears for their bread,
An abundance of tears for their drink.
You have made us the taunt of our neighbors,
Our enemies laugh us to scorn.
Here, among the Greeks, the Ptolemians, the Romans and the few brothers from the Northern tribes, my neighbors are strangers, and our enemies, enemies to your promise, are my only companions in my daily toil. The light in my little home, far brighter than any around us might realize, seems the only light shining in the darkness. How long, Lord, before the darkness comprehends the light you have bestowed upon your servant, for me to guide, to guard, to embrace, and to love?
God of hosts, bring us back;
Let your face shine upon us and we shall be saved.
Lord, bring us back. Guide your servant and protect us. Lead the little flock you have entrusted to me, so that this light might shine forth to the nations, to the glory of your people Israel.
_You brought a vine out of Egypt;
To plant it you drove out the nations.
Before it you cleared the ground;
It took root and spread through the land.
The mountains were covered with its shadow,
The cedars of God with its boughs.
It stretched out its branches to the sea,
To the Great River it stretched out its shoots._
My trust lies in you, oh Adonai, for I know that what you have done for the nation of my people Israel, you can do for my little family. Look kindly on your servants who call to you, and as you did in the days of my fathers, in the days of my ancestor David and the Joseph for whom I am named, so too I know you shall do for us in my days. The promise you have given my bride shall be fulfilled in the child you have given us.
Then why have you broken down its walls?
It is plucked by all who pass by.
It is ravaged by the boar of the forest,
Devoured by the beasts of the field.
Such atrocities you have permitted in your wisdom. Whether committed by your own people or the nations. These, we are not to understand. Not for us to wonder why but to trust in your word and, as for me and my house, to follow you, Adonai, wherever you may lead. Even to Egypt.
God of hosts, turn again, we implore,
Look down from heaven and see.
Visit this vine and protect it,
The vine your right hand has planted.
Protect this young vine in my house. You it was who planted the vine in my home, in my heart, and in my bride. You have made me only a dresser of sycamores4, a protector, a father in all ways but one. But this vine, from whom shall spring many branches, this vine is your own.
Men have burnt it with fire and destroyed it.
May they perish at the frown of your face.
How Herod sought to destroy it. His selfishness of heart led us to this foreign land, where we wait upon your word. May you judge between him and us.
May your hand be on the man you have chosen,
The man you have given your strength.
I know not why you chose me, O Adonai, for I am too young. But like the prophet Jeremiah before me, I shall do your will, oh Lord. You are my strength and my song. You are my savior. My strength and my courage lie in you alone, for you have rescued me. I will guide and guard your family, which you have entrusted to me as your steward. May I be faithful and prudent, that your trust in me may not fail due to my own weakness.
And we shall never forsake you again:
Give us life that we may call upon your name.
I once made plans and did what was right by my own prudence. And then you showed me that my prudence did not suffice for the surprising path you were calling me to follow. So I abandoned myself to your shepherding, for you are a good shepherd who feeds your flock in verdant pastures. When you called, I acted according to your word. May I never fail to heed your words. Desire of the nations.
God of hosts, bring us back;
Let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.
1 Cherubim are one of the choirs of angels. The writer of this psalm refers here to the Hebrew tradition that God, who “dwelt in unapproachable light” sat upon a throne carried by angels. This imagery was reflected in the two angels on the Ark of the Covenant and in the vision at the beginning of the Book of Ezekiel.
2 Ephraim and Manasseh were the two sons of Joseph. Benjamin was the only full brother of Joseph, so the Tribe of Benjamin and the two Half-Tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh carried on the lineage of Jacob through Rachel, his preferred bride. This line refers to their historical tribal lands, which had been pillaged at the time of its writing.
3 Adonai is the Hebrew word for Lord as traditionally transliterated. The Hebrew people would use that word to substitute for the Name of God, the four letter word revealed to Moses on Sinai, which only the High Priest could speak before the Holy of Holies on the High Holy Day.
4 Sigh...the boss told me to unpack this reference. There is...a lot. The reference, simply put, is to the prophet Amos who describes himself as a “herdsman and a dresser of sycamores.” So, first, read through Amos. Second, to dress sycamores was to care for a species of fig tree that would naturally produce fruit several times per year, but could, with care, produce fruit all year round. To call Joseph a dresser of sycamores is to suggest that he did not plant the tree that he is caring for, but that, with his ministrations, it will grow strong. I may unpack this more in a future post because I think that this--nurturing trees that they may grow strong--is the image of true masculinity and strength.
Author: Joseph