The Week of March 10, 2008

Psalm 19, 20, 21, 22

Psalm 19
This psalm is a hymn of praise to God - who created the natural world and gave the Torah - or moral law - to humanity. In the first four verses, the psalmist sings of the way that the created word "tells" of God's glory and knowledge without words. In Verses 7-10, the psalmist sings of the great gift that Torah, or God's law, is for humanity. Torah is likened to food that is sweet and sustaining. The end of the psalm acknowledges that "blamelessness" before God will take divine help - Torah alone will not keep the righteous one from hidden errors. God's help is actively sought. The psalm ends with a famous verse often quoted in worship right before a preaching event.

Psalm 20
This seems to be a communal prayer for success for the King in a military offensive. Notice that help is requested from the sanctuary, which may mean the help of angelic forces. Verses 1-5 are most likely the communal prayer, while verse 6 begins the King's solo. The King suggests that the people must trust in the Lord for deliverance, not their chariots and horses. Confidence is expressed that the King will be victorious, as he is the "anointed" of God. This could also be translated the "Messiah" of God - since the Hebrew word can be translated either way.

Psalm 21
This is a royal psalm, with the focus upon the King of Israel, not upon God. It could have been sung at an enthronement ceremony for the King. It divides into three parts. It begins with a joyous recounting of the rich blessings that God pours upon the King. Then in verses 8-12, the congregation sings of the King's greatest difficulty - enemies! The last two lines then challenge the King to live up to God's expectations.

Psalm 22
You will definitely recognize the opening line of this psalm. It is quoted in Mark 15:34 and Matthew 27:46 as being spoken by Jesus on the cross. This psalm has become closely connected to the passion of Jesus Christ, and to his experience on the cross. Otherwise, it is a typical prayer of lament from an individual who feels abandoned by God. The phrase suggesting that God is far off repeats throughout the prayer, in verse 1, 11 and 19. At the end of the Psalm, in verses 22-31, some kind of deliverance has been received, and praise erupts from the lips of the lamenter. Psalm 22 is traditionally read in the church on Good Friday, and represents a beautiful linking of despair and hope; crying to God for help, and praising God for deliverance; crucifixion and resurrection.

From my reading:

(Speaking of Psalm 22:22-31) What makes this story so appealing is that the psalmist is thinking not just of himself but of other people as well. The hope is that people who have been similarly afflicted shall also be healed. In what may be understood as a broad and most unselfish outlook on the whole world, the palmist prays that all the nations of the world and generations not yet born shall become the people of God and be delivered from all adversity.
David Mobberley Psalms

My Reflections:

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart by acceptable to you, O Lord,
my rock and my redeemer.
Psalm 19:14

As a college professor, I once challenged my class of young women to live for one day with a simple monastic rule: for one day they were to remain silent unless what they spoke was both true and kind. It may sound simple, but when they reported the next class period one young woman confessed she broke the rule with her room-mate before she even got out of bed! No one student in the class of 60 made it to lunch keeping this simple rule!

How often our speech betrays us! It shows the position of our heart and spirit even when we are seemingly unaware. The psalmist reminds us that our speech and our inner thoughts should be guarded and guided by our faith. Pay attention to what is coming out of your mouth, warns the psalmist. Take care to meditate on things redeeming and acceptable to the God who grants us a rock to stand upon, and deliverance when we are in need.

While I almost always pray this verse from Psalm 19 right before I preach, I believe I am more in need of remembering this verse when I sit at table with my children, or over a cup of coffee with my husband, or on the phone gossiping with a friend, or even in a church committee meeting! In these unguarded moments, my speech and my thoughts still matter to God, just as God's salvation and protection always matter to me.

If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts,
their religion is worthless.
James 1:26

Blessings,
Pastor Stacy

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