"When the Fullness of Time Had Come" (December 31, 2023)
Location: United Church of Hyde Park Scripture: Psalm 147:13-21 (or 13-20) and Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7 Sermon title: When the Fullness of Time Had Come Link to video on YouTube https://youtu.be/yhDeUTXSISg Link to Spotify https://open.spotify.com/episode/3nWiRxChQJMSAN43EWmM5V?si=uhvZWIHER9W30J2KpncaKg 1. Postexilic era -The context of Psalm 147 The first scripture today is from Psalm 147. This Psalm begins with “Hallelujah” and also ends with “Hallelujah.” Scholars put this psalm with other four psalm into the same collection as “hymn of praise to GOD.” These five psalms are used for daily morning service, to praise the kingship of God. From the context of Psalm 147, we can tell it was composed after the Israelites were allowed to return to their homeland, and the Temple in Jerusalem was rebuilt under the permission and assistance of the Persian Empire. It’s hard to imagine what that felt like to be captured, and removed from your home, and reallocated to a foreign co