Psalms, Critique

[AndyF]

It must be said that Psalms are really beautiful to read and especially the prophetic references to the messiah which had me in near tears at it’s beauty.

But generally the overall atmosphere is one where a specific group of people almost seem to claim sole and official audience with God, coupled with a lack of kinship with humanity as a whole. It is as if they are saying, “God is for us and no one else”. Seldom is the enemy seen in light of the fraternal bond which makes up the faillable human species created in God’s image.

In cases where the author admits guilt, it is apparent this sinning prefered Hebrew has clearly fallen out of grace with God, and has now obviously entered the class of individuals the author detests, and who has now become a candidate to receive the suggestions of punitive measures he previously offered to God as their punishment(judging!), and now you will find a reluctance to take on the mantle of the detested or even to recognize his new state. Never does it occur to him that the next step is humility and to humble himself. The reaction is the opposite, and his solution to this problem is to conveniently knock on the door of “his” God who the reader will find is in close proximity for such accasion and available for his bidding and absolvement.

Never does he ever admit that he has become the person he detests and should have the same punitive measures applied.
One gets the impression there is an underlying understanding that he views his sins, which in reality are equivalent to any other sin of the gentiles and heathen, as a class of a different category, most probably because of the perceived closer relationship he claims to have with God.

The new testament states we are to pray for our enemies and we should love our enemies as well, and the old testament is the source of this lesson. It is clear to me that of all the put- downs targeted against the outcast sinners listed one after the other in succession to the very end of Psalms, that surely it calls for a dedicated paragraph that would plead for mercy(remember, heart of Christianity?.) for his brother, and to show that David and others really do care about man as a whole.

These passages were written in times where God ensured they would never fail in the many battles David and other leaders fought. These passages convey an arrogant prideful attitude that has the potential to come about when a peoples perceive to be devinely selected, and these passages manifest this.

Personally, I’m not impressed, and I know the Church sees much worth in it. If I were to p(name removed by moderator)oint exactly what Psalms lacks, it is humility,mercy and a plea for salvation for those who are not of their own. It’s overall lesson is that a selected people can over time manifest a class attitude, and they have forgotten to view themselves as within the larger context of children of God as we all are, gentiles and heathen included. The lessons are expected to be learned within the context of the relationship of the Hebrews and God with the exclusion of “them” the outcast.

I don’t buy the conveyance and neither would Jesus allow anyone to accept it.

AndyF

 

[lak611]

Personally, I’m not impressed, and I know the Church sees much worth in it. If I were to p(name removed by moderator)oint exactly what Psalms lacks, it is humility,mercy and a plea for salvation for those who are not of their own. It’s overall lesson is that a selected people can over time manifest a class attitude, and they have forgotten to view themselves as within the larger context of children of God as we all are, gentiles and heathen included. The lessons are expected to be learned within the context of the relationship of the Hebrews and God with the exclusion of “them” the outcast.

What about Psalm 51? It sounds like he is expressing humility in asking for forgiveness of his sins in that one.

 

[AndyF]

What about Psalm 51? It sounds like he is expressing humility in asking for forgiveness of his sins in that one.

Sins are an afront to man as well as to God. I feel the author does not provide sufficient proof he understands that he also sins against man.

(51,6) “Against you(God) only have I sinned”.

NAB explains this “… although sin may also be an injustice to man, yet the very essence of sin consists in it’s being an offense to God.” What is critical is whether the teachers are worthy to teach and that the author knows he sins against man, not that *we know *that man does and he didn’t need to know. Nowhere in the rest of Psalms does the author show recognition that he knows he commits against his brother also.

If I detest mankind and never make appeals on their behalf that they be helped, can any social gesture of good that I attempt be seen to others as sincere? The Psalms are sung at worship ceremonies. What an opportune time to put in a plug to help the heathen and gentiles. No such luck.

On it’s own merits, and I say again, on it’s own merits Psalm 51, as well as 36 and 37are excellent for post confessional reflection and an addition to penance. All the same the players don’t obtain credit for providing the lesson while this issue that is their’s hovers. The question arises then of whether as a whole these paragraphs rate as good source as examples of proper teaching tools.

AndyF

 

[lak611]

Sins are an afront to man as well as to God. I feel the author does not provide sufficient proof he understands that he also sins against man.

(51,6) “Against you(God) only have I sinned”.

On it’s own merits, and I say again, on it’s own merits Psalm 51, as well as 36 and 37are excellent for post confessional reflection and an addition to penance. All the same the players don’t obtain credit for providing the lesson while this issue that is their’s hovers. The question arises then of whether as a whole these paragraphs rate as good source as examples of proper teaching tools.

AndyF

Here’s the definition of sin from the Catechism:

II. THE DEFINITION OF SIN
1849 Sin is an offense against reason, truth, and right conscience; it is failure in genuine love for God and neighbor caused by a perverse attachment to certain goods. It wounds the nature of man and injures human solidarity. It has been defined as “an utterance, a deed, or a desire contrary to the eternal law.”[121]

1850 Sin is an offense against God: “Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight.”[122] Sin sets itself against God’s love for us and turns our hearts away from it. Like the first sin, it is disobedience, a revolt against God through the will to become “like gods,”[123] knowing and determining good and evil. Sin is thus “love of oneself even to contempt of God.”[124] In this proud self- exaltation, sin is diametrically opposed to the obedience of Jesus, which achieves our salvation.[125]

1851 It is precisely in the Passion, when the mercy of Christ is about to vanquish it, that sin most clearly manifests its violence and its many forms: unbelief, murderous hatred, shunning and mockery by the leaders and the people, Pilate’s cowardice and the cruelty of the soldiers, Judas’ betrayal - so bitter to Jesus, Peter’s denial and the disciples’ flight. However, at the very hour of darkness, the hour of the prince of this world,[126] the sacrifice of Christ secretly becomes the source from which the forgiveness of our sins will pour forth inexhaustibly.

Psalm 51 is quoted in the Catechism. I do not see any contradiction.

 

[banjo]

The following is taken from The Psalms—New Catholic Version; St. Joseph Edition; Catholic Book Publishing Co; NJ; 2002.

“Calls for Vengeance?—At the same time, however, many of these songs are filled with curses and calls for vengeance, sometimes expressing a cruelty that is truly disconcerting (5:11; 31:18; 54:7; 83:14; 109:6f; 139:19f). We are dismayed to read: ‘Happy will he be who seizes your babies and smashes them against a rock!’ (137:9). But we ought not be astonished by such language. The Psalms date from a time when the Gospel was not yet known; when placed on the lips of those being persecuted, they voice an urgent appeal for divine justice.
On the other hand, these vengeance psalms have a deeper meaning: at one time, they struck out against the enemies of the chosen people, the ‘heathen,’ that is, the enemies of God; today they give voice to a different hatred, that which Christians ought to have for the evil that Jesus intended to destroy by his death and against which Paul the apostle exhorts us to fight (Eph 6:11-13).”

 

[anthony022071]

It must be said that Psalms are really beautiful to read and especially the prophetic references to the messiah which had me in near tears at it’s beauty.

But generally the overall atmosphere is one where a specific group of people almost seem to claim sole and official audience with God, coupled with a lack of kinship with humanity as a whole. It is as if they are saying, “God is for us and no one else”. Seldom is the enemy seen in light of the fraternal bond which makes up the faillable human species created in God’s image.

The Jews were,after all,“a people apart”. When the Jews were being attacked by nations more numerous and powerful than themselves,and when they had the protection of God,then they had reason to believe that God was for them and no one else. No one else knew God as the Jews did,and none else had the relationship with God that the Jews had.

“You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.” (John,4,22)

In cases where the author admits guilt, it is apparent this sinning prefered Hebrew has clearly fallen out of grace with God, and has now obviously entered the class of individuals the author detests, and who has now become a candidate to receive the suggestions of punitive measures he previously offered to God as their punishment(judging!),and now you will find a reluctance to take on the mantle of the detested or even to recognize his new state. Never does it occur to him that the next step is humility and to humble himself. The reaction is the opposite, and his solution to this problem is to conveniently knock on the door of “his” God who the reader will find is in close proximity for such accasion and available for his bidding and absolvement.

There’s no lack of humility in the psalms of contrition.
And the psalmist is not like those he detests,because he has fear and reverence for God,admits that he has sinned,and repents and asks for God’s mercy.

Psalm 5,6-8: You hate all who do evil; you destroy all who speak falsely. Murderers and deceivers the LORD abhors. But I can enter your house because of your great love. I can worship in your holy temple because of my reverence for you, LORD.

Never does he ever admit that he has become the person he detests and should have the same punitive measures applied.
One gets the impression there is an underlying understanding that he views his sins, which in reality are equivalent to any other sin of the gentiles and heathen, as a class of a different category, most probably because of the perceived closer relationship he claims to have with God.

He does have a closer relationship with God,and he has confidence that he will be forgiven and restored to favor when he prays It is the same trust that God demands from the Jews elsewhere in the Old Testament. To believe that God hears the prayers of those who are contrite and forgives sins is part of having trust in God.

Psalm 6,9-11:

Away from me, all who do evil! The LORD has heard my weeping.
The LORD has heard my prayer; the LORD takes up my plea.
My foes will be terrified and disgraced; all will fall back in sudden shame.