The Week of April 14, 2008

Psalm 35,36,37

Psalm 35

This psalm is a long and complex individual prayer for deliverance in first person singular style. Often attributed to David, it calls for God to deal with the psalmist's enemies. In this case, petition for help and prayer against enemies are intimately intertwined; almost two sides of the same need. This invective against enemies, while typical of the psalms, points to the faithfulness of God and the Hebrew understanding that God stands on the side of the powerless, the poor, the "under dog", and those wronged by injustice and unfair practices. Indeed, the psalmist suggests that God is to be praised for setting things right in the end.

Psalm 36

This beautiful psalm exists as both a prayer for help and a song of joy. The psalm divides into three parts. It begins with a description of the wicked (vs. 1-4), and then moves into praise (vs. 5-9). The psalm ends with petitions for God's steadfast love and for the demise of evil-doers. This psalm is best known for the middle portion of praise. Many of the Bible's best-loved metaphors for God's protection, God's steadfast love, and God's sustenance find a home in these brief verses. God's greatness extends higher than the highest mountain, and God's faithfulness is deeper than the deepest valley. God saves all creation, and shelters like a mother bird. God feeds and houses, and God gives water and light; the basic building blocks of all life.

Psalm 37

Here we have a psalm that sounds more like the Book of Proverbs than the Psalter. This psalm instructs the faithful to trust God, even while "wickedness" and "unrighteousness" seem to win the day. The psalm teaches the primary lesson that the faithful and righteous will prosper in the end. This psalm's length and disjointedness in English stem from its structure as a Hebrew acrostic poem. In this psalm each letter of the Hebrew alphabet gets two poetic lines; each beginning with the appropriate Hebrew letter. The poet stretched to find appropriate words beginning with the correct Hebrew letter! Over all, this psalm suggests that the People of God have to choice; they can live paying attention to the prosperity and power of the wicked, or they can live trusting in the providence of God.

From My Reading:

Do not fret is a repeated admonition in Psalm 37. It seems to suggest here that one ought never to worry nor allow oneself to envy the prosperity of the ungodly. Just deserts and punishment await them. Trust in God is the true basis of happiness. This psalm does not attempt to solve the crucial philosophical riddle of why the wicked prosper and the righteous suffer. It does suggest that ultimate peace and joy are to be in God's presence through faith. In this sense the poetry is prophetic of the New Testament.
Psalms David Mobberley

My Thoughts:

For with you is the fountain of life;In your light we see light.

Psalm 36:9

We camped in a National Park Campground on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The view was spectacular; the campground pristine; the campsites spacious. There was only one problem - no electricity! We set up camp before sunset, and cooked over an open fire for dinner. We used a lantern as the darkness pulled in around us. Everything went well, until we put the children to bed in the pop-up camper. When they reached for their night-light it would not turn on! Oh what a catastrophe! "We can't go to sleep without our night-light!" the children alleged. As always, my quick-thinking husband saved the day. "Ah - but look out the window - God has given you a very special night-light tonight." Sure enough, in the clear, cool summer sky, a full moon was on the rise. Problem solved. Soon, all three children were sound asleep.

The psalmist reminds us that God lays the foundation for all of life. In God's providence and grace we find water for the driest deserts of the soul and light when no source of goodness or power can be found. When Jesus tried to teach us His place in our world and in our lives He said "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12); the one who comes into the world bringing God's light close, reflecting light into the crevices and dark places in need of Good News. The light of Christ shines and the darkness cannot overcome it. The psalmist echoes this statement of faith - and reminds us of the source of our hope and our salvation.

How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
Continue your steadfast love to those who know you,
And your salvation to the upright of heart!
Psalm 36: 7,10

Blessings,
Pastor Stacy

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