Day 2: Psalms 4-6

The Psalms are collected in a section of the Book of Common Prayer called the Psalter, which caused me no end of hilarity when I was in confirmation class.  "And so where is the Psepper?!"  The BCP directs us to recite psalms in several ways.  Written for chanting or singing, they can also be recited aloud. And then they can be chanted, sung or recited in several ways.   The first is direct recitation, in which the psalm is read aloud in unison, much like a prayer.  Tomorrow I'll continue with other methods of psalmody--ways of reciting, singing, chanting psalms.

Here's Psalm 4:

1	Answer me when I call, O God, defender of my cause; *     you set me free when I am hard-pressed;     have mercy on me and hear my prayer.

2	"You mortals, how long will you dishonor my glory; *     how long will you worship dumb idols     and run after false gods?"
3	Know that the LORD does wonders for the faithful; *     when I call upon the LORD, he will hear me.
4	Tremble, then, and do not sin; *     speak to your heart in silence upon your bed.
5	Offer the appointed sacrifices *     and put your trust in the LORD.
6	Many are saying, "Oh, that we might see better times!" *     Lift up the light of your countenance upon us, O LORD.
7	You have put gladness in my heart, *     more than when grain and wine and oil increase.
8	I lie down in peace; at once I fall asleep; *     for only you, LORD, make me dwell in safety.

Well, I'm not offering any appointed sacrifices, though the table at the front of all of our churches is an echo of the altars used for sacrifices.  (A former deacon at my church refused to call this structure an altar.  He said altar was way too high church or Roman Catholic for him.  He insisted on calling it the Lord's table--even calling it the holy table was too Roman for him!)

Psalm 5:

1	Give ear to my words, O LORD; *     consider my meditation.
2	Hearken to my cry for help, my King and my God, *     for I make my prayer to you.
3	In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; *     early in the morning I make my appeal and watch for you.
4	For you are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness, *     and evil cannot dwell with you.
5	Braggarts cannot stand in your sight; *     you hate all those who work wickedness.

6	You destroy those who speak lies; *     the bloodthirsty and deceitful, O LORD, you abhor.
7	But as for me, through the greatness of your mercy I will                                go into your house; *     I will bow down toward your holy temple in awe of you.
8	Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness, because of those who lie in wait for me; *     make your way straight before me.
9	For there is no truth in their mouth; *     there is destruction in their heart;
10	Their throat is an open grave; *     they flatter with their tongue.
11	Declare them guilty, O God; *     let them fall, because of their schemes.
12	Because of their many transgressions cast them out, *     for they have rebelled against you.
13	But all who take refuge in you will be glad; *     they will sing out their joy for ever.
14	You will shelter them, *     so that those who love your Name may exult in you.
15	For you, O LORD, will bless the righteous; *     you will defend them with your favor as with a shield.

The writer insists that liars and braggarts are bad and will be punished. I imagine that the writer had had a bad day with men whose tongues were full of deceits (that's from Shakespeare, not the Bible!) He is devising all kinds of brave punishments (Shakespeare again!) for those who have wronged him.  But he would rather let God mete out the punishment than himself.

Psalm 6:

1	LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger; *     do not punish me in your wrath.

2	Have pity on me, LORD, for I am weak; *     heal me, LORD, for my bones are racked.
3	My spirit shakes with terror; *     how long, O LORD, how long?
4	Turn, O LORD, and deliver me; *     save me for your mercy's sake.
5	For in death no one remembers you; *     and who will give you thanks in the grave?
6	I grow weary because of my groaning; *     every night I drench my bed     and flood my couch with tears.
7	My eyes are wasted with grief *     and worn away because of all my enemies.
8	Depart from me, all evildoers, *     for the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping.
9	The LORD has heard my supplication; *     the LORD accepts my prayer.
10	All my enemies shall be confounded and quake with fear; *     they shall turn back and suddenly be put to shame.

The writer begins in terror and grief and ends in confidence that God will save him.  He asks plaintively, "how long, O LORD, how long?"   Who hasn't asked that question?   But I strongly reject the notion that God will "rebuke me in your anger," or "punish me in your wrath."  That is not the God who loves me.