The Week of March 24, 2008

Psalm 26,27,28

Psalm 26

This individual prayer is a type of lament. The prayer seeks God's judgment of righteousness, and makes a case for the individual who blamelessly "walks" in God's ways and not the "ways of the wicked." At first glance the prayer seems theologically flawed. After all, who in their right mind would beg God to be judged based upon superior moral behavior? Didn't the Apostle Paul write that "all have sinned and fallen short or the glory of God," (Romans 3:23)? Yet this poet cries to God. In the face of a false accusation he counts on God to judge his heart. When it comes to being prepared for Temple duty, he professes his ritual innocence and cleansed spirit. "I stand on level ground" proclaims the psalmist, which is another way of talking about walking in God's ways. The prayer never backs down from expecting God's judgment to be fair and merciful.

Psalm 27

This psalm is a beautiful psalm of trust in God; God who is light in the darkness and a strong fortress in times of danger. Confidence pours from every verse. The psalm divides into two sections. The first section (vs. 1-6) sings as a song of confidence. The second section (vs. 7-13) is a prayer for help in a time of difficulty. Great need and great trust are expressed here practically in the same breath. The final verse (vs. 14) may originally have been spoken by a priest as an answer to the prayers of the faithful in the Temple.

Psalm 28

This psalm presents as an individual lament, with an unusual style. The prayer begins with a petition to be heard, and then a petition to be helped. This is followed by a hymn of thanksgiving - with the understanding that the petition was heard and the individual was helped. The prayer ends by including the entire community and the King (God's annointed), and asking for God's saving help for the entire nation.

From my reading:

The songs of confidence (Such as Psalm 27 and 23) are more distanced from the crisis and reflective. And they are not so concrete, for they have generalized from the specific situation of deliverance and now can begin to speak generically of a relationship with Yahweh that is utterly trustworthy in the face of every threat -these psalms are some of the best known and best loved, for they offer a faith and a life that has come to a joyous, trusting resolution. The speaker of these poems cannot imagine a situation that would cause doubt or trouble enough to jeopardize the trust. The relationship has been tested severely, and Yahweh has shown himself to be profoundly reliable and powerful.
Walter Brueggemann, The Message of the Psalms

My thoughts:

To you O Lord, I call; my rock, do not refuse to hear me, for if you are silent to me,
I shall be like those who go down to the Pit.
Psalm 28:1

No event strikes terror in your heart like calling your child's name and hearing silence. This has happened to me often in the last 21 years: in a crowded store; on a hiking trail in the middle of a national park; in a hospital room; in a darkened house; at the scene of an accident. I can still recall the dread and fear of those moments. One of my children even learned over the years to intentionally remain quiet when called- just to keep me guessing, just to drive me crazy, just to keep me on my toes - maybe even to gently express hostility at being called like a little kid as he grew into adulthood. You see, my children can not understand primal parental paranoia! Somehow, that silence after calling a child's name echoes with every horror and panic a parent can imagine.

In the same way, the psalmist cries out to God. Enemies are close at hand. Lies and deceit abound. Conspiracy threatens the peace and stability of life. A cry goes out to the God of strength and help. "Don't be silent" the poet cries - "If I hear nothing but silence, it will be like death to me!" God's silence stands as the most frightening prospect of all! More alarming than the enemies, and more concerning than any wickedness, God's silence is the one thing the psalmist desperately can not abide. I often feel the same way. I know God speaks - yet the ear of my heart and soul and mind grows dull. I know God speaks - but my human condition will not always allow divine communication. When such "silence" comes - as I believe it does for all God's people - the psalmist shows us the way. We are not to be a fearful people, moving into such times of silence with paranoia! No, we are called to be confident and to trust. God's silence remains a mysterious aspect of the life of the spirit. God's silence punctuates the Music of Grace, like rest notes in God's symphony. The psalmist understands this spiritual mystery and lights the way.

Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage;
Wait for the Lord.
Psalm 27:14

Blessings,
Pastor Stacy

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