An Asaphic psalm.
When David established the ark of God as the center of Israel and Judah’s worship, he appointed a group of singers and the worship leader was called Asaph. Even after Asaph had died, his style of writing and singing became well known in Judah, and many song writers named their songs after him.
God is surely good to Israel
To those who are pure in heart
As for me, my feet had almost stumbled
My steps had almost slipped.
For I was envious of the boastful
I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
The psalmist acknowledges that God is good and just—that He reward those of His people who are right and just in his mind, who then act out this justice to others. But the psalmist almost immediately admits that his mind has not been pure. That he has considered doubt and despair—he was thinking that it was injustice that truly reigned. And this because of those who were evil, everyone knew of their evil, and yet they were successful in this life. This caused the psalmist a faith crisis, for the most basic justice requires that the evil be punished and the good be rewarded. Yet, this is not the case on the earth.
There are no pangs at their death,
And their body is healthy.
They do not share in human suffering
And are not afflicted like others.
Therefore pride is their necklace
The garment of violence covers them.
Their eyes are huge from their fatness
The desires of their heart are without limit.
They mock and plot their oppression
From their high place they are scornful.
They set their mouth against heaven
And their tongue struts through the earth.
The psalmist then describes those who are causing this crisis of faith, the Donald Trumps of all ages. They are wicked, clearly evil, but they do not suffer at all—not even from guilt! They live their whole lives doing evil, stealing from the needy, yet they remain healthy and even when they die, it is a pleasant death. The suffering that is common on earth, they don’t experience. So they think they are better than everyone else, simply because of their luck. They are very prosperous, and so they then think that all things belong to them, and whatever they desire, they get. They take no thought of others in need, but take from them without remorse, even making elaborate plots to steal from the needy and just. And finally, they speak against God, rejecting God’s morality and power to whoever will listen to them.
Thus do His people return to them
And the fullness of waters is drained from them.
They say, "How could God know?
Does the Most High truly have knowledge?"
See, these are the wicked
And always at ease, they have obtained wealth.
Because of their success, many others gather around them, wishing to know the secrets of their prosperity. So they teach them to steal, to plot, to enact evil on the earth. And they also repeat their atheism, that God is powerless to stop them, and God’s morality is for weaklings.
Surely in vain I have been pure in heart
And washed my hands in innocence
I am afflicted all day long
And rebuked every morning.
If I said, "This is the way it is"
I would have betrayed the generation of Your children
When I pondered to understand this,
It was burdensome in my sight.
Now the psalmist returns to his doubt. He sees these openly wicked kings and CEO’s of our earth, and they just seem so correct. That the way to get ahead in the world is to ignore God’s morality and build a power base to take wealth from others. And what does the righteous receive? Rebukes, claims of idiocy, and speeches of hatred. The psalmist is concerned, because if he had left his doubts alone and communicated it to God’s people, then God’s people would have been doubtful and the psalmist would have been to blame.
Until I arrived at God's sanctuary
Then I understood their end
You placed them on slippery paths,
You cast them down to ruin.
They are destroyed in a moment!
Completely swept away by terrors!
Like one awakes after a nightmare
So will you, Lord, rouse yourself to despise their form
But then the psalmist arrived at God’s place, and realized that “how the world works” isn’t reality. God’s truth is reality. And God’s reality is that the wicked will be punished. If not in this life, then in the next. Yes, this life seems like a nightmare, especially to the poor and oppressed. But it will end in a moment and the good will be rewarded and the wicked will be punished. Justice will prevail.
When my heart was embittered
And I was pierced within
I was empty of knowledge and understanding
I was like a beast before You
Yet I was always with You
You have taken hold of my right hand.
With Your counsel you will guide me
And afterward receive me to glory
The problem, the psalmist realizes, is not God, but himself. We humans are so weak and so filled with doubts. We often ignore in our daily lives that which is so clear in God’s presence. We can be so stupid when faced with one reality, forgetting that a greater Reality exists. The psalmist admits that God had never left him, that He was there the whole time, helping him through his doubts and despair.
Whom have I in heaven?
On earth there is nothing I desire but You.
My body and mind may end
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
See, those who are far from You, You will destroy.
You have destroyed all who play the harlot.
As for me, the nearness of God is good for me.
I have made Yahweh my God my shelter.
That I may relate all of your works.
As opposed to the wicked, who sees everything they want on earth and obtain it by their greed, the psalmist is not greedy. He doesn’t want the things of earth. Rather, he only wants God. Inheritances fail, economics falter, oppression reigns, and all of life ends. But if we are in God, in God’s goodness and justice, it will never end. God will cause us to live forever, if we make Him our security. God alone is enough. We need have nothing else.
Despite out Doubts, God is Still With Us
Thursday, March 20, 2008
In The Wilderness-- Psalm 63
A Davidic Psalm. When he was in the wilderness of Judah.
O God, You are my God
I earnestly seek you.
My very being thirst for you
Like a parched and exhausted land with no water
So I have looked for You in the sanctuary
To see your power and your glory
For your faithful love is better than life
My lips will praise You.
So I bless you all my life
I will lift up my hands in Your name.
My soul is satisfied with fatness
My mouth offers praises with joyful lips
When I remember you on my bed
I meditate on you in the watches of the night,
For You have been my help
And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.
My soul clings to You,
Your right hand supports me
Those seeking to destroy my life
May they go to the depths of the earth
May they be split apart by the sword
May they be a prey for jackals.
But the king will find joy in God
All who swears by Him will glory
For the mouths of those who speak lies is stopped
He was running, running, running. His breath burst within his chest, painfully. Across the desert he wandered, cracks in the ground, jagged rocks rising from the parched land like bones. No matter where he looked, there was disaster. The soldiers would capture him for sure.
One of his finest companions, Uriah, was beside him. “Sir,” he panted, running beside his master, “Let us hide among the crooked rocks. Perhaps we could hide and gain some rest.”
“No,” David gasped, each stride desperately pointed in a particular direction.
“But, sir! Surely they will capture us!”
“No, we will get there first. Come!” David turned to enter the rocks. Uriah looked, mystified at David’s response. Did he listen to him or not? David runs around a few tall finger-like stones then stops, breathing heavily for a full five minutes until his lungs quieted. David was whispering, repeating like a mantra, “This is not the shelter I seek, this is not the shelter I seek.”
Behind him, Uriah could hear the soldiers walking close behind him. “The traitor must have run into these rocks, Sire. Only he would be so stupid to stop in the only hiding place in all this area. We will find him quickly. And destroy him forever.”
David gasped. The king! The king is with them. How David longed to grasp hold of his hand and beg for forgiveness, for whatever he had done. David knew that if he could just talk to the king, explain to him what the reality is, all this unpleasantness would be behind him.
“Do you think he is really in here, son?” Saul’s words were slurred as if he were drunk or drugged. David was infuriated. What have they done to my lord?
“Yes, sire. He will be dead in moments and your fears can be put to rest.” Fears! Thought David. This liar had drugged his king, convinced him that he was Jonathan, and then spread lied about David! Anger enflamed David’s mind. He would pay—this little man would squirm and moan in pain.
But the contingent of the king entered the rocks, turning dangerously close to David and his two men. Just as the last man entered the shelter, David ran out, straight across the open desert. Uriah shrugged and looked at the other man, and ran, following David.
The sun beat down on them, pushing them across the desert, causing precious moisture to escape from their bodies, dripping, wasted, upon the parched ground. In the distance, however, Uriah was making out a community. It was bare, only a few tents resting in the middle of empty wilderness, but it was clearly where David was heading.
They continued to run without rest until they reached the first tent. David ran right past it, to other tents in the community. Uriah paused and looked behind him. The king’s soldiers would be close behind them, but they haven’t finished looking through the rocks yet. Uriah breathed easier. There would be a little time. They could escape, if only they would leave this camp quickly.
Uriah turned toward the tents and walked through a few of them. On the other side of the camp, he spied David’s other men. “Adino!” Uriah called, and the two embraced, kissing each other on the cheeks. “How did you come here?”
“David sent us before you left. Didn’t you know?”
Uriah shrugged. “For once, he kept his own counsel.’ Uriah looked around, “Where is he? I know he came over here.”
Adino’s face scrunched up in disgust, “He didn’t greet us—not even to wave. He passed by as if we were strangers—or worse, enemies!—and ran into a tent there.”
“Which one?”
“That one over there.”
Uriah followed Adino’s finger, and walked to the tent. The flap was left open—stupid, allowing all the cool air of the morning escape to mix with the afternoon heat—so Uriah ducked under the flap and spied his master.
At the far end of the tent was the holy of holies, the seat of the Most High. There at the top were the seraphim—the angels that upheld the power and glory of God himself. Uriah struck, stunned. He had never seen such a sight before. For all of David’s clear devotion to Yahweh, Uriah was a foreigner, a Hittite, and his gods were different. But still, such an idol as this, with such clear power! No wonder David was so devoted!
And there was the man himself, prostrate before the image of the seat of God, murmuring. No, wait. He wasn’t just mumbling a prayer. He was singing! Uriah could make out some of the words, “My soul is satisfied… your right hand supports me…” Uriah mocked his devotion to himself. David sometimes could be so obtuse—not even seeing what situation he was in!
“My lord, the soldiers will soon leave the rocks and they will know where we…”
“SHUT UP! Just shut up! Don’t you think I know all that? This is where I am supposed to be.”
“Surely you don’t want us all to be captured…”
“We won’t be! And even if we are, what I am doing here is more important than life itself.”
“More important than your men?” Uriah scoffed. “Is your song to your god worth your faithlessness to your men who dedicated themselves to you?”
“I was up all night, Uriah,” David’s eyes were wild, almost insane. Uriah stayed silent, fearing David’s reaction. “And a song came to me, as if in a dream. ‘O God, you are my God,’ I sang in the midst of my enemies. And I knew that I had to reach the Sanctuary. I had to be before my God. Deliverance is not to be found in hiding, but in devotion. Don’t trust in me, Uriah. I am just a man. Trust in God.”
Raining, raining, raining. He awoke, cold and in the storm, with a light shining in his eyes and a shout in his ears. “Excuse me sir! Will you please come out of the tent!” Cops, he thought dejectedly. Why can’t they leave me alone? All I’m trying to do is sleep.
He got up to obey the command when he stopped suddenly. He could hear sniffing along the front of the tent. A K-9 unit. Suddenly fear gripped his heart. It was only a month ago when his friend, camped only a short distance from this very place, was attacked by a police dog. His leg and arm was all chewed up and he spent a week in the hospital. The doctors say he will walk again. Eventually. But the scars on his face and the fear in his heart would never heal. Never.
One of the cops was yelling, “C’mon—get out of there!”
“I’m coming!” David yelled back sharply. He arose out of his bag, put on his hat, and escaped under the tent in the back.
Damn, it was cold! He had no shoes and no coat and the icy wind blew on him, causing pellets of freezing rain to pelt his bare face. He dipped his head down to allow his hat to block the worst of the weather and he turned aside behind a tree. Shit! He stepped right into his latrine. And it was cold, too! What else could go wrong?
“He’s not in there,” he heard a shout a few yards back. “He must have gotten out through the back! C’mon!” Footsteps ran after him, and he escaped for his life.
His only deliverance was that he knew the small patch of woods better than the cops. For the last month he had been finding and following a three inch wide path through the woods to his camp in the dark. Even in the pitch black of 1am, he could follow it out. The cops didn’t know where he was going.
As David ran past tree after tree, swerving through the branches, he had time to consider. What have I done wrong? Perhaps they looking for a criminal, like they were last month. But probably they were just kicking him out. Maybe a neighbor saw him enter the woods and it took them all night to find his camp. Damn. That place is gone. As well as my tent. And my blankets. And food.
Don’t I have the right to sleep? It wasn’t my choice to be homeless. I don’t have much choice about it now. Don’t the cops know how difficult life is here? David has been outside for three years, and each winter is more difficult than the last. He had to stay in the urban area in order to take advantage of the services that were available there, but even with the few charities available, none of them had enough resources to get him off the street. To get him a truck to sleep in. To recover the tools someone had stolen from him so he could get back to his trade.
But David knew that the cops didn’t care about that. They saw him as a criminal, a thief of air and water and uncared-for property because he did not have the money or employment to pay for four walls and a roof.
Only five minutes later, however, he was out of woods, and the shelter of the trees fell behind him. He had gained a head start in front of the cops, but now he was out in the open and they could set their dog on him anytime. They might even shoot at him, like they did that girl who panicked at a pull-over and drove away. She’s dead now. What was he to do?
The church. It’s right around the corner. If there is just a slight possibility the priest forgot to lock the door…
He ran down the block to the doors of the chapel. Behind him, a full block away, the cops were huffing, trying to shout, “Stop!” but getting caught up by their short breath. Please, be open, please… He tried the tall door and, miracle enough, it was open! David entered and tried to shut the door behind him, but it was slowed by one of those things that closed doors carefully. Damn, come on! Finally, the door was shut and he locked it.
Walking through the foyer, he walked into the sanctuary. The lights were all off. He must be here by himself. Perhaps he could crash here for the night, get up early and then figure out where he could get a new tent. And blankets. And a coat. And shoes. He sighed. It would be a long day, full of refusals and dirty looks, as if he wanted to be ill-prepared at the beginning of winter.
Then he looked at the front of the sanctuary. There was Jesus, arms open, heart exposed. David snorted in disgust. He was raised to not worship idols, he mused. Nevertheless, there was something peaceful here. He felt at ease.
The cops reached the door and were pounding at it. “Let us in, or we’ll break it down!” David turned toward the door in fear. It wasn’t solid—they could break it, if they wanted. He spun around, scanning the room. Where to hide, where to go…
Suddenly, strangely, he remembered his dream. David, the warrior, his namesake, running to the sanctuary of God, only to pray from deliverance from his enemies. He wouldn’t escape, even though he could. He even endangered his men, because he was certain that God would deliver him. If only he would pray.
As the cops pounded on the door, David went to the front of the sanctuary, bowed his knees, turned his face away from the painted Jesus, and began to recite the words he had memorized as a child in Sunday school, “O God, thou art my God. Early will I seek Thee. My soul thirsteth for Thee, my flesh longeth for Thee in a dry and weary land where no water is…”
There was no hope, there was no escape. There is only God in this place. So only He could provide peace.
The presence of God gives us hope, even in the midst of calamity.
O God, You are my God
I earnestly seek you.
My very being thirst for you
Like a parched and exhausted land with no water
So I have looked for You in the sanctuary
To see your power and your glory
For your faithful love is better than life
My lips will praise You.
So I bless you all my life
I will lift up my hands in Your name.
My soul is satisfied with fatness
My mouth offers praises with joyful lips
When I remember you on my bed
I meditate on you in the watches of the night,
For You have been my help
And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.
My soul clings to You,
Your right hand supports me
Those seeking to destroy my life
May they go to the depths of the earth
May they be split apart by the sword
May they be a prey for jackals.
But the king will find joy in God
All who swears by Him will glory
For the mouths of those who speak lies is stopped
He was running, running, running. His breath burst within his chest, painfully. Across the desert he wandered, cracks in the ground, jagged rocks rising from the parched land like bones. No matter where he looked, there was disaster. The soldiers would capture him for sure.
One of his finest companions, Uriah, was beside him. “Sir,” he panted, running beside his master, “Let us hide among the crooked rocks. Perhaps we could hide and gain some rest.”
“No,” David gasped, each stride desperately pointed in a particular direction.
“But, sir! Surely they will capture us!”
“No, we will get there first. Come!” David turned to enter the rocks. Uriah looked, mystified at David’s response. Did he listen to him or not? David runs around a few tall finger-like stones then stops, breathing heavily for a full five minutes until his lungs quieted. David was whispering, repeating like a mantra, “This is not the shelter I seek, this is not the shelter I seek.”
Behind him, Uriah could hear the soldiers walking close behind him. “The traitor must have run into these rocks, Sire. Only he would be so stupid to stop in the only hiding place in all this area. We will find him quickly. And destroy him forever.”
David gasped. The king! The king is with them. How David longed to grasp hold of his hand and beg for forgiveness, for whatever he had done. David knew that if he could just talk to the king, explain to him what the reality is, all this unpleasantness would be behind him.
“Do you think he is really in here, son?” Saul’s words were slurred as if he were drunk or drugged. David was infuriated. What have they done to my lord?
“Yes, sire. He will be dead in moments and your fears can be put to rest.” Fears! Thought David. This liar had drugged his king, convinced him that he was Jonathan, and then spread lied about David! Anger enflamed David’s mind. He would pay—this little man would squirm and moan in pain.
But the contingent of the king entered the rocks, turning dangerously close to David and his two men. Just as the last man entered the shelter, David ran out, straight across the open desert. Uriah shrugged and looked at the other man, and ran, following David.
The sun beat down on them, pushing them across the desert, causing precious moisture to escape from their bodies, dripping, wasted, upon the parched ground. In the distance, however, Uriah was making out a community. It was bare, only a few tents resting in the middle of empty wilderness, but it was clearly where David was heading.
They continued to run without rest until they reached the first tent. David ran right past it, to other tents in the community. Uriah paused and looked behind him. The king’s soldiers would be close behind them, but they haven’t finished looking through the rocks yet. Uriah breathed easier. There would be a little time. They could escape, if only they would leave this camp quickly.
Uriah turned toward the tents and walked through a few of them. On the other side of the camp, he spied David’s other men. “Adino!” Uriah called, and the two embraced, kissing each other on the cheeks. “How did you come here?”
“David sent us before you left. Didn’t you know?”
Uriah shrugged. “For once, he kept his own counsel.’ Uriah looked around, “Where is he? I know he came over here.”
Adino’s face scrunched up in disgust, “He didn’t greet us—not even to wave. He passed by as if we were strangers—or worse, enemies!—and ran into a tent there.”
“Which one?”
“That one over there.”
Uriah followed Adino’s finger, and walked to the tent. The flap was left open—stupid, allowing all the cool air of the morning escape to mix with the afternoon heat—so Uriah ducked under the flap and spied his master.
At the far end of the tent was the holy of holies, the seat of the Most High. There at the top were the seraphim—the angels that upheld the power and glory of God himself. Uriah struck, stunned. He had never seen such a sight before. For all of David’s clear devotion to Yahweh, Uriah was a foreigner, a Hittite, and his gods were different. But still, such an idol as this, with such clear power! No wonder David was so devoted!
And there was the man himself, prostrate before the image of the seat of God, murmuring. No, wait. He wasn’t just mumbling a prayer. He was singing! Uriah could make out some of the words, “My soul is satisfied… your right hand supports me…” Uriah mocked his devotion to himself. David sometimes could be so obtuse—not even seeing what situation he was in!
“My lord, the soldiers will soon leave the rocks and they will know where we…”
“SHUT UP! Just shut up! Don’t you think I know all that? This is where I am supposed to be.”
“Surely you don’t want us all to be captured…”
“We won’t be! And even if we are, what I am doing here is more important than life itself.”
“More important than your men?” Uriah scoffed. “Is your song to your god worth your faithlessness to your men who dedicated themselves to you?”
“I was up all night, Uriah,” David’s eyes were wild, almost insane. Uriah stayed silent, fearing David’s reaction. “And a song came to me, as if in a dream. ‘O God, you are my God,’ I sang in the midst of my enemies. And I knew that I had to reach the Sanctuary. I had to be before my God. Deliverance is not to be found in hiding, but in devotion. Don’t trust in me, Uriah. I am just a man. Trust in God.”
Raining, raining, raining. He awoke, cold and in the storm, with a light shining in his eyes and a shout in his ears. “Excuse me sir! Will you please come out of the tent!” Cops, he thought dejectedly. Why can’t they leave me alone? All I’m trying to do is sleep.
He got up to obey the command when he stopped suddenly. He could hear sniffing along the front of the tent. A K-9 unit. Suddenly fear gripped his heart. It was only a month ago when his friend, camped only a short distance from this very place, was attacked by a police dog. His leg and arm was all chewed up and he spent a week in the hospital. The doctors say he will walk again. Eventually. But the scars on his face and the fear in his heart would never heal. Never.
One of the cops was yelling, “C’mon—get out of there!”
“I’m coming!” David yelled back sharply. He arose out of his bag, put on his hat, and escaped under the tent in the back.
Damn, it was cold! He had no shoes and no coat and the icy wind blew on him, causing pellets of freezing rain to pelt his bare face. He dipped his head down to allow his hat to block the worst of the weather and he turned aside behind a tree. Shit! He stepped right into his latrine. And it was cold, too! What else could go wrong?
“He’s not in there,” he heard a shout a few yards back. “He must have gotten out through the back! C’mon!” Footsteps ran after him, and he escaped for his life.
His only deliverance was that he knew the small patch of woods better than the cops. For the last month he had been finding and following a three inch wide path through the woods to his camp in the dark. Even in the pitch black of 1am, he could follow it out. The cops didn’t know where he was going.
As David ran past tree after tree, swerving through the branches, he had time to consider. What have I done wrong? Perhaps they looking for a criminal, like they were last month. But probably they were just kicking him out. Maybe a neighbor saw him enter the woods and it took them all night to find his camp. Damn. That place is gone. As well as my tent. And my blankets. And food.
Don’t I have the right to sleep? It wasn’t my choice to be homeless. I don’t have much choice about it now. Don’t the cops know how difficult life is here? David has been outside for three years, and each winter is more difficult than the last. He had to stay in the urban area in order to take advantage of the services that were available there, but even with the few charities available, none of them had enough resources to get him off the street. To get him a truck to sleep in. To recover the tools someone had stolen from him so he could get back to his trade.
But David knew that the cops didn’t care about that. They saw him as a criminal, a thief of air and water and uncared-for property because he did not have the money or employment to pay for four walls and a roof.
Only five minutes later, however, he was out of woods, and the shelter of the trees fell behind him. He had gained a head start in front of the cops, but now he was out in the open and they could set their dog on him anytime. They might even shoot at him, like they did that girl who panicked at a pull-over and drove away. She’s dead now. What was he to do?
The church. It’s right around the corner. If there is just a slight possibility the priest forgot to lock the door…
He ran down the block to the doors of the chapel. Behind him, a full block away, the cops were huffing, trying to shout, “Stop!” but getting caught up by their short breath. Please, be open, please… He tried the tall door and, miracle enough, it was open! David entered and tried to shut the door behind him, but it was slowed by one of those things that closed doors carefully. Damn, come on! Finally, the door was shut and he locked it.
Walking through the foyer, he walked into the sanctuary. The lights were all off. He must be here by himself. Perhaps he could crash here for the night, get up early and then figure out where he could get a new tent. And blankets. And a coat. And shoes. He sighed. It would be a long day, full of refusals and dirty looks, as if he wanted to be ill-prepared at the beginning of winter.
Then he looked at the front of the sanctuary. There was Jesus, arms open, heart exposed. David snorted in disgust. He was raised to not worship idols, he mused. Nevertheless, there was something peaceful here. He felt at ease.
The cops reached the door and were pounding at it. “Let us in, or we’ll break it down!” David turned toward the door in fear. It wasn’t solid—they could break it, if they wanted. He spun around, scanning the room. Where to hide, where to go…
Suddenly, strangely, he remembered his dream. David, the warrior, his namesake, running to the sanctuary of God, only to pray from deliverance from his enemies. He wouldn’t escape, even though he could. He even endangered his men, because he was certain that God would deliver him. If only he would pray.
As the cops pounded on the door, David went to the front of the sanctuary, bowed his knees, turned his face away from the painted Jesus, and began to recite the words he had memorized as a child in Sunday school, “O God, thou art my God. Early will I seek Thee. My soul thirsteth for Thee, my flesh longeth for Thee in a dry and weary land where no water is…”
There was no hope, there was no escape. There is only God in this place. So only He could provide peace.
The presence of God gives us hope, even in the midst of calamity.
Corruption-- Psalm 53
For the leader, according to Mahalath. A Maskil of David.
Psalm 53 is exactly the same as Psalm 14—the only real repetition in the psalms. Perhaps this is an editorial oversight, or perhaps the editor wanted to make sure this psalm didn’t get missed.
The rebellious idiot said in his heart, "There is no God."
They are corrupt
Committing abominable deeds
The person who is being spoken of is not just a “fool” as in the standard translations. He is someone who is rebellious, evil, attempting to do that which is destructive and selfish. At first sight, it seems that this fool is an atheist. But in fact, he is not denying the existence of God or gods, but the reality of judgment. This is his excuse for doing his evil deeds in order to accomplish what he wants corruptly. He tells himself, “God isn’t really going to judge me for this. He isn’t interested in my minor actions. Even if there is a god, he has no interest or power to act against me. I am free to do what I please.” Ultimately, this is a person who thinks there are no consequences for his actions.
There is none that does good.
God looks down from heaven upon the sons of men
To see if there is anyone who sees
Who seeks after God.
Every one of them has turned aside
Together they have become corrupt
There is none that does good
Not even one.
The psalmist then changes his focus for a moment. Before he was focused on the few individuals who live according to the creed, “No evil will befall me no matter what I do”. Now, he looks at all humanity, and points out that none of us are free from this corrupt concept. Even those of us who want to do what is right and holy before God, we also are rebellious fools in some way. Every one of us see what God wants us to do and does something else. Every one of us closes our eyes to God’s perfection and live just in the moment. Every one of us is trapped by our own desires and faults, our minor corruptions and weaknesses. Paul calls this human nature “the flesh” and John clearly states “Anyone who says he has not sinned is a liar.” (Romans 7; I John 1:8). So the psalmist is saying that even though he is pointing out a particular fault in some folks, this fault exists in all of us, without exception.
Have those who work evil no knowledge
Who eat up my people as they eat bread
And do not call upon God?
There they were, in terror, where no terror was,
For God will scatter the bones of him who camped against You
They will be put to shame
For God has rejected them.
The psalmist now stares in disbelief at the actions of those so thoroughly corrupt that they attack God’s people, the poor, to steal from them, attack them and kill them. He is amazed because they have forgotten God so completely. Sure, he says, we are all forgetful at times, but most of us have a limit. But these people have no fear of God whatsoever—and this, he says, is their ultimate corruption. Now they will face the Great Terror—the judgment of God. God has rejected them and will destroy them completely. Not only will they be killed, but their bones will be scattered throughout the earth, their souls never at peace for the rest of eternity.
Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion!
When God restores the fortunes of his people
Jacob will rejoice and be glad.
This paragraph is about God’s people, asking for deliverance. Zion is the place where God’s temple stands. The real shock of what the psalmist sees is not the thoroughly corrupt nature of some, but the attack of God’s people. How the helpless are attacked and those that trust in God. And for those who trust in God, they have only one Resource, one Security.
And so, in speaking of the corruption of some evil ones, as well as the corruption of all humanity, the psalmist was really just leading up to a prayer of rescue. “O God! Save those who trust in You alone! They have no defense against the corrupt—please be there for them.”
Interestingly enough, the psalmist doesn’t speak of confidence in God, as other psalms do. The psalm ends on a hope—a desperate hope, but just a hope—in God’s deliverance.
Evil abounds, but cling to hope in God
Psalm 53 is exactly the same as Psalm 14—the only real repetition in the psalms. Perhaps this is an editorial oversight, or perhaps the editor wanted to make sure this psalm didn’t get missed.
The rebellious idiot said in his heart, "There is no God."
They are corrupt
Committing abominable deeds
The person who is being spoken of is not just a “fool” as in the standard translations. He is someone who is rebellious, evil, attempting to do that which is destructive and selfish. At first sight, it seems that this fool is an atheist. But in fact, he is not denying the existence of God or gods, but the reality of judgment. This is his excuse for doing his evil deeds in order to accomplish what he wants corruptly. He tells himself, “God isn’t really going to judge me for this. He isn’t interested in my minor actions. Even if there is a god, he has no interest or power to act against me. I am free to do what I please.” Ultimately, this is a person who thinks there are no consequences for his actions.
There is none that does good.
God looks down from heaven upon the sons of men
To see if there is anyone who sees
Who seeks after God.
Every one of them has turned aside
Together they have become corrupt
There is none that does good
Not even one.
The psalmist then changes his focus for a moment. Before he was focused on the few individuals who live according to the creed, “No evil will befall me no matter what I do”. Now, he looks at all humanity, and points out that none of us are free from this corrupt concept. Even those of us who want to do what is right and holy before God, we also are rebellious fools in some way. Every one of us see what God wants us to do and does something else. Every one of us closes our eyes to God’s perfection and live just in the moment. Every one of us is trapped by our own desires and faults, our minor corruptions and weaknesses. Paul calls this human nature “the flesh” and John clearly states “Anyone who says he has not sinned is a liar.” (Romans 7; I John 1:8). So the psalmist is saying that even though he is pointing out a particular fault in some folks, this fault exists in all of us, without exception.
Have those who work evil no knowledge
Who eat up my people as they eat bread
And do not call upon God?
There they were, in terror, where no terror was,
For God will scatter the bones of him who camped against You
They will be put to shame
For God has rejected them.
The psalmist now stares in disbelief at the actions of those so thoroughly corrupt that they attack God’s people, the poor, to steal from them, attack them and kill them. He is amazed because they have forgotten God so completely. Sure, he says, we are all forgetful at times, but most of us have a limit. But these people have no fear of God whatsoever—and this, he says, is their ultimate corruption. Now they will face the Great Terror—the judgment of God. God has rejected them and will destroy them completely. Not only will they be killed, but their bones will be scattered throughout the earth, their souls never at peace for the rest of eternity.
Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion!
When God restores the fortunes of his people
Jacob will rejoice and be glad.
This paragraph is about God’s people, asking for deliverance. Zion is the place where God’s temple stands. The real shock of what the psalmist sees is not the thoroughly corrupt nature of some, but the attack of God’s people. How the helpless are attacked and those that trust in God. And for those who trust in God, they have only one Resource, one Security.
And so, in speaking of the corruption of some evil ones, as well as the corruption of all humanity, the psalmist was really just leading up to a prayer of rescue. “O God! Save those who trust in You alone! They have no defense against the corrupt—please be there for them.”
Interestingly enough, the psalmist doesn’t speak of confidence in God, as other psalms do. The psalm ends on a hope—a desperate hope, but just a hope—in God’s deliverance.
Evil abounds, but cling to hope in God
Thursday, March 6, 2008
A Pardon From the Governor Psalm 51
For the leader. A psalm of David. When Nathan the prophet came into him after he had gone into Bathsheba.
The background of this psalm, although seemingly clear in the introduction, is actually muddled. The text of the psalm, especially the closing verses, seem to indicate an author during the exile of Judah, because he is hoping for the rebuilding of Jerusalem. It does have the feel of a Davidic psalm, having many of the themes of other Davidic psalms, but it seems written much later. But the introduction points the context to be when David was publicly caught in his act of adultery and murder by the prophet Nathan. In all probability, the psalm was written during the period of exile, possibly to represent all of Israel (like the penitent prayer of Daniel 9). Later, someone applied the Davidic narrative to explain it being a “Davidic” psalm.
Grant me grace, God, as befits Your kindness
With Your great mercy wipe away my crimes.
Thoroughly wash my transgressions away
And cleanse me from my offense.
For my crimes I know
And my offense is before me always.
You alone have I offended
And what is evil in Your eyes I have done.
So you are just when you sentence
You are right when you judge.
Look, in transgression was I conceived
And in offense my mother spawned me.
In these first verses, the psalmist is mixing three themes: 1. First of all, he admits his crime. He knows just how sinful he is, that his sin is built into him. It is as if he is recognizing his own genetic makeup and that he has a tendency to sin, even though this is not what he wants to do. Yet at the same time, he cannot deny his own culpability. He is responsible for his own sin before God, and he deserves whatever God gives him. 2. The offense is against God. The psalmist is not denying that he has responsibility for other people in his sin, but since God is his judge, God is the one to whom he must answer. It is his separation from God is that is most offensive in his sin, and it is God to whom he must plead. 3. He is asking for mercy. God could sentence him, punish him to death. The psalmist knows he deserves it. But He is asking for God to make the offense disappear, to erase it from the record books. This doesn’t mean that he doesn’t recognize his weakness to avoid it, but it does mean that God wouldn’t punish him.
Look, you desired truth in what is hidden;
In what is concealed make wisdom known to me.
The psalmist here recognizes that sin lies deep within him and that the sin lies to him. He often believes what is not true so that he could continue in his sin. But he knows that God isn’t interested in our excuses. He wants truth in us, so we don’t lie to Him and don’t lie to ourselves. So the psalmist begs the Lord to make wisdom and truth appear within him, so he wouldn’t be deceived by his own sin anymore.
Purify me with a hyssop, that I may be clean
Wash me, that I be whiter than snow.
Let me hear gladness and joy,
Let the bones that You crushed exult.
Avert your face from my offenses,
And all my misdeeds wipe away.
A pure heart create for me, God,
And a firm spirit renew within me.
Do not fling me from Your presence,
And Your holy spirit take not from me.
Give me back the gladness of Your rescue
And with a noble spirit sustain me.
Here the psalmist very specifically describes what he expects if God is going to grant him forgiveness. If his sin is truly wiped away, these are the results that he expects: a. His guilt would be cleansed away, as one would wipe away dirt; b. He would experience the joy of being forgiven; c. That his resolve to think and act for God would be renewed; d. That he would recognize God’s presence in his life and e. That he would experience God’s deliverance again from those who want to harm him.
A couple points of explanation: Hyssop is a plant that was used in purification ceremonies to take away the guilt of a sinner. The “holy spirit” is not the third person of the trinity in Christian theology, but God’s presence as a whole. He is called the Holy Spirit because, as opposed to the psalmist, God is holy, and holiness cannot abide with sin. The psalmist is recognizing this, and so asking to be made so pure that God might abide with him.
Let me teach transgressors Your ways,
And offenders will come back to You.
Save me from bloodshed, O God,
God of my rescue.
Let my tongue sing out You bounty.
O Master, open my lips
That my tongue may tell Your praise.
The psalmist is not just insisting on receiving, however. He wants to give back. For his purity, he will do two things—First, he will tell others of what he learned about himself and about God. He will tell them of the way back to God, and that God will receive them and forgive them. Secondly, he will proclaim God’s mercy and provision. God will be glorified for His mercy on the psalmist.
For You desire not that I should give sacrifice,
Burnt offering You greet not with pleasure.
God’s sacrifices—a broken spirit.
A broken, crushed heart God spurns not.
Show goodness in Your pleasure to Zion,
Rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
Then shall You desire just sacrifices,
Burnt-offering and whole offering
Then bulls will be offered up on Your altar.
Finally, the psalmist has a discussion of worship—specifically sacrifices. Sacrifices in the ancient world was a gift to be offered to God, sometimes so that God would ignore sin, and sometimes just to curry favor with the Lord of the Universe. These sacrifices aren’t that much different than going to church or putting money in an offering basket. But the psalmist clearly recognizes that these kinds of worship aren’t the way to cover up one’s sin. A sin doesn’t get covered by one’s own act. Rather, sin is written off simply by an act of mercy by the Judge. So how does one curry favor with a Judge who knows all your sin? Simply this—by recognizing and openly regretting one’s sin. If the Judge sees how regretful one is, then He will forgive. He doesn’t want a bribe or a deal. He just wants sorrow and humility. After this, yes, offerings can be made as a part of one’s regular devotion. But we can’t use the semblance of devotion or praise as a way to cover up evil done. That is for after our recognition of sin.
(This translation of Psalm 51 was done by Robert Alter, who, in my opinion, is probably the finest modern translator of the Hebrew Bible.)
The background of this psalm, although seemingly clear in the introduction, is actually muddled. The text of the psalm, especially the closing verses, seem to indicate an author during the exile of Judah, because he is hoping for the rebuilding of Jerusalem. It does have the feel of a Davidic psalm, having many of the themes of other Davidic psalms, but it seems written much later. But the introduction points the context to be when David was publicly caught in his act of adultery and murder by the prophet Nathan. In all probability, the psalm was written during the period of exile, possibly to represent all of Israel (like the penitent prayer of Daniel 9). Later, someone applied the Davidic narrative to explain it being a “Davidic” psalm.
Grant me grace, God, as befits Your kindness
With Your great mercy wipe away my crimes.
Thoroughly wash my transgressions away
And cleanse me from my offense.
For my crimes I know
And my offense is before me always.
You alone have I offended
And what is evil in Your eyes I have done.
So you are just when you sentence
You are right when you judge.
Look, in transgression was I conceived
And in offense my mother spawned me.
In these first verses, the psalmist is mixing three themes: 1. First of all, he admits his crime. He knows just how sinful he is, that his sin is built into him. It is as if he is recognizing his own genetic makeup and that he has a tendency to sin, even though this is not what he wants to do. Yet at the same time, he cannot deny his own culpability. He is responsible for his own sin before God, and he deserves whatever God gives him. 2. The offense is against God. The psalmist is not denying that he has responsibility for other people in his sin, but since God is his judge, God is the one to whom he must answer. It is his separation from God is that is most offensive in his sin, and it is God to whom he must plead. 3. He is asking for mercy. God could sentence him, punish him to death. The psalmist knows he deserves it. But He is asking for God to make the offense disappear, to erase it from the record books. This doesn’t mean that he doesn’t recognize his weakness to avoid it, but it does mean that God wouldn’t punish him.
Look, you desired truth in what is hidden;
In what is concealed make wisdom known to me.
The psalmist here recognizes that sin lies deep within him and that the sin lies to him. He often believes what is not true so that he could continue in his sin. But he knows that God isn’t interested in our excuses. He wants truth in us, so we don’t lie to Him and don’t lie to ourselves. So the psalmist begs the Lord to make wisdom and truth appear within him, so he wouldn’t be deceived by his own sin anymore.
Purify me with a hyssop, that I may be clean
Wash me, that I be whiter than snow.
Let me hear gladness and joy,
Let the bones that You crushed exult.
Avert your face from my offenses,
And all my misdeeds wipe away.
A pure heart create for me, God,
And a firm spirit renew within me.
Do not fling me from Your presence,
And Your holy spirit take not from me.
Give me back the gladness of Your rescue
And with a noble spirit sustain me.
Here the psalmist very specifically describes what he expects if God is going to grant him forgiveness. If his sin is truly wiped away, these are the results that he expects: a. His guilt would be cleansed away, as one would wipe away dirt; b. He would experience the joy of being forgiven; c. That his resolve to think and act for God would be renewed; d. That he would recognize God’s presence in his life and e. That he would experience God’s deliverance again from those who want to harm him.
A couple points of explanation: Hyssop is a plant that was used in purification ceremonies to take away the guilt of a sinner. The “holy spirit” is not the third person of the trinity in Christian theology, but God’s presence as a whole. He is called the Holy Spirit because, as opposed to the psalmist, God is holy, and holiness cannot abide with sin. The psalmist is recognizing this, and so asking to be made so pure that God might abide with him.
Let me teach transgressors Your ways,
And offenders will come back to You.
Save me from bloodshed, O God,
God of my rescue.
Let my tongue sing out You bounty.
O Master, open my lips
That my tongue may tell Your praise.
The psalmist is not just insisting on receiving, however. He wants to give back. For his purity, he will do two things—First, he will tell others of what he learned about himself and about God. He will tell them of the way back to God, and that God will receive them and forgive them. Secondly, he will proclaim God’s mercy and provision. God will be glorified for His mercy on the psalmist.
For You desire not that I should give sacrifice,
Burnt offering You greet not with pleasure.
God’s sacrifices—a broken spirit.
A broken, crushed heart God spurns not.
Show goodness in Your pleasure to Zion,
Rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
Then shall You desire just sacrifices,
Burnt-offering and whole offering
Then bulls will be offered up on Your altar.
Finally, the psalmist has a discussion of worship—specifically sacrifices. Sacrifices in the ancient world was a gift to be offered to God, sometimes so that God would ignore sin, and sometimes just to curry favor with the Lord of the Universe. These sacrifices aren’t that much different than going to church or putting money in an offering basket. But the psalmist clearly recognizes that these kinds of worship aren’t the way to cover up one’s sin. A sin doesn’t get covered by one’s own act. Rather, sin is written off simply by an act of mercy by the Judge. So how does one curry favor with a Judge who knows all your sin? Simply this—by recognizing and openly regretting one’s sin. If the Judge sees how regretful one is, then He will forgive. He doesn’t want a bribe or a deal. He just wants sorrow and humility. After this, yes, offerings can be made as a part of one’s regular devotion. But we can’t use the semblance of devotion or praise as a way to cover up evil done. That is for after our recognition of sin.
(This translation of Psalm 51 was done by Robert Alter, who, in my opinion, is probably the finest modern translator of the Hebrew Bible.)
A Social Worker, Attacked Psalm 41
For the leader. A psalm of David.
Whether this psalm was written by David or not, it is certainly characteristic of David, and it matches a time of David’s life, when he was being slandered by Absalom, his son, and his son’s friends, even though David had done good for the poor. When a psalm says, “For the leader”, it probably means the music or choir leader.
How blessed is he who acts with wisdom for the needy;
Yahweh will deliver him in a day of trouble.
It is clear throughout Scripture that those who assist the poor receive certain helps from God. It is recognized that they receive few benefits from the earth, and because of this, every injustice is righted by God. God punishes those who oppress the poor personally (Psalm 82, Exodus 22:22-24). And God also rewards those who help the poor, especially if they receive no reward for it in this life (Proverbs 19:17;28:27; Matthew 5:7; Luke 12:32-33). This psalm, then, begins by speaking of the one who helps the poor and the help that he or she will receive from God.
But it is not speaking of anyone who helps the poor. The person who does so flippantly, or as the mood hits him or her don’t receive this blessing. Rather, the one who makes plans for the poor and carries them out. The one who thinks about the poor and then brings that plan to fruition—that’s the one who is assisted. And he or she isn’t assisted in any way, but they are helped when they need it most, when they are in terrible trouble. At the time of their greatest crisis, God will step in and help them.
Yahweh will watch over him and keep him alive
And he will be called blessed on the earth;
And not hand him over into the power of his enemies.
Yahweh will sustain him upon his sickbed;
When he is ill You will restore him to health.
What kind of crises does the psalm speak about? When people are rising up against him or her and trying to destroy him—then God steps in and delivers them from harm. When the helper of the needy is sick, even as the needy are often sick—then God steps in and heals them. These are just two examples, but they show the justice that God has. If one helps people, gaining nothing for himself or herself, when they are in crisis, then God will help such a one when they are in crisis and there is no one else to help.
I said, "Yahweh have mercy on me
Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You."
The psalmist moves here from general principles to his specific situation. Here, the psalmist admits two things—that he is one who has helped the needy, and that he is a sinner. Yes, he has done good, and yet he has also done evil. He is like most of us that can’t be characterized as either a good guy or a bad guy. He is one who has done great good for those around him. And yet he also has done impure things, things that God has a hard time forgiving. So he is pleading for God’s mercy, to forgive him, to make him a good guy.
My enemies speak evil against me:
"When will he die and his name perish?"
If one comes to visit, he speaks falsely;
His mind gathers to itself mischief,
When he goes outside, he speaks openly.
All my foes whisper together against me;
Devising evil for me,
"May a great harm be poured out on him;
So when he lies down, he will not get up again."
Even my close friend, in whom I trusted
Who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me
The psalmists particular crisis he is dealing with is enemies that are attempting to destroy him. They aren’t taking out knives to kill him or whips to flog him—rather they are spreading terrible rumors about him. They are openly wishing for his death. They come to visit him, knowing he is ill, and hopes that he says something malicious or impure so they can tell everyone about it. And if he doesn’t say anything they can twist out of shape, they just make up something, tearing down his reputation. Even his friends are against him, doubting the psalmist because of the rumors that have been spread.
But You, Yahweh, have grace to me and raise me up
So I may pay them back.
By this I will know that You are pleased with me
Because my enemy will not revel over me
As for me, because of my integrity, you will be my support
You will place me in your presence forever
Now the psalmist has confidence in Yahweh because of the promise of the first part of the psalm. God does help those who have helped the needy, so God will help the psalmist in his time of crisis. He can rest on this, and not be depressed. He knows that God will give him the upper hand—eventually—over his enemies.
Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel
From everlasting to everlasting. Amen and amen.
This last verse is a unique part of the book of Psalms. The book is divided up into five sections, because Psalms is so large it had to be divided up into five scrolls. At the end of each scroll there is a unique praise given to God that is not found anywhere else. They are not especially creative, nor do they always fit the psalm that they are attached to, but they give a praise to God at the end of each section, and they each say “amen” as if to finish a prayer. This psalm is the end of scroll 1, and this two line praise is the conclusion to the scroll.
Whether this psalm was written by David or not, it is certainly characteristic of David, and it matches a time of David’s life, when he was being slandered by Absalom, his son, and his son’s friends, even though David had done good for the poor. When a psalm says, “For the leader”, it probably means the music or choir leader.
How blessed is he who acts with wisdom for the needy;
Yahweh will deliver him in a day of trouble.
It is clear throughout Scripture that those who assist the poor receive certain helps from God. It is recognized that they receive few benefits from the earth, and because of this, every injustice is righted by God. God punishes those who oppress the poor personally (Psalm 82, Exodus 22:22-24). And God also rewards those who help the poor, especially if they receive no reward for it in this life (Proverbs 19:17;28:27; Matthew 5:7; Luke 12:32-33). This psalm, then, begins by speaking of the one who helps the poor and the help that he or she will receive from God.
But it is not speaking of anyone who helps the poor. The person who does so flippantly, or as the mood hits him or her don’t receive this blessing. Rather, the one who makes plans for the poor and carries them out. The one who thinks about the poor and then brings that plan to fruition—that’s the one who is assisted. And he or she isn’t assisted in any way, but they are helped when they need it most, when they are in terrible trouble. At the time of their greatest crisis, God will step in and help them.
Yahweh will watch over him and keep him alive
And he will be called blessed on the earth;
And not hand him over into the power of his enemies.
Yahweh will sustain him upon his sickbed;
When he is ill You will restore him to health.
What kind of crises does the psalm speak about? When people are rising up against him or her and trying to destroy him—then God steps in and delivers them from harm. When the helper of the needy is sick, even as the needy are often sick—then God steps in and heals them. These are just two examples, but they show the justice that God has. If one helps people, gaining nothing for himself or herself, when they are in crisis, then God will help such a one when they are in crisis and there is no one else to help.
I said, "Yahweh have mercy on me
Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You."
The psalmist moves here from general principles to his specific situation. Here, the psalmist admits two things—that he is one who has helped the needy, and that he is a sinner. Yes, he has done good, and yet he has also done evil. He is like most of us that can’t be characterized as either a good guy or a bad guy. He is one who has done great good for those around him. And yet he also has done impure things, things that God has a hard time forgiving. So he is pleading for God’s mercy, to forgive him, to make him a good guy.
My enemies speak evil against me:
"When will he die and his name perish?"
If one comes to visit, he speaks falsely;
His mind gathers to itself mischief,
When he goes outside, he speaks openly.
All my foes whisper together against me;
Devising evil for me,
"May a great harm be poured out on him;
So when he lies down, he will not get up again."
Even my close friend, in whom I trusted
Who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me
The psalmists particular crisis he is dealing with is enemies that are attempting to destroy him. They aren’t taking out knives to kill him or whips to flog him—rather they are spreading terrible rumors about him. They are openly wishing for his death. They come to visit him, knowing he is ill, and hopes that he says something malicious or impure so they can tell everyone about it. And if he doesn’t say anything they can twist out of shape, they just make up something, tearing down his reputation. Even his friends are against him, doubting the psalmist because of the rumors that have been spread.
But You, Yahweh, have grace to me and raise me up
So I may pay them back.
By this I will know that You are pleased with me
Because my enemy will not revel over me
As for me, because of my integrity, you will be my support
You will place me in your presence forever
Now the psalmist has confidence in Yahweh because of the promise of the first part of the psalm. God does help those who have helped the needy, so God will help the psalmist in his time of crisis. He can rest on this, and not be depressed. He knows that God will give him the upper hand—eventually—over his enemies.
Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel
From everlasting to everlasting. Amen and amen.
This last verse is a unique part of the book of Psalms. The book is divided up into five sections, because Psalms is so large it had to be divided up into five scrolls. At the end of each scroll there is a unique praise given to God that is not found anywhere else. They are not especially creative, nor do they always fit the psalm that they are attached to, but they give a praise to God at the end of each section, and they each say “amen” as if to finish a prayer. This psalm is the end of scroll 1, and this two line praise is the conclusion to the scroll.
A Sinner's Faith-- Psalm 40
For the leader. A psalm of David.
Psalm 40 is one of the most popular psalms in modern times. There have been numerous songs written about it (not least U2’s “40”).
I waited constantly for Yahweh
And He inclined toward me and heard my cry.
He brought me out of the watery, roaring pit, from the miry clay
And he set my feet on a rock, securing my steps.
He put a new song in my mouth, praise to our GodThe Psalmist here is remembering God’s deliverance in times past. We do not know any of the details, but the metaphors that he is using are particularly horrific. The Psalmist sees himself in a whirlpool in a deep pit, but God pulls him out and places him on solid ground. God must have delivered him from a terrible calamity.
Many will see it and will fear and trust in Yahweh
Blessed is the man who makes Yahweh his trust
Who turns not to the arrogant and those who turn to falsehood.
The psalmist here is taking his experience and saying that it acts as a basic principle for everyone’s life. If there is anyone who trusts in God, God will not fail him or her, but deliver him. He also says that we shouldn’t listen to people who want to lie to us and say that God can’t help us.
Many deeds have you done, Yahweh, my God--
Wonders and thoughts toward us.
(No one can compare with You)
If I were to relate and speak of them
They would be too many to say.
This passage reminds us of all the great things that God has done, so many that it could not be spoken. But some of God’s deeds are: healing the sick, delivering people out of prison, teaching the ignorant, helping the poor, feeding the hungry, encouraging the depressed and on and on and on…..
Sacrifice and meal offering you do not desire
My ears you have opened
Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required.
Then I said, "Behold I have come
In the scroll of a book it is written of me
To do your will, my God, is my desire
Your law is within my heart.
It seems as if the psalmist were saying that God doesn’t want any kind of sacrifice. But in this passage, as well as many other prophetic passages (such as Isaiah 1), God is not refusing sacrifices and offering so much as saying that other things are more important. Here, the psalmist is talking about obedience as being more important than trying to take care of sin after the fact. When he says “My ears you have opened” it speaks of one’s ears as clay that is blocked up, but God opened it up to be able to hear God and obey. The scroll the psalmist brings to God instead of a sacrifice is his biography. The psalmist isn’t just bringing a dead goat or some grain. Rather, he is offering his life, his whole self to God, every action he does.
I proclaimed righteousness in the great assembly;
I did not restrain my lips-- Yahweh, you know this.
I have not hidden your righteousness in my heart;
I have spoken of your faithfulness and deliverance;
I have not refrained from speaking of your lovingkindness
And fidelity before the Great Congregation.
You, O Yahweh will not withhold your mercy from me
And your kindness and fidelity guard me always.
Because of God’s greatness, and because of the psalmist’s commitment to God, he proclaims God’s greatness in a public forum. He has appointed himself the one to remind others to turn to God, to love God and to remember what God has done. He speaks of his life and God’s actions in his life.
For evils without number surround me
My sins have overtaken me, till I cannot see
They are more than the hairs of my head
And I have not heart to go on.
Suddenly, Psalm 40 turns into a different psalm. Up until this point, the psalm is a symphony of gratitude and of acts of commitment. Now the psalm turns into a common Davidic psalm—“I’m in trouble again, Lord, please help me!” In this case, the psalmist recognizes that his trouble is his own fault—he has sinned, and so, he is facing a lot of trouble. But the amazing thing is the little word “for” at the beginning of this verse. The psalmist was in trouble from the beginning of the psalm and he was just leading up to this cry for help. He expressed all of his commitment and joy and thanks, knowing he was already in trouble. Knowing that he was in crisis. This is similar to Jesus’ statement to those facing persecution: “Rejoice!” he says. Recognize your pain and trouble and then be happy about it because God is getting ready to deliver you. In this psalm, however, the psalmist is saying, “I am doing all these things for you, Lord, because I want to. You are a great God, and even though I’m in despair, I will commit myself wholly to You, in the midst of my sorrow and pain.”
Show your grace, O Yahweh, to deliver me;
Make hast, O Yahweh, to help me.
Let those who seek my life to destroy it be ashamed and humiliated
Let those who seek my misfortune be turned back and dishonored.
Let those who taunt me with "Aha! Aha!"
Be made desolate because of their shame.
The trouble the psalmist is in is due to his enemies. Probably people he has wronged, but refuse to forgive him. They hate him so much that they are interested in having him die. The psalmist just wants to be back on top where he was so he could show them. This could very well be David’s concern when he was defeated by Absolom.
Let those who seek You rejoice and be glad in you.
Those who long for Your deliverance always say
"Yahweh be magnified!"
But I am lowly and needy;
Yahweh will show concern for me
You are my Help and Deliverer
My God, do not delay.
So the psalmist returns to his concerns at the beginning of the psalm, showing that it was no accident that these two psalms were “put together”. The psalmist wants to make it clear that no matter what, whatever the outcome, he will praise and commit himself to God. He has confidence in God’s help of the needy, but in the end, God’s help isn’t the point of the psalm. It is the commitment of the psalmist to God, no matter how terrible the circumstance, no matter how many enemies, no matter how many sins he committed and that came back on Him. He is confident in God, not himself or his life.
Psalm 40 is one of the most popular psalms in modern times. There have been numerous songs written about it (not least U2’s “40”).
I waited constantly for Yahweh
And He inclined toward me and heard my cry.
He brought me out of the watery, roaring pit, from the miry clay
And he set my feet on a rock, securing my steps.
He put a new song in my mouth, praise to our GodThe Psalmist here is remembering God’s deliverance in times past. We do not know any of the details, but the metaphors that he is using are particularly horrific. The Psalmist sees himself in a whirlpool in a deep pit, but God pulls him out and places him on solid ground. God must have delivered him from a terrible calamity.
Many will see it and will fear and trust in Yahweh
Blessed is the man who makes Yahweh his trust
Who turns not to the arrogant and those who turn to falsehood.
The psalmist here is taking his experience and saying that it acts as a basic principle for everyone’s life. If there is anyone who trusts in God, God will not fail him or her, but deliver him. He also says that we shouldn’t listen to people who want to lie to us and say that God can’t help us.
Many deeds have you done, Yahweh, my God--
Wonders and thoughts toward us.
(No one can compare with You)
If I were to relate and speak of them
They would be too many to say.
This passage reminds us of all the great things that God has done, so many that it could not be spoken. But some of God’s deeds are: healing the sick, delivering people out of prison, teaching the ignorant, helping the poor, feeding the hungry, encouraging the depressed and on and on and on…..
Sacrifice and meal offering you do not desire
My ears you have opened
Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required.
Then I said, "Behold I have come
In the scroll of a book it is written of me
To do your will, my God, is my desire
Your law is within my heart.
It seems as if the psalmist were saying that God doesn’t want any kind of sacrifice. But in this passage, as well as many other prophetic passages (such as Isaiah 1), God is not refusing sacrifices and offering so much as saying that other things are more important. Here, the psalmist is talking about obedience as being more important than trying to take care of sin after the fact. When he says “My ears you have opened” it speaks of one’s ears as clay that is blocked up, but God opened it up to be able to hear God and obey. The scroll the psalmist brings to God instead of a sacrifice is his biography. The psalmist isn’t just bringing a dead goat or some grain. Rather, he is offering his life, his whole self to God, every action he does.
I proclaimed righteousness in the great assembly;
I did not restrain my lips-- Yahweh, you know this.
I have not hidden your righteousness in my heart;
I have spoken of your faithfulness and deliverance;
I have not refrained from speaking of your lovingkindness
And fidelity before the Great Congregation.
You, O Yahweh will not withhold your mercy from me
And your kindness and fidelity guard me always.
Because of God’s greatness, and because of the psalmist’s commitment to God, he proclaims God’s greatness in a public forum. He has appointed himself the one to remind others to turn to God, to love God and to remember what God has done. He speaks of his life and God’s actions in his life.
For evils without number surround me
My sins have overtaken me, till I cannot see
They are more than the hairs of my head
And I have not heart to go on.
Suddenly, Psalm 40 turns into a different psalm. Up until this point, the psalm is a symphony of gratitude and of acts of commitment. Now the psalm turns into a common Davidic psalm—“I’m in trouble again, Lord, please help me!” In this case, the psalmist recognizes that his trouble is his own fault—he has sinned, and so, he is facing a lot of trouble. But the amazing thing is the little word “for” at the beginning of this verse. The psalmist was in trouble from the beginning of the psalm and he was just leading up to this cry for help. He expressed all of his commitment and joy and thanks, knowing he was already in trouble. Knowing that he was in crisis. This is similar to Jesus’ statement to those facing persecution: “Rejoice!” he says. Recognize your pain and trouble and then be happy about it because God is getting ready to deliver you. In this psalm, however, the psalmist is saying, “I am doing all these things for you, Lord, because I want to. You are a great God, and even though I’m in despair, I will commit myself wholly to You, in the midst of my sorrow and pain.”
Show your grace, O Yahweh, to deliver me;
Make hast, O Yahweh, to help me.
Let those who seek my life to destroy it be ashamed and humiliated
Let those who seek my misfortune be turned back and dishonored.
Let those who taunt me with "Aha! Aha!"
Be made desolate because of their shame.
The trouble the psalmist is in is due to his enemies. Probably people he has wronged, but refuse to forgive him. They hate him so much that they are interested in having him die. The psalmist just wants to be back on top where he was so he could show them. This could very well be David’s concern when he was defeated by Absolom.
Let those who seek You rejoice and be glad in you.
Those who long for Your deliverance always say
"Yahweh be magnified!"
But I am lowly and needy;
Yahweh will show concern for me
You are my Help and Deliverer
My God, do not delay.
So the psalmist returns to his concerns at the beginning of the psalm, showing that it was no accident that these two psalms were “put together”. The psalmist wants to make it clear that no matter what, whatever the outcome, he will praise and commit himself to God. He has confidence in God’s help of the needy, but in the end, God’s help isn’t the point of the psalm. It is the commitment of the psalmist to God, no matter how terrible the circumstance, no matter how many enemies, no matter how many sins he committed and that came back on Him. He is confident in God, not himself or his life.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)