Clergy/Leaders’ Mail-list No. 3-098 Sunday 18 May 2003

Psalms on Sundays Reading: Psalm 9 – SONG BEFORE VICTORY

Could you love your enemy? ‘Lord help me to see each individual through your eyes of love.’

This psalm is one of a pair – indeed it could be that Psalms 9 and 10 were composed as one, because Psalm 10 completes the alphabetical acrostic structure of Psalm 9 (‘acrostic’- a sequence based on the opening letter of each line). Another feature of this psalm, or half-psalm, is even more remarkable. Look closely, and you will see that this unfettered outburst of praise is not due to a victory that God has already won, but it is for what God is going to do. Singing a Te Deum after a famous victory is good, but it’s a bit obvious. Singing it beforehand is an audacious act of faith.

As I write, there is an argument going on in Israel about whether the students of a strictly Orthodox school of Talmudic law, the haredim, should still be excused military service. Interestingly, the argument from these places is military; ancient Israel won its battles because of its attention to the Word of God, to prayer, and particularly to praise. A reading of the Old Testament, of the stories of Moses, Joshua and Gideon, for example, would tend to back this up.(Exodus 14:4; Josh 6:20; Judg 7:18-22)

This psalm is not exactly pacifist, because the battle is still there to be fought; but it has style, and risk, and in that risk an insight into the nature of faith. But it’s not comfortable reading. However for a Jew or Christian facing persecution, it could be an inspiration.

Why is this not just whistling in the wind? There are many reasons, but they would include God’s past performance (vs 4,5), his eternal reliability (vs 7,8), and his particular sympathy for the afflicted (vs 9,18).

Who do you see as your enemy today? Pray for them.

– Roger Pooley

Copyright Scripture Union, 2003, Encounter with God

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