An authentic anthropology of the Psalms

 Feeling and thinking in Psalm 11: Run, stand your ground or call in the big guns? Psalm 11 For the choir director: A psalm of David. 1 I trust in the Lord for protection. So why do you say to me,     “Fly like a bird to the mountains for safety! 2 The wicked are stringing their bows     and fitting their arrows on the bowstrings. They shoot from the shadows     at those whose hearts are right. 3 The foundations of law and order have collapsed.     What can the righteous do?” 4 But the Lord is in his holy Temple;     the Lord still rules from heaven. He watches everyone closely,     examining every person on earth. 5 The Lord examines both the righteous and the wicked.     He hates those who love violence. 6 He will rain down blazing coals and burning sulfur on the wicked,     punishing them with scorching winds. 7 For the righteous Lord loves justice.     The virtuous will see his face. Peopl...

  Feeling and Thinking in Psalm 10: The theology of evildoers and their victims I genuinely wonder if the author of Psalm 10, speaking under the guidance of the Spirit of God, is telling us how it seems or in fact how it is. I think we start with an obviously incorrect assumption by the psalmist. So we begin with how it feels or at least how it could be described by a person disturbed by trouble in their life. Straightaway, if you analyse the logic of the Psalm, you see that not all that a person feels or thinks can be true. What does God do, according to the description of the writer? And I’m not trying to bring you through a theological exploration but rather a human perspective on God’s actions and character. v1 God hides from the person in trouble, not offering help. v2 God is cursed by the wicked. v3 God is not sought by the wicked. v4 God is declared dead by the wicked. v11 God doesn’t see the evil deeds of the wicked. v12 God needs or requires encouragement to in...

   Feeling and thinking in Psalm 9: Get in your place. PSALMS 9 For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be sung to the tune “Death of the Son.” I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart;     I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done. 2 I will be filled with joy because of you.     I will sing praises to your name, O Most High. 3 My enemies retreated;      they staggered and died when you appeared. 4 For you have judged in my favor;     from your throne you have judged with fairness. 5 You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked;     you have erased their names forever. 6 The enemy is finished, in endless ruins;     the cities you uprooted are now forgotten. 7 But the Lord reigns forever,     executing judgment from his throne. 8 He will judge the world with justice     and rule the natio...

Feelings and thinking in Psalm 8: the advantage of awe re-elevated. Psalm 8 For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by a stringed instrument.[a] 1 O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens. 2 You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength,[b] silencing your enemies and all who oppose you. 3 When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers— the moon and the stars you set in place— 4 what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?[c] 5 Yet you made them only a little lower than God[d] and crowned them[e] with glory and honor. 6 You gave them charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority— 7 the flocks and the herds and all the wild animals, 8 the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea, and everything that swims the ocean currents. 9 O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! Awe has possibly lost its lustr...

  Feeling and thinking in Psalm 7: the danger of not repenting. A psalm of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning Cush of the tribe of Benjamin. 1 I come to you for protection, O LORD my God. Save me from my persecutors—rescue me! 2 If you don’t, they will maul me like a lion, tearing me to pieces with no one to rescue me. 3 O LORD my God, if I have done wrong or am guilty of injustice, 4 if I have betrayed a friend or plundered my enemy without cause, 5 then let my enemies capture me. Let them trample me into the ground and drag my honor in the dust. Interlude 6 Arise, O LORD, in anger! Stand up against the fury of my enemies! Wake up, my God, and bring justice! 7 Gather the nations before you. Rule over them from on high. 8 The LORD judges the nations. Declare me righteous, O LORD, for I am innocent , O Most High! 9 End the evil of those who are wicked, and defend the righteous. For you look deep within the mind and heart, O righteous God. 10 God is my shield, saving those w...