If Wisdom literature is all about understanding the world and our lives in a solid theological framework, we’ve seen to date that the Eastern Orthodox Vespers service finds itself squarely within the Wisdom tradition. So far we’ve seen it start with:
- a narrative reset in ‘the normal beginning’, which situates our cares and concerns within the context of our faith in a good, merciful, and healing God
- a call to collective worship, which draws us out of ourselves and towards both God and the broader concerns of our community
- praise to God for the wisdom lying behind creation
In those churches from the Slavic tradition, this Wisdom theme is continued in a hymn — really a summary of Psalms 1-3, which are traditionally read at Sunday Vespers — known as “Blessed is the One…” (or, commonly in more traditional translation, “Blessed is the Man…”). It goes like this:
Blessed is the man who walks not in the council of the wicked. [Psalm 1.1]
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. [Psalm 1.6]
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice in Him with trembling. [Psalm 2.11]
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are all who take refuge in Him. [Psalm 2.12]
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Arise, O Lord, save me, O my God. [Psalm 3.7]
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Salvation belongs to the Lord, Thy blessing be upon Thy people. [Psalm 3.8]
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Now and forever, and unto ages of ages, amen.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to Thee, O God!
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to Thee, O God!
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to Thee, O God!
The first three psalms are interesting, because the each represent a different strain or tradition within the Psalm: Psalm 1 is the quintessential Wisdom psalm, which frames the whole collection as a Wisdom text. Psalm 2 is a royal psalm, highlighting God’s special care for Israel’s Anointed. And, Psalm 3 is a prayer of deliverance. These are different psalms with different purposes, but by choosing the verses it has to bring forward into this hymn, the tradition brings them together into a single coherent idea, more comprehensive than any of the three psalms on their own.
This act of picking out lines that stick out to us and putting them into something new is an ancient spiritual practice known as florilegium, literally ‘flower picking’. The image is of picking out verses, like picking wildflowers, and putting them into a beautiful bouquet.
At any rate, this particular example is a favourite of mine. Put together, the verses paint a picture of a God whose ways are wise, who is a safe harbour in times of trouble, and who has ultimately saved God’s people. Wise words indeed!
And to me it’s the perfect cap to these introductory Wisdom prayers at the start of Vespers — the start of the liturgical day.
Salvation belongs to the Lord, Thy blessing be upon Thy people.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Matthew Root 