Psalms 64 & 65
What a difference in these two Psalms: the
one is a complaint, a desperate cry for help, and the other a song of praise and thanksgiving. But that very difference does reflect the
range of our emotions and experiences, and shows that everything in our lives
can be brought to God.
Listen
and help, O God. I’m reduced to a whine
and a whimper, obsessed with feelings of doomsday. (64:1 The Message) Exactly what it feels like sometimes – no hope. David cries out that evil people seem to
believe they are safe, their crimes hidden and they therefore immune from
exposure and justice. No one can catch
us, no one can detect our perfect crime.(6) In the face of such arrogance,
we can feel totally powerless and defeated.
BUT, David calls God “The Detective” and affirms that he does see and
will respond. So it is that he can end
his complaint with a cry of praise. Be
glad, good people! Fly to God. Good-hearted people, make praise your habit.
(10)
Psalm 65 picks this call up and says that Silence and obedience are both praise and prayer (65:1-2) His first praise is for God’s loving
reception and forgiveness of us: We all
arrive at your doorstep sooner or later, loaded with guilt …but you get rid of
them once and for all. (2-3) The rest of the Psalm shows God’s lavish love
for the whole earth, his power over the elements and gift of natural
abundance. The response of the earth is
like that of us people: Far and wide
they’ll come to a stop, they’ll stare in awe and wonder. Dawn and dusk take turns calling, Come and
worship. (8) David goes on to ask
God to Visit the earth, ask her to join
in the dance! (9) and paints a vivid picture of God bringing springtime and
growth, ending with his call to praise: Let
them shout, and shout, and shout! Oh, oh, let them sing!(13)
Despair to joy. Prayer and praise. A
picture of real life, a model for our response to it.
Blessings
Ann Kelland
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