The Via Positiva and the Bible, Part Two

We continue to explore just a few of the numerous passages in the Scriptures that sing of the Via Positiva.  Consider the following:

“Baby Gaze” Photo by humberto chavez on Unsplash

“It was you who created my inmost self,
And put me together in my mother’s womb;
For all these mysteries I thank you:
For the wonder of myself, for the wonder of your works.”  (139: 13f.)

’”I thank you, Yahweh, with all my heart,
Because you have heard what I said.
In the presence of the angels I play for you,
And bow down towards your holy Temple.” (Ps 138.1.)

“Alleluia!
Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good,
His love is everlasting!
Give thanks to the God of gods,
His love is everlasting!

A monster young star called Herschel 36 blasts out powerful ultraviolet radiation and hurricane-like stellar winds at the heart of the Lagoon Nebula, a vast stellar nursery located 4,000 light-years away, visible in binoculars as merely a smudge of light with a bright core. Image Credit: NASA, ESA, and STScI


Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
His love is everlasting!
He alone performs great marvels,
His love is everlasting!
His wisdom made the heavens,
His love is everlasting!”  (136. 1-5. See the rest)

“Alleluia!
Praise Yahweh, my soul!
I intend to praise Yahweh all my life.
I mean to sing to my God as long as I live.”  (146.1f)

The following psalm is called “a cosmic hymn of praise.”

“Alleluia!
Let heaven praise Yahweh;
Praise him, heavenly heights,
Praise him, all his angels,
Praise him, all his armies!
Praise him, sun and moon,
Praise him, shining stars,
Praise him, highest heavens,
And water above the heavens!

“Humpback Whale Breaching” Image by skeeze from Pixabay

Let them all praise the name of Yahweh,
At whose command they were created;
He has fixed them in their place for ever,
By an unalterable statute.

Let earth praise Yahweh:
Sea-monsters and all the deeps,
Fire and hail, snow and mist,
Gales that obey his decree,
Mountains and hills,
Orchards and forests,
Wild animals and farm animals,
Snakes and birds,

All kings on earth and nations,
Princes, all rulers in the world,
Young men and girls,
old people, and children too!
Let them all praise the name of Yahweh…” (Ps 148, 1-13)

“Praise in a Cosmic Mass” Photo by Kathryn Gaughan, Washington National Cathedral. Used with permission.

And this, the final psalm in the Bible.

“Alleluia!
Praise God in his Temple on earth,
Praise her in her temple in heaven….
Praise him with blasts of the trumpet,
Praise her with lyre and harp,
Praise him with drums and dancing,
Praise her with strings and reeds,
Praise him with clashing cymbals,
Praise her with clanging cymbals!
Let everything that breathes praise Yahweh!
Alleluia!”  Ps 150, 1, 3-6.


The Holy Bible: Containing the Old and New Testaments. New Revised Standard Version. Word Bible Publishers, Iowa Falls , Iowa.
Banner Image: “Blue Macaw” Photo by Jessica Weiller on Unsplash

Lectio Divina:

Be with the words and phrase and images that speak to you on reading these psalms.  Let them speak to you in a deep way.  Be still with them, letting it wash over you and through and through you. Repeat it as a mantra. Be with the silence that follows. Be with, be with…

Seek out more examples of the Via Positiva in the Scriptures.

Recommended Reading

Matthew Fox calls on all the world traditions for their wisdom and their inspiration in a work that is far more than a list of theological position papers but a new way to pray—to meditate in a global spiritual context on the wisdom all our traditions share. Fox chooses 18 themes that are foundational to any spirituality and demonstrates how all the world spiritual traditions offer wisdom about each.

Responses are welcomed. To add your comment, please click HERE or scroll to the bottom of the page.

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7 thoughts on “The Via Positiva and the Bible, Part Two”

  1. Thank you for those beautiful meditations-my first each morning,
    Reverend Fox, your “ORIGINAL BLESSING” has been a treasured guide to my spirituality through many decades.
    You have been instrumental in my merging of my Catholic roots and scientific wonders.
    Letting go is so important in becoming truly human – acknowledging the Divine within and in all Creation is the “original blessing.”
    Love and Peace,
    Elizabeth Stamp

  2. Thank you Matthew for all those wonderful meditations which I find very inspiring and wholistic as well as inclusive. I would appreciate it if you could put up the volume when you are speaking on video Matthew as I have my volume up to maximum and I have acute hearing and sometimes miss part of what you are saying. This may help others who might be experiencing the same thing.

    1. Gail Ransom

      Dear Maura,
      Thank you for your comment and for letting us know that you have trouble hearing Matthew’s videos. We certainly want you to be able to hear them. They are a very special part of each meditation. I will pass along your request to our tech team, but you might also try plugging a set of earphones into your computer to see if the sound is clearer that way. Often there is a volume control on the headphones which you can manipulate.
      Gail Sofia Ransom
      For the Daily Meditation Team

  3. Ahhhhhhh …………. and Yeshua said ………… ‘These things I do ………… YOU can do …………and more. THAT which I AM ………… YOU can BE”.

    1. Gail Ransom

      Thank you, Judith. These familiar words have a deeper ring to them after reading this meditation and considering the Via Positiva.
      Gail Sofia Ransom
      For the Daily Meditation Team

  4. As I meditated on these Psalms today, I kept thinking of Genesis 1:31a God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good.” Seven times in the first book of the bible God uses the word “good.” If God called something good how could God not be smiling and laughing. If God thought all was/is good how can I deny such joy at all creation. A creation that includes me, all of us, humans and our sister plants and animals. It was not difficult to enter into worship with singing and praise with such words ringing in my heart. Thank you for these words, this meditation particularly touched me.

    1. Gail Ransom

      Dear Ruth,
      Thank you for this reminder of the Creation story in Genesis. If all we ever do is look at life around us and repeat those words, “It is good,” We could set off a torrent of positive energy in our world. Thank you for your reminder to praise and celebrate what God has created.
      Gail Sofia Ransom
      For the Daily Meditation Team

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