A Hymn Sung in the Midnight<\/p>\n
Psalm 22:3
\n“Yet You are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.”<\/p>\n
Hebrew folk songs and worship music are often written not in major keys, but in minor keys. This gives them a tone already imbued with sorrow\u2014much like the deep han (lament) found in traditional Korean folk music. Even songs with fast tempos are frequently in minor keys. These melodies often begin in sorrow but gradually accelerate, sometimes becoming lively dance songs.<\/p>\n
A well-known example is the Hebrew folk song \u201cHava Nagila,\u201d composed in the early 20th century. Popularized by the New Jersey-born singer Connie Francis, it became widely known in Korea during the 1960s and 70s. Hava Nagila means \u201cLet us rejoice together\u201d in Hebrew. It is sung joyfully at celebrations, accompanied by dancing\u2014yet it, too, is in a minor key.<\/p>\n
Similarly, the familiar Hebrew gospel song,
\n“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, I dance and sing,”
\nis also composed in a minor key. Perhaps this reflects the foundation of Hebrew spirituality: praising God who transforms sorrow into joy.<\/p>\n
There is a poem by Jung Ho-seung titled \u201cI Refuse Hope,\u201d which introduces this \u201cspirituality of sorrow\u201d:
\nI refuse hope without despair
\nThere is no hope in hope itself
\nHope is closer to anger than to joy
\nI have gained hope through despair
\nNever through hope itself
\nI refuse hope without despair
\nHope exists because there is despair
\nHope without despair is not hope
\nIt is more important to hold the hand of despair
\nthan to grasp the hand of hope first
\nThere is despair within hope
\nI desire first the despair of hope
\nWhen the despair of hope becomes hope,
\nthen I love you<\/p>\n
To say \u201cI refuse hope\u201d is paradoxical, yet it contains truth.
\nWhat is \u201chope without hope\u201d?<\/p>\n
It refers to a situation where everything is good, where there is no suffering or despair. In such a condition, there is no need for hope\u2014no need to change, to strive, or to long for something better.<\/p>\n
Hope is born in hardship, in negative circumstances.
\nIt exists to overcome despair. That is why it is said to be closer to anger than to joy.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo hold the hand of despair first\u201d means that even within despair, we must seek hope.
\nHope belongs to the future tense.
\nIt does not fully exist in the present. We live in a state of lack, and hope always stands at some distance from the present\u2014whether near or far.<\/p>\n
That is why it is said:
\n\u201cThere is despair within hope.\u201d
\nThe poem concludes with this confession:
\n“When the despair of hope becomes hope, then I love you.”<\/p>\n
This is the very heart of David in Psalm 22.
\nHe introduces the psalm as:
\nA song set to \u201cAijeleth Shahar\u201d\u2014
\nmeaning \u201cThe Deer of the Dawn.\u201d
\nIt reminds us of Noh Cheon-myeong\u2019s poem \u201cThe Deer\u201d:
\n“O creature sorrowful because your neck is long.”
\nDavid cries out in helplessness, abandoned and without aid:
\n\u201cMy God, my God, why have You forsaken me?\u201d (v.1)
\n(Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani)<\/p>\n
These are the very words Jesus spoke on the cross\u2014the cry of the suffering righteous.
\nThe psalm continues (vv.12\u201321) as the prayer of one abandoned even to the point of death.<\/p>\n
This is a song sung in the midnight.
\nAnd a song sung in the midnight is the true song\u2014
\nbecause, as the poet says, it is \u201cholding the hand of despair first.\u201d
\nIt is turning to God in the deepest darkness.
\nThe \u201cpraises of Israel\u201d are precisely such songs\u2014
\nsongs sung in the midnight.
\nAnd in those songs,
\nthe Holy One dwells among them.
\nHe hears the songs we sing in our suffering.
\nAnd in time, He leads us into hope.<\/p>\n
There is a story of a British soldier sent to the African jungle.
\nHis entire unit was surrounded and wiped out, and he alone survived. People assumed all had perished. But six months later, he emerged from the jungle alive.<\/p>\n
When rescuers found him, they noticed he tightly held a piece of paper. They thought,
\n“He survived because he had a map of the jungle.”
\nBut when they looked closely, it was not a jungle map\u2014
\nit was a map of the London Underground.
\nHe had drawn it himself and looked at it continually, refusing to give up.<\/p>\n
The Gospel works like this.
\nIt enables us to see hope in the midst of despair.
\nHope gains its true meaning only when it is lived out in action.<\/p>\n
That is why Scripture says:
\n\u201cFaith is the substance of things hoped for.\u201d (Hebrews 11:1)
\nHope gives birth to faith,
\nand faith, when acted upon, bears fruit.<\/p>\n
And:
\n\u201cHope does not put us to shame.\u201d (Romans 5:5)
\nPrayer<\/p>\n
O God,
\nLet me first take hold of the hand of despair.
\nLet the despair within hope become true hope.
\nAnd let me love You more and more.
\nIn the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A Hymn Sung in the Midnight Psalm 22:3 “Yet You are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.” Hebrew folk songs and worship music are often written not in major keys, but in minor keys. This gives them a tone … Continue reading