Psalms, Psalms, and more Psalms

[Rob McNair]

I dig the psalms, but I am on psalm 80 and it's getting a little old! And there are still 70 more to go! Egads!

[Abby Kalina]

well your farther than me j-bob. i'm only like on 50ish.
most of these psalms are by david soo is it just him righting when he's in trouble or are these like his prayers?

[Rob McNair]

They are considered poetry but are often used as prayers. One thing I find interesting is how often the psalms are about requesting God to destroy one's enemies. I mean some are very graphic about how God should crush them and "let them be like the snail that dissolves into slime" (Psalm 58:8). I think this shows the ancient Israelites had this conception of God that he was like a genie in a bottle. If they just followed his laws then he would grant all their wishes. Also, in Psalm 80 it says, "Stir up your might, and come to save us!" I think their conception of salvation was very physical, that they wanted to be saved from their earthly enemies. Given this mentality, it is no wonder Jesus was rejected. The jews sought a messiah to create a powerful earthly kingdom, but Jesus was just the opposite. He used his power to heal outcasts and sinners. And he said stuff like, "I am the bread of life." The jews must have thought he was a total wimp! What kind of messiah compares himself to bread?!?!

[Amber Kalina]

Ahhh, but bread is so good. And maybe he was talking about the hefty stuff packed full of fiber and the like.... maybe with a nut in it... JK...

I haven't even started Psalms yet... just finished Job yesterday. So I'll get more into the convo when I get more into the book.

It is odd that David in his Psalms would sound like he was comanding God to do things just because he believed in him.

[Rob McNair]

Yeah, David repeatedly cries out to God for him to crush his enemies. Yet Jesus comes and says "love your enemies...pray for your enemies." That's a mighty big difference and one that got him killed. The Israelites spent most of their existence under the thumb of other people, like the Egyptians and Babylonians, and now this rabbi is preaching about loving the people that persecute you?!?! That must have seemed absolutely crazy to them.

[Amber Kalina]

It's even taboo for us today, most of us I think. I know I can't love people 100% of the time, it just doesn't work for me like that. I get angry. I can be a mean person sometimes. I try not to let it rule my life, though. Let it go and move on.

Back then, though, if someone did something bad to you, they could pretty much get killed for it. In the old west the only justice there was was given by the people who found the persecuters first. What does that tell us? Even in later times we demonstrate a hatred toward each other, a wish to put out each other's light. That's why it gets hard to pray during war times. How can you persuade God that your people are in the right all the time and should win a battle, whereas the other side is thinking the same thing. They might be praying to God too for a victory. Does God decide?

Don't get me wrong, I pray for protection for our troops far from home. It just gets complicated when you think about the other side.

[Rob McNair]

Absolutely it gets complicated! You make great points. After Sept. 11, 2001 I will always remember hearing President Bush talk about bringing Osama Bin Laden "to justice" for plotting that attack. And initially that is what people want to hear. But after a while I starting thinking, "Doesn't he mean we want revenge?" To bring someone to justice just seemed like a euphemism for wanting to hurt someone who hurt you. I never heard anyone say, "I am going to pray for Bin Laden" or "I forgive Bin Laden." It was always, "We're gonna get Bin Laden!" Seems to me someone should have stood up and tried to start a movement of healing and forgiveness, like South Africa did with the truth and reconciliation program. That was a tremendous example of the power of Christian principles.

[Amber Kalina]

Yah know, I never really thought it like that...hm.

Well, in Psalms I've read some very inspiring things. Things so beautiful and right that it makes me kinda mad when I get to the psalms where David starts telling God to take down his enemies. We should just thank God and praise him for doing good things for us, not complaining about what went wrong. The Psalms kinda relate to the world, because there are both beautiful times, and there are times when we want to get mad. If only there were more times that were like flowers instead of thorns.

[Rob McNair]

Well said. I love Psalm 42:3 where it reads, "My tears have been my food day and night." That is an absolutely beautiful way to describe despair.

[Abby Kalina]

well at least he gets fed. all tears give me is indegestion...jk
so who is the guy who is writing after david and the one from solomon? it's like aspha? or something..?

[Rob McNair]

Good question. I must confess I googled it to find out. The web site psalms.jesusanswers.com has some interesting info about how the psalms parallel the first five books of the Bible. Wikipedia descripbed Asaph as a Levite; one of the leaders of David's choir (1 Chr. 6:39). Psalms 50 and 73-83 inclusive are attributed to him. He is mentioned along with David as skilled in music, and a "seer" (2 Chr. 29:30). The "sons of Asaph," mentioned in 1 Chr. 25:1, 2 Chr. 20:14, and Ezra 2:41, were his descendants, or more probably a class of poets or singers who recognized him as their master.

[Amber Kalina]

I couldn't help but wonder while I read the psalms by David that describe suffering and enemies where he got his inspiration from. I mean, surely as a king he would experience some enemies from other rulers, but would they directly effect him so? Did he actually live this stuff?