Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Meditation on Psalms

Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Meditations on Psalms Copyright © 2002 by Edwin Robertson Formerly titled My Soul Finds Rest Requests for information should be addressed to: Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Bonhoeffer, Dietrich, 1906-1945. Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Meditations on Psalms / editor and translator, Edwin Robertson. - 2nd ed. Rev. ed. of: My soul finds rest. c2002 Includes bibliographical references. p. cm. ISBN-10: 0-310-26703-X ISBN-13: 978-0-310-26703-4 1. Bible. O.T. Psalms-Meditations. 2. Bible. O.T. Psalms-Sermons. 3. Lutheran Church-Sermons. 4. Sermons, German-Translations into English. I. Robertson, Edwin Hanton. II. Bonhoeffer, Dietrich, 1906- 1945 My soul finds rest. III. Title. BS1430.54 .B66 2005 223'.206-dc22 2005017554 This edition printed on acid-free paper. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible: New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means-electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other-except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher. Interior design by Beth Shagene Printed in the United States of America 05 06 07 08 09 10 /?DCI/ 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Sermon to the Preachers' Seminar Berlin, May 20, 1926 Psalm 127 ON DIETRICH BONHOEFFER'S TWENTIETH BIRTHDAY, February 4, 1926, he was a senior theology student at the University of Berlin. This was his third year. He had previously studied in Tübingen and, with his brother, taken a three-month tour of Rome and North Africa. The importance of this visit was his discovery of the power and beauty of the Roman Liturgy in Holy Week. It did nothing, however, to change his theological objections to Rome. On May 20, he delivered the following sermon on Psalm 127 at the preachers' seminary. He was quite aware of the secluded life of the seminary and the turmoil of Berlin outside its walls, where Fascists and Communists fought in the streets. After its defeat in the Great War, Germany, a once-proud nation, had been forced to sign the hated Versailles Treaty. Inflation was rampant and unemployment had reached an unprecedented peak. An unpopular government in Weimar cared little for the church and seemed unable to govern the state. The more sober elements in the German population put their heads down and worked all hours for low pay to rebuild the nation. Bonhoeffer found Psalm 127 to be a very timely word for a desperate nation. PSALM 127 Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat- for he grants sleep to those he loves. Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate. Sermon to the Preachers' Seminar We live in a time when more than ever before we speak and must speak of building and rebuilding. We speak of how our commerce must grow and what trade agreements will bring about this result today or tomorrow, as quickly as possible. We speak of the best arrangements on workers' wages and how workers and employers alike can find a common interest in success. We ask ourselves how wBonhoeffer, Dietrich is the author of 'Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Meditation on Psalms ', published 2005 under ISBN 9780310267034 and ISBN 031026703X.