Psalm 107 (we read the first nine verses with 43 tacked on the end) recalls the gathering in from all points of the compass of a fragmented and wandering people, hungry and thirsty, into safety under the 'steadfast love' of the divine hand. It's likely that the catalyst was originally the deliverance of the Israelites … Continue reading Psalms 107 and 49, 31 July 2016
Month: July 2016
Psalm 60
It was the washbasin that put me onto it. I realised of course that there is quite a lot of repetition in the psalms - asking God to defend, save and vanquish evil, 'for human help is worthless' as in this song (Ps 60:11). But you immediately know you've been there before when you read … Continue reading Psalm 60
Psalm 52, 17 July 2016
Psalm 52 is another of those songs that can sound vindictive and unforgiving when encountered outside its historical setting. Fortunately, the preamble refers to Doeg and Saul, thereby providing the requisite clues. Doeg is not, one has to admit, a big name in biblical tales. A devious fellow, it seems, which is what got David … Continue reading Psalm 52, 17 July 2016
Psalm 82, 10 July 16
Psalm 82 is fundamental teaching on the importance of justice in the world. God is imagined amongst other gods berating them for their partiality as unfair judges: Give justice to the weak and the orphan; maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of … Continue reading Psalm 82, 10 July 16
Psalms in the South 