May 23rdPsalm 109
Tell it like it is
Psalm 109 is mostly ignored in Christian worship. It is not in the cycle of readings in the Revised Common Lectionary seemingly judged to be morally inferior with its harsh call for vengeance. This is, to say the least, an interesting response. Talk to many Christians and they will tell you that the punishment should fit the crime. Thus many Christians supported the death penalty (and still do in the U.S.). Many also support harsher sentences for criminal offenders.
On the other hand, many Christians find this psalm morally inferior to the teachings of Jesus who insisted we love our enemies, turn the other cheek, and go the second mile (see Matthew 5).
So what should we affirm? If we are honest perhaps we will admit to harboring more vengeful feelings than we are willing to publicly admit, especially to fellow Christians.
OT theologian Walter Brueggemann says:
'The real theological problem, I submit, is not that vengeance is there in the psalms, but that it is here in our midst. And that it is there and here only reflects how attuned the Psalter is to what goes on among us. Thus, we may begin with a recognition of the acute correspondence between what is written there and what is practiced here. The psalms do 'tell it like it is' with us.' [1]
What follows are several points to ponder as you pray this psalm this week:
*When we hear this as a victim's appeal for justice then what we thought was just a yearning for vengeance sounds more like a just claim submitted to the real judge, God.
*A basic principle of pastoral care: Anger is the legitimate response to abuse and victimization and appropriate anger must be expressed. Such catharsis is for healing. But this is theological catharis, that is, it is anger expressed in prayer and thereby submitted to God. This angry, honest prayer thus removes the necessity for the psalmist to take vengeance into his own hands with real violence.
*This psalm reminds us of the evil in the world but it also teaches us about God. It suggests that evil, injustice, and oppression must be confronted, opposed, hated because God also hates them.
*The Hebrew word hesed occurs four times (v.12,16,21,26). Twice it is translated as kindness and twice as steadfast love but the word is the same. In vs. 12 and 16 the psalmist's enemies failed to show kindness, a sin in the eyes of God. They failed to embody God's character. In vs. 21 and 26 the psalmist grounds his need for help precisely in God whose character is steadfast love.
*Could this be a Christian prayer? Theologian James Mays writes: 'Could the use of this prayer remind us and bind us to all those in the worldwide church who are suffering in faith and for faith? We need to remember that there are brothers and sisters whose voices echo the voice of this psalm. . . .Perhaps this psalm can help us to find words to represent their hurt, alienation, failure, and discouragment. . . . [see examples below]. [2]
The apostle said, 'If one member suffers, all suffer together' (1 Corinthians 12.26), and he also said, 'Bear one another's burdens.' Can these prayers become a way of doing that? [3]
In her book, How to Have an Enemy, Mennonite pastor, Melissa Florer-Bixler writes movingly of those who have been killed or abused at border crossings between Mexico and the United States. At one site in Douglas, Arizona there are over a hundred crosses. Each cross represents a person made in God's image who died there. People gather to protest the inhuman treatment of desparate people. They will not let those lives be forgotten.
She writes: 'After Pastor Mark offers a prayer, standing in the middle of our human ring he shouts 'Presente' meaning 'she is here, he is here. Turning in each direction - north, south, east, and west he shouts 'Presente.' It is the final prayer. There is fire in the air.' [4]
Notes
[1] Brueggemann, W. - Praying the Psalms, p.68.
[2] Mennonite Church Canada Witness names these prayer requests for brothers and sisters under trial.
Pray for the superintendent, pastors and congregations of the Cabo Delgado district in Mozambique, which underwent a recent terrorist attack. Pray for terrorist activity to cease in Cabo Delgado and for the church to grow and thrive. Pray also for wisdom for Bishop Mubecane Filipe Manharage as he leads the Church in Mozambique.
The genocidal war and hunger crisis in Gaza, along with increased violence in the West Bank, have wrought unprecedented suffering to the people of the region, including our Palestinian Christian siblings in faith. Despite the crisis, MC Canada partner Bethlehem Bible College will host its biennial Christ at the Checkpoint Conference in Bethlehem, May 21-26, bringing people from around the world to consider the theme “Do Justice, Love Mercy: Christian Witness in Contexts of Oppression.” Please pray that the peace witness of this conference, and of Palestinian Christians in general, may shine light into dark times.
[3] Mays, James - The Lord Reigns, 52-53.
[4] Florer-Bixler, M. - How to Have an Enemy. [Herald Press, 2021]. See especially, chapter 3 - 'Praying for Enemies.'