Freedom's Psalm

from the Encounter Chapel- Magdala- Israel

An offering for personal or community devotional time-
written by Natalie Grace Hartwig.


Freedom’s Psalm

Jesus saw her crookedness, how bent she was, how much in pain that day.

Answering His call, she came. She felt His hands and heard,

“You are set free from your infirmity.” 

I, too, am bent and cannot stand. My twisted soul moves with great pain.

He sees me as I am and calls to me. He touches me

And sets me free from my infirmity.

They threw her down, decried her open sin, and hefted stones in Moses’ name.

And He, the only sinless one, knelt down in dust to write. When all were gone, He spoke to set her free  

“Go, leave your life of sin.”

By law condemned, by others scorned, I huddle all alone,

Waiting for the blow. But grace, not stones, rains on my head.

It crushes pride instead.

“Who touched my cloak?”

In all the crowd, He felt her faith and s poke,

“Be freed from suffering. Faith has healed. Now, peaceful, go.”

My soul strains forth, His cloak to touch. I, too, would shed my pain.

Christ feels my timid faith, answers, and heals.

Love flows from Him to set me free.

Mary sobbed on Golgotha, lonely tears of loss and pain.

Jesus spoke from Calvary, answering death’s pain.

“Behold,” He said, “your family.”

Now comfortless, I lay a wreath. I weed a stone topped plot.

Alone I stand, sit, sign my name. How can I sing again.

Then Jesus speaks, from Calvary, “You are My family, be free.”

“Talitha, Koum!” He said, “Little girl, arise!”

He took her hand, and from death

Set Jairus’ daughter free.

I, too, will die. I lie in sin. Alone.  Helpless. Hopelessness surrounding me.

He takes my hand. He calls to me.

From sin’s death, He sets me free.

She was not in “her woman’s place,” so apolitical was she.

“She shirks her task.” her sister cried, “She leaves it all to me.”

But Jesus said, “Just let her be. She’s chosen righteously.”

I cannot part my soul from self and segregate my Lord. I find myself at Jesus’ feet – 

At home, at school, at work, at play – defying laws of church and state.

I hear Christ say, “Stay in my word, and truth shall set you free.”

“Leave her alone!” The Savior said, when others would be harsh.

“See her love, like perfume flows, not bound by men, her love set free.

She has done a beautiful thing for me.”

My gift is awkward, my talent poor. My voice is flat, my name unknown.

What I would do is just not done. And yet, He takes my love, He calls it fair.

To serve with joy, not bound by custom, not tied by fear, I am set free.

And Jesus said, “Mary.”

From tears and blinding grief, He set her free.

Sent her to tell His story.

Christ stands before my face and calls my name. He dries my tears.

He sets me free and says, to me,

“Go. Tell my story.”

Vignettes of Grace with Antiphonal Responses.

© Natalie Grace, January, 1999

Bible Study written to connect with

  The Freedom Psalm

The First Stanza

On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.

Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”

The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?”

When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.  Luke 13:10-17

This is one of the rare accounts of Christ healing someone without being asked to do so. Very simply, he saw a woman in need and reached out. Traditional study of this account emphasizes the trenchant response of Jesus to his critics. Read it, instead, with your mind on the woman and Christ.

1. Describe the woman.

A. What was her physical condition?

B. Was there evidence of faith?

C. Where was she? (Physically)

1. Describe Jesus

1. What did he do first?
2. What did he do next?

1. Describe the woman’s response to Jesus
1. What did she do first?
2. What did she do after healing?

Now apply it to yourself.

1. What is your “spiritual posture” as you go about your daily life?
2. Are there blessings that you fail to ask for?
3. Are there blessings you have received without asking?

Versicle:

Jesus saw her crookedness, how bent she was, how much in pain that day.

Answering His call, she came. She felt His hands and heard,

“You are set free from your infirmity.” 

Response:

I, too, am bent and cannot stand. My twisted soul moves with great pain.

He sees me as I am and calls to me. He touches me

And sets me free from my infirmity.

The Second Stanza

The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

“No one, sir,” she said.

“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” John 8:3-11

Consider the woman, caught in sin and confronted by a righteous judge.

1. Think about the woman and what she knew.
1. What had she done?
2. Who else knew about her sin?
3. What was the penalty for her sin (what did she deserve)? (hint: see Leviticus 20:10 & Deuteronomy 22:23 – 24)
2. Think about the woman and what she must have felt.
1. What must she have felt about her sin?
2. Did she have any one to defend her?
3. Was it “fair” for her to be singled out for public condemnation?
4. Could she have been afraid?
3. Consider our Savior’s actions.
1. What did he NOT do?
2. What did he offer her?
3. What did he ask of her?

Now place yourself in the woman’s position, caught in sin and confronted by a righteous judge.

1. Is there a guilt or a burden you bear?
2. Who knows of your guilt?
3. What is the penalty for your sin?
4. Is there any one to defend you?
5. Are you afraid?

Versicle:

They threw her down, decried her open sin, and hefted stones in Moses’ name.

And He, the only sinless one, knelt down in dust to write. When all were gone, He spoke to set her free  

“Go, leave your life of sin.”

Response:

By law condemned, by others scorned, I huddle all alone,

Waiting for the blow. But grace, not stones, rains on my head.

It crushes pride instead.

The Third Stanza

And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.

At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”

“You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’”

But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.  Mark 5:25-34

The chronically ill are often invisible. We choose not to see them or their problems. They become today’s pariahs.

1. Consider the woman.
1. What was her problem?
2. How did the Old Testament society regard her because of her problem? (Leviticus 15:25-30)
3. How must she have felt because of this stigma?
4. For how long had her condition persisted?
2. Consider her actions.
1. What had she done about the problem?
2. How intensely had she sought help?
3. What was the result of all of these efforts?
4. Did she attempt to seek help publicly or privately?
3. Consider her faith.
1. How did she come to faith?
2. What did she believe?
3. What did her faith prompt her to do?
4. Consider Jesus.

A. What confronted him? (How busy was he?)

1. What did he feel about this one small touch? 
2. What did he do about her physical stigma? 
3. What did he do about her isolation? 
4. What did he call her?

Now, consider yourself.
Can you find your private pain?

1. What keeps you alone?
2. What breaks your peace?
3. What does Christ call you?

Versicle:

“Who touched my cloak?”

In all the crowd, He felt her faith and s poke,

“Be freed from suffering. Faith has healed. Now, peaceful, go.”

Response:

My soul strains forth, His cloak to touch. I, too, would shed my pain.

Christ feels my timid faith, answers, and heals.

Love flows from Him to set me free.

The Fourth Stanza

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time one, this disciple took her into his home. John 19:25-27

Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there. Mark 15:40, 41

This story is most often seen as a beautiful triangle of love, involving a son, his mother, and a friend who was loved like a brother and became a son. Step back a bit further and realize that John and Mary were not the only followers at the foot of the cross. Many other women were also there. John’s own mother, Salome, was there along with a whole company of women who had served Jesus, followed Jesus, and loved him.

1. Consider Mary.
1. Was Jesus her only child? (Luke 8:19)
2. Could her other children have cared for her?
3. What made Jesus different from her other children?
4. What do we know about the memories that Mary had/kept about Jesus?
1. What prophecies had she heard about Jesus?
2. What had been her response when she learned “who Jesus was to be”?
2. Think of Salome (the wife of Zebede).
1. How many sons did she have? (Mark 10:35 & Matthew 20:20)
2. What did she want for her sons?
3. Could her own son’s presence have been a comfort to her while she was there at the foot of the cross? Could it have been a worry?
4. What happened to Salome’s sons? (Acts 12:1 & 2; Revelation 1:9)
3. Think about Christ.

A. Was the purpose of Christ to take John from his birth mother, to break that family while bonding him to Mary?

1. If not, what then was the purpose of Christ?

Now make this personal.

1. Think of your sisters in Christ who have buried a husband or a child. Who is their family now?
2. Think of yourself. Have you been parted by death or distance from a parent, spouse, sibling, child?
3. Where or who is your family now?

Versicle:

Mary sobbed on Golgotha, lonely tears of loss and pain.

Jesus spoke from Calvary, answering death’s pain.

“Behold,” He said, “your family.”

Response:

Now comfortless, I lay a wreath. I weed a stone topped plot.

Alone I stand, sit, sign my name. How can I sing again.

Then Jesus speaks, from Calvary, “You are My family, be free.”

The Fifth Stanza

Then one of the synagogue rulers, named Jairus, came there. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” So Jesus went with him....

While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. “Your daughter is dead,” they said, “Why bother the teacher any more?”

Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. When they came to the home of the synagogue ruler, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him.

After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha Koum!” (Which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”) Immediately the girl stood up and walked around (she was twelve years old). Mark 5:22-24, 35-43

The actors in this story are Jarius, Jesus, and the community. The little girl has neither name nor lines.

1. Think of the little girl.
1. Did she ask for help?
2. Could she ask for help?
3. Could she express faith?
4. Could she believe?
2. Think of Jesus’ actions.
1. Why was he there?
2. What did earthly wisdom say about his presence?
3. What did he do?
4. What was the result of his action?

Now apply it to yourself.

1. Think of yourself.
1. How are you, by nature?
2. Can you ask for Jesus by yourself?
3. Can you speak your faith, unaided? (Do you even have faith, by nature?)
4. How did God come to you, bring you to faith?
5. Do you still sin today?
6. What do you deserve as a result of your sin?
2. Think of Christ’s actions towards you. In spite of daily sin, Christ daily forgives. Christ comes daily, leaving a crowd of others, to seek you as you lie dead in your sin. He takes your hand and calls you daily back to his side and service.

Versicle:

“Talitha, Koum!” He said, “Little girl, arise!”

He took her hand, and from death

Set Jairus’ daughter free.

Response:

I, too, will die. I lie in sin. Alone. Helpless. Hopelessness surrounding me.

He takes my hand. He calls to me.

From sin’s death, He sets me free.

The Sixth Stanza

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”  Luke 10:38-42

To the Jews, who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  John 8:31, 32

Traditional studies of the account are titled, “The story of Mary and Martha.” Too often we focus on Christ chiding Martha and defending Mary rather than on the actions of Mary.

1. Think about Mary of Bethany.
1. Is there any evidence that she was married?
2. Where (or with whom) did she live?
3. Where did she choose to sit?
4. What was the significance of this choice?
5. Was it the “politically correct” thing to do?
6. Did her choice involve a social risk?
2. Think about Jesus’ words about Mary.
1. What did he say of her choice?
2. Was she allowed to stay?
3. Think about Jesus’ words about discipleship and the word.
1. What is the evidence of discipleship among believers?
2. What is the result of discipleship among believers?
3. What is the product of the knowledge gained by discipleship?

Make it personal.

1. Are there times when you have chosen to stay in the word in spite of peer pressure, corporate policy, societal norms, or law?
2. What has been the result of this choice?

Versicle:

She was not in “her woman’s place,” so apolitical was she.

“She shirks her task.” her sister cried, “She leaves it all to me.”

But Jesus said, “Just let her be. She’s chosen righteously.”

Response:

I cannot part my soul from self and segregate my Lord. I find myself at Jesus’ feet – 

At home, at school, at work, at play – defying laws of church and state.

I hear Christ say, “Stay in my word, and truth shall set you free.”

The Seventh Stanza

While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.

Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.

“Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”  Mark 14:3-9

Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume, she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her fair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”  John 12:1-7

You know this story well, now study it from the point of freedom.

1. Think about Mary of Bethany.
1. Was she an invited guest?
2. Was it “proper, decent, or in order” for her to be there?
3. Did she know that her actions might offend some?
4. Did she hesitate or hide her actions?
5. What motivated her to action?
2. Think about Jesus’ explanation of her acts.
1. Did Jesus refuse her public offering of adoration?
2. Did Jesus call attention to her act?
3. Did Jesus allow criticism, even informal criticism to detract from the joy of her worship?
4. Did Jesus imply that it was, “OK, just this one time.”?

Make it personal.

1. Are there gifts of worship, service, and praise that you would pour on Jesus’ feet?
2. Do you hesitate to do so because of tradition, law, or practice?

Versicle:

“Leave her alone!” The Savior said, when others would be harsh.

“See her love, like perfume flows, not bound by men, her love set free.

She has done a beautiful thing for me.”

Response:

My gift is awkward, my talent poor. My voice is flat, my name unknown.

What I would do is just not done. And yet, He takes my love, He calls it fair.

To serve with joy, not bound by custom, not tied by fear, I am set free.

The Eighth Stanza

But Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

“Woman,” he said, “Why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned to him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (Which means Teacher.)

Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.  John 20:11-18

The Easter morning story can be read on multiple levels. Go a bit beyond the script and get into the character of Mary.

1. Think about Mary and her grief, her thoughts, and her actions.

A. Were her actions guided by faith or by custom?

1. Who were Mary’s “they”?
2. What did Mary think that “they” had done to her?
3. What kept her from “seeing” Jesus?
4. Even pointed, direct questions failed to penetrate. Could she, by her own intellect, reason, or power recognize Jesus?
5. What did it take for Mary to recognize Jesus?
1. Think about the messages that came to Mary.
1. Mary got physical evidence. How did she interpret the empty tomb?
2. Can the angel’s question be read with the emphasis on weeping instead of on why? If so, is there an action that is more appropriate for the broken and the lost than weeping?
3. Jesus’ first message was a personal call. Was it followed by a joyful hug of reunion? Why not?
4. The message that Jesus sent said that he was returning to The Father. Think of the other times that Jesus spoke of going to the Father. Why was he going? What promises did he leave behind? What instructions did he leave with us?

Make it personal:

1. Are there times that you feel like “they” have kept you from seeing Jesus and taken away your joy?
2. Who are “they?” Can they truly do this?
3. Have you heard the voice of Jesus calling your name?
4. Have you told others that you have seen the Lord?

Versicle:

And Jesus said, “Mary.”

From tears and blinding grief, He set her free.

Sent her to tell His story.

Response:

Christ stands before my face and calls my name. He dries my tears.

He sets me free and says, to me,

“Go. Tell my story.”

Devotion written by Natalie Hartwig

Contributing writer to Journeys of Faith