The Week of June 23, 2008

Psalm 66, 67, 68
Psalm 66
This is a composite psalm; a combination of three different hymns. Vv. 1-7 represent a classic hymn of praise, like many we have experienced in the Psalms. Vv. 5-12 are a communal prayer of thanksgiving for the saving acts of God in the Exodus and in the crossing of the Jordan River. Finally vv. 13-20 actually record an individual prayer of thanksgiving for God's salvation on a personal level. Vs. 20 is a repetition of 2 Samuel 7:15. This psalm seems to include many elements for use in communal worship. The opening verses could easily be used to call the people to worship or prayer. The communal prayer of thanksgiving rehearses God's great acts for the people, and the closing individual prayer would be appropriate for those entering the Temple for sacrifice and worship.

Psalm 67
This hymn has an internal consistency as a prayer of thanksgiving to God for God's blessings. God's blessings of peace, of guidance, of salvation, and of agricultural bounty are all included here. Notice the refrain in v. 3 and v 5 - this represents the central meaning and message of Psalm 67 - Let the people praise you O God. The familiar Aaronic blessing from Numbers 6:24-26 is also included in v.1. God's face shining upon the people is a metaphor for a visible sign of God's favor and benevolence.

Psalm 68
This ancient hymn of praise gives thanks to God for military victory. The geographic references are obscure; it is unclear what the "snow of Zalmon" refers to in V. 14, or where the Mountain of Bashan in vv. 15-16 is located. There are references to spoils of war and to a movement of God from Sinai to Zion or Jerusalem. Vv 21-23 contain some of the vengeful and violent imagery that cause some to deride the God of the Old Testament. Smashing heads and walking in the blood of one's enemies defies our modern sense of tolerance and respect for life. But for God's people in the midst of battle and danger, this was a true expression of hope and joy. Notice that in vv. 24-27 we have a kind of worship processional in the Temple of Jerusalem envisioned. God the Divine Warrior enters His house in Jerusalem to the praise of all of Israel, and the other nations of the world as well.


My Thoughts

I will come into your house and I will pay you my vows,
Those that my lips uttered and my mouth promised when I was in trouble.
Psalm 66:13-14

"I promise, I won't EVER forget to take the trash out again - don't be angry!" "I know my grades are pitiful this semester; I promise I will study EVERY day and bring my grades up - just don't take away my cell phone." What parent hasn't heard such heart-felt promises coming from the lips of their offspring? It still brings a smile to my face to hear such things. As a mom, I know that such promises, though earnest in the moment, are far from trustworthy! When a child is in trouble, all kinds of things can be spoken, but following such sincere speech with action is another thing altogether!

Perhaps that's why the words of the Psalmist shake me up a bit. Here we have a heartfelt prayer by someone who remembers making God a promise in a time of distress. Now the psalmist is bound to follow through, planning to do so in worship with an offering, and with a testimony in the presence of God's people. The psalmist takes seriously the things uttered by the lips and promised by the mouth. Such things matter to God. Being in distress or trouble does not make the veracity of our speech any less important, and it never excuses bad behavior. On the other hand, as sinful human beings, who among us hasn't tried to bargain with God in the middle of distress! "Lord, just let it not be cancer." "Lord, let my child be O.K." "Lord, help me; deliver me; find me." Our prayers betray us, and show us for what we are; bargainers, whiners and full of empty promises.

The Apostle Paul understood this. When he wrote the Christians in Rome about prayer, he expressed a wider perception of prayer that came from his relationship with Jesus Christ.

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Romans 8:26-27

Life as a disciple of Jesus Christ; life in the Spirit; is not a life of perfection! Our lips will still utter things and our mouths promise things that we cannot, should not, or will not do. But the joyous mystery is that God did not leave us in this predicament! Out of love and mercy God sends us help. We needn't fear our prayers. We needn't fear the words we utter before God. God's Spirit lovingly filters and purifies our prayers into perfect praise.

Let the peoples praise you O God; let all the peoples praise you!
Psalm 67:3

Blessings,
Pastor Stacy

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