A Psalm for Frank Sinatra and Mitzi Gaynor?

Last updated on: April 3, 2015 at 12:01 pm by D. G. Hart

A Psalm for Frank Sinatra and Mitzi Gaynor? 2015-04-03T12:01:37-04:00 D. G. Hart

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Joker’s Wild is an incredibly good movie, maybe the best Frank Sinatra film I’ve seen. Not only does Frank sing, but he plays a singer whose vocal chords are damaged and returns to the stage as a stand-up comic. Sinatra has great timing. And, dare I say, this was the first movie in which I had seen Mitzi Gaynor star. She plays one of the dancers that opens for Sinatra’s comic routine. Talk about energy. (And by the way, seeing these old burlesque and night club acts helps make sense of those television variety shows I watched as a youth that feature dance numbers. I’m still a bit mystified why anyone would put girls in swimsuits and heels, dancing and singing, on prime time. But if you worked in vaudeville before television, it makes perfect sense.)

So maybe I have singing, dancing, and joke telling too much on my mind. But the other morning as my wife and I read the end of Psalm 87, my jaw dropped:

Singers and dancers alike say,
“All my springs are in you.”
(Psalm 87:7 ESV)

Calvin’s comments on the Psalm’s praise of Mt. Zion are fitting:

What we are taught in this psalm may be summed up in this, That the Church of God far excels all the kingdoms and politics of the world, inasmuch as she is watched over, and protected by Him in all her interests, and placed under his government; that, in the first place, amidst the violent commotions and dreadful storms with which the whole world is often shaken, she may continue safe; and, in the second place, and principally, that being wonderfully preserved by the protection of the same God, she may at length, after the toil and struggle of a protracted warfare, be crowned with the triumphant laurels of her high calling. It is in truth a singular benefit of God, and at the same time, a signal miracle, that, amidst the great and various revolutions of the kingdoms of this world, he enlarges her continually from age to age, and preserves her from destruction; so that in the whole world there is nothing enduring but the Church. As, however, it often happens, that whilst the wicked abound in riches, and have lavished upon them worldly possessions and authority, the afflicted Church is tossed amidst many dangers, or rather, is so overwhelmed with impetuous floods as to seem to be entirely shipwrecked, her happiness must be considered as consisting principally in this, that she has reserved for her an everlasting state in heaven.

But singers and dancers?

(Image)

Previous Post

March 30, 2015

Not Only Hymns, but Psalms

Next Post

April 8, 2015 How Non-Christians Hear Christians

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category 2016 Presidential Election 2020 Presidential Election Apocalypse Bible in American Life Biblical authority Books and culture Calvinism Church Life Civil Religion Culture Wars Doctrine evangelicalism Gullibility Heaven and Hell Intellectual life Jesus Ministry modernity moralism Nationalism New Testament Old Testament Otherworldiness Otherworldliness Paul Peter Piety Popular culture Protestantism Psalms Puritans Race Roman Catholicism sacred/secular distinction Sex Shameless Self Promotion Sports Ten Commandments U.S. politics Uncategorized vulgarity worship

Select a Month January 2022 October 2021 August 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz