The Week of May 5, 2008

Psalm 45, 46, and 47

Psalm 45

This psalm is unique in the Psalter. First and foremost, Psalm 45 is a royal wedding song. The king of Israel marries a young princess, and this song praises the king, and instructs the princess on her duties. Notice that the king's "glory" rests upon his military valor, and his defense of the powerless and oppressed. The king is blessed with good looks and eloquent speech, and the song also promises worthy progeny. Two things stand out in this song. Notice that the scribe or poet talks about himself and his task in vs. 1 and vs. 17, giving the song a very formal, courtly feel - almost like a medieval love ballad! Secondly, in vs. 6 God's throne and the royal throne of Israel become intertwined. The song borders upon suggesting a divine monarch here. Historically, this psalm has often been used as a metaphor describing the relationship between Christ and the Church.

Psalm 46

Martin Luther was inspired by this psalm to write the great Hymn "A Mighty Fortress is Our God." In spite of natural chaos, and political instability, God protects and provides refuge. Notice the refrain in vs. 7 and vs. 11, suggesting the faith and trust of God's people. In the middle of this psalm we find praise for Jerusalem as the great City of God; the river of life in vs. 4 a typical metaphor for joy and prosperity that comes from God's presence in the Holy City. God speaks in vs. 10, suggesting that the faithful only need to acknowledge God's power and might - they need not DO anything to bring about peace and security.

Psalm 47

This psalm is known as an enthronement psalm, metaphorically celebrating God's enthronement over all creation. Here the God of Israel is envisioned as the ruler of all the earth, with all peoples subjugated to His rule. The early Church used this psalm to celebrate the ascension of Jesus, a practice still followed in liturgically oriented churches.

From My Reading:

(Concerning Psalm 44)

The enthronement psalms are an affirmation that all peoples- Israel and the nations- as well as the whole created order, are accountable to God's governance. That is an enormous claim in a world bent on autonomy; threatened by normlessness. Our prayer life is a continued insistence on the metaphor of God's kingship. Christians pray daily that God's kingdom come on earth. Thus the liturgical act of these psalms of enthronement is a sign of hope and expectation. Obviously we are still short of implementation of the sign. So the liturgical decree of God's rule invites hope. And the hope of these psalms is important, for without this powerful transformative symbol, the pitiful regimes of the present ages claim to be, and seem absolute and eternal.
Walter Bruggemann - The Message of the Psalms

My Thoughts:

Be Still and Know that I am God!
Psalm 46:10

A group of children pile out of the van - eager to stretch their legs and run the length of the small patio. This pull-out on the Blue Ridge Parkway is well marked as a "Scenic Overlook"; many have pulled over to look at the rolling blue and purple mountains with brilliant orange, yellow and red autumn foliage as far as the eye can see. The children from the van add to the festivity and joy of the moment. Some play a game of tag on the green grass against this backdrop of natural beauty. Some sit under a flaming orange tree, gossiping and giggling. Others race for the bathrooms, and still others climb on the cement tables and wooden fences dotting the lawn. But one small boy stands out. He slowly and quietly walks by himself down the path, to the farthest outpost of the overlook. He stops at the ledge; hands by his side and eyes lifted to the mountains ablaze with color. For the longest time he just looks; just watches; just drinks it all in.

I couldn't help but wonder about the boy. What made him stop to appreciate the beauty of that day, while the rest of the children frolicked and played? What caused him to be still, to pay attention and to relish the delight of that moment? As the children piled back into that van with their energy and enthusiasm, I kept speculating about that boy - the one with the entirely different experience at the scenic overlook.

We tend to activity and distraction, much like the children in that van. We wrap ourselves in intrigue, physical activity, relationships, duties and responsibilities. We run from one activity to another; from one task on our planner to the next. The psalmist speaks God's voice, reminding us of an important and life-changing truth; be still, and know that I am God! Stop moving and acting and living as if you control the universe; notice my work, my movement and my activity all around you! May each of us find a way to be still, and to recognize God's power and presence in the activities and people and things around us.

Blessings,
Pastor Stacy

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