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I love the Psalms

~ Connecting daily with God through the Psalms

I love the Psalms

Tag Archives: Arboretum

Cursing in the Bible

28 Monday Nov 2016

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 109, Psalms

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Arboretum, cursing, cursing in the Bible, David, imprecatory psalms, Jesus, Ottawa ON, Psalm 23

Reading:                      Psalm 109                                                                  

(Verses 6-15)

Appoint someone evil to oppose my enemy;     

let an accuser stand at his right hand.

When he is tried, let him be found guilty,     

and may his prayers condemn him.

May his days be few; may another take his place of leadership.

May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow.

May his children be wandering beggars;     

may they be driven from their ruined homes.

May a creditor seize all he has;     

may strangers plunder the fruits of his labor.

May no one extend kindness to him     

or take pity on his fatherless children.

May his descendants be cut off,     

their names blotted out from the next generation.

May the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the LORD;     

may the sin of his mother never be blotted out.

May their sins always remain before the LORD,

that he may blot out their name from the earth (NIV).

Reflection

This portion of Psalm 109 contains fourteen mays of condemnation. After reading this long list of curses spoken against this unnamed individual, it becomes abundantly clear that David, the author of this psalm, was not affectionately inclined toward this man of treachery. This man, who earlier was identified as a friend, had turned against David. In the verse just prior to today’s reading, David laments, “They repay me evil for good, and hatred for my friendship” (Psalm 109:5).

img_20161007_083047_hdr

Blue heron on a misty morning, Arboretum, Ottawa, ON

Psalm 109 is called an imprecatory psalm. The word imprecatory simply is a fancy term for cursing. I am sure many Christians are unaware that there is cursing in the Bible—cursing coming from the man who penned Psalm 23—the LORD is my shepherd.

Many find the imprecatory psalms deeply troubling. I include myself in that number. Does God condone calling down curses on our enemies? What about the words of Jesus? “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?” (Matthew 5:43-46).

I remain convinced that Jesus calls us to live on a higher plane—the plane where he dwells.

Response: Father God, I need your help. I find it easy to lash out at those who have hurt me. When I want to go for the jugular help me reach out for Jesus instead. I want to be more like you, Jesus. Amen.

Your Turn: Is there a place for the imprecatory psalms in the Bible? What purpose might they serve?

                                                            

 

Drinking from your river

30 Sunday Oct 2016

Posted by davidkitz in Psalms, Sunday's Psalm

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Arboretum, delights, feast, fountain, fountain of life, Ottawa, river

I will praise Him!

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Misty morning, Arboretum, Ottawa, ON — photo by David Kitz

People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They feast on the abundance of your house;
    you give them drink from your river of delights.
For with you is the fountain of life;
    in your light we see light.

(Psalm 36:7-9 NIV)

As Far as the East Is from the West

21 Friday Oct 2016

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 103, Psalms

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Arboretum, compassion, forgiveness, God, love, nature of God, Ottawa ON, patience

Reading:                                       Psalm 103                                                                  

 (Verses 7-12)

He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:
The L
ORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us
(NIV).

Reflection

Here is a little secret that will be a secret no longer: Of all the psalms, Psalm 103 is my favorite.

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Misty morning at the Arboretum, Ottawa, ON, — photo by David Kitz

Why do I have such a deep love for this psalm? The answer lies in what the psalm tells us about God. The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.

That sentence should be etched on our hearts and minds. The character of God is revealed in these traits. I stand in need of a God who has these qualities because by nature I am the polar opposite. In various situations I have lacked compassion. I have reasoned that those who suffer are getting what they deserve. Rather than extent grace, I have a tendency to be judgmental. When things don’t go my way, I can be quick tempered rather than slow to anger. I like to think I am loving, but I’m not sure others would always agree.

The amazing truth is that despite all our shortcomings God still loves you and me. He [the LORD] will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.

Satan is the accuser; God is the merciful forgiver. Sometimes I think in our minds we have reversed those roles. That’s why this psalm acts as such a powerful antidote to wrong thinking. Do you think God cannot forgive you because of some past transgression? Think again. Psalm 103 tells us to view God differently. He is more compassionate than we can imagine, more loving than we can fathom, more patient than we can comprehend.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Infinite—our God’s love and compassion are infinite. Enough said.

Response: Father God, because of your love, mercy and grace I want to serve you. Please accept my feeble attempts at loving you back. Your forgiveness leaves me with a debt of love I cannot pay. Amen.

Your Turn: What is your favorite psalm? Why?

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