The Psalms

Question:

A women's small study group is studying the Psalms. (We are also discussing Kathleen Norris' book, Acedia and Me.) I have a book on the Psalms by Robert Alder which is helpful, but it does not help us with insightfulness. We are studying two or three per week as we meet once weekly. So far, even though we try to be led "by the spirit," we are not gaining much except to become more acquainted with them. We would so much appreciate your help.
Thanks, (Presbyterian but Unity at heart.)

Comment:

I like Psalm 17 a lot—not just for what it says, but for what it doesn't say. It is described as "A Prayer of David"—and its theme is a very familiar one in the Psalms overall: “Deliver me from my enemies!” What is striking about this particular psalm, however, is that it is much less dualistic, judgmental and vindictive than some of the other psalms that want God to rain down death, vengeance and painful punishment. Here the author simply—and gently—recognizes that his own spiritual path requires that his life unfold differently from "mortals whose portion in life is in this world" (Psalm 17:14). He doesn't judge or condemn those whose focus is entirely on worldly concerns—indeed, he asks that they be blessed as well. "May their children have more than enough; may they leave something over to their little ones" (Psalm 17:14). So he asks for deliverance from the temptation to fall into a more limited, dualistic mindset —and at the same time he asks for blessings on those who "close their hearts to pity" (Psalm 17:10).   Psalm 18 is a long song of royal celebration, commemorating the complete and decisive victory of David over the forces of Saul. It is repeated in its entirety as the 22nd chapter of 2 Samuel, so it was apparently a well-known psalm of the new young king. It begins in deepest gratitude: "I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." This humble awareness that "I, of myself, do nothing" is the beginning of spiritual wisdom, recognizing that it is the Lord of my being—the Presence of God expressing as me—that accomplishes whatever good I am able to achieve. And after reviewing the many ways in which the presence of God accomplished things that would have been humanly impossible, the psalmist cries out "The Lord lives!" and affirms that he and his kingdom will sing praises to the Lord forever. We understand “the Lord” to be “the Christ”—the essence of God that is the true source of energy, love, power and joy. We recognize that it can be tempting to take personal credit when good things happen—indeed, this was part of the undoing of Saul—and we choose, like David, to remember always that it is the Lord, the Christ Presence within us, that is able to accomplish wonderful things when we surrender our own sense of personal entitlement and embrace our spiritual truth.   Blessings!

Rev. Ed