I started reading the daily office of psalms two days ago and it has been very powerful to me. Yesterday I read 5,6,9 and 10 and today was part of 119, 12, 13, and 14. I feel like, among other things, it roots me in the larger world. Reminds me that God is the God of the whole earth and his concern is for everyone. He really wants to rid the world of wicked men and wicked deeds so that the orphan and oppressed may receive justice. These words sort of galvanize me in prayer for our broken world.
This morning on NPR they were talking about Tibet and China and the horrible relations and sounds like atrocities that China is perpetuating over that nation. Something so distant and involving the persecution of people of another religion (Buddhist persecution), and the psalms remind me that God is furious about it and he will respond.
"Oh, that the Lord would cut off all smooth tongues,
and close the lips that utter proud boasts!
'Because the needy are oppressed,
and the poor cry out in misery,
I will rise up,' says the Lord,
'and give them the help they long for.'"
From psalm 12
Or from psalm 11 which expresses doubt about the future of mankind.
"see how the wicked bend the bow
and fit their arrows to the string,
to shoot from ambush at the true of heart.
When the foundations are being destroyed,
what can the righteous do?"
Things seem over ... the wicked are winning ... the very foundations are being destroyed, but the next verse:
"The Lord is in his holy temple;
the Lord's throne is in heaven."
(more powerful words)
concluding with
"and the just shall see his face."
fishin
About Me
- jaypercival
- Jason Campbell is a full-time accountant and a part-time writer. He has been wrestling with ideas around race, justice, and the American experiment for over twenty years.
4 comments:
Sorry about the deleted comment above. After thinking about it some more, I thought I would rephrase and expound a little.
It's interesting to think about God's "fury" in light of what it means that He is Love and wills that none should perish, or as the Orthodox say in the Divine Liturgy, He "is a good God that loves mankind."
I wonder what it would mean for God to "rid the world of wicked men and wicked deeds," and by what means He would accomplish that. I guess when I think of the person of Jesus as the ultimate revelation of God for us Christians, it seems that He would rid the world of such men and such deeds through love. In the same way, I wonder about the justice of God. Is it that some should die for their wickedness to others, trapped in their sins by God's design? Or is His justice also love? Is it not all and always love that God gives and is? Does God change from hate to love when we repent? Can wrath even exist within the ever-love of the Trinity?
I really struggle with the Psalms sometimes, to be honest. What, with all the dashing heads on the rocks, cutting of tongues, and wiping out enemies? I could say the same for much of the "wrath of God" in the Old Testament. It doesn't seem consistent with the revelation of God in Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ in the Holy Trinity. When we read the Scriptures Christologically, what do we make of all this? Do you have any thoughts?
I have really struggled with the psalms in the past for these reasons. For some reason, just this past week while reading them (or maybe it began with the public readings of the psalms in mid-day services) ... it didn't bother me so much.
I guess I just see the world as a place where people are trapped under wicked men and wicked deeds and that the only appropriate response is anger. Smooth tongues sell the poor down the river by the masses in order to cushion rich bums or worse, to pay for vain fettishes ... In a world that values wealth and power, God is with the masses ... God is angered ... God hears the cries of the poor and he will "give them the help they have longed for."
I guess I feel comfortable calling that love.
As far as predestined toward enslavement to wickedness ... I don't see it that way (but you know that). Does it say anywhere that God wills that none should perish? I know the prophet who says that God does not delight in the death of the wicked, but wants them to turn away. Maybe that is what you are referencing or the same idea.
I know that today I read John 3:16-21 for mid-day and it has some of the most powerful language about God's love for the world and how he has made a way for us to be given eternal life (instead of perishing) ... but it is followed by Jesus frankly admitting that the true light has come into the world, but men hate the light because their deeds are evil. DA Carson (who is reformed) says this isn't about predestination ... men who are predestined to evil, but Jesus warning all who listen to leave their evil deeds and believe in Jesus.
I guess what I like lately about the psalms is that they are wide and wild enough to correspond to my natural feelings of sorrow and anger when I listen to National Public Radio. That makes it good medicine for my soul.
I'm referring to 2 Peter 3:9: "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance" (ESV). The NKJV translation uses the word "willing" instead of "wishing."
I think at the heart of what I'm asking is God's response toward wicked men. Is it not love? Am I not also a wicked man? For if God does not love His enemies, how can we be expected to do any better than what He does? How can we be expected to pray for them (Matt 5:44), not against them? And when Jesus tells us to love and pray for our enemies, I don't see a whole lot of that in the Psalms. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate them for a number of reasons---especially the fullness of the human experience they express and with which I can relate. But sometimes I struggle to accept all of the sentiments expressed as appropriate for the Christian.
No that is right to bring up. Even in Acts they walk a fine line of clearly stating that the act of crucifying the "author of Life" was "acted out of ignorance." Which allowed Peter to call them to repentance, rather than regarding them as beyond it.
And yes, there is no mention of forgiving enemies in the Psalter, but again, I think an honest read of Matthew (or any of the gospels ... maybe especially Luke) will send you for the same loop. Just a random example "You snakes! ... How will you escape being condemned to hell? Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. and so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth." Matt 23 ... Jesus goes on to have some compassion, the beautiful hen gathering chicks ... but ultimately ends with "your house will be desolate."
I know this doesn't correlate as well as it could, but the language and harsh outcome is not hidden ... maybe a better one to quote that seems very Pslamish is where Jesus warns that if you bring harm to one of these little ones it would be better for you to have a mobster dump you in a river (with a millstone tied to your neck) ... Jesus uses the image of violent drowning to help them get is sense of justice.
None of this helps with the overall theology and I agree or rightly feel reminded of the danger forgetting to identify with wicked men ...
But is there something very modern that always wants to identify with everyone in their sinfulness. I just feel like our culture is cruelty judgemental and at the same time a wash of apparent tolerance. Do the Psalms as uncomfortable as they may be sometimes at least give us a different view. Maybe, like you said, a different view than Jesus provides (I am sure we need to read both gospels and psalter). The Psalm reminds us that a day will come when our deeds will be judged ... the Psalms remind us that what we do ultimately has effects and that one day God will make it right ... the wrongs suffered will not simply be washed away, but some sort of judgement will happen.
5The Lord tests the righteous and the wicked, and his soul hates the lover of violence.
6On the wicked he will rain coals of fire and sulfur; a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.
7For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face.
Does this teach my heart to fear? Does this summon me to righteous deeds? Does it warn me of grave danger if I take short cuts or ignore injustice and approve or take part. And I realize that I am indifferent to the suffering like most of my fellow americans and that is something I need to account for.
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