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by Samuel Bak
OT00443B1 New Brunswick Theological Seminary
Memorial
by Samuel Bak
Valerie and Doug
ReplyDeleteThe Psalmist desires the life that the wicked seems to have. The wicked are not burdened, seem unafflicted by the world's trials and have a position of power in the world. It all seems so unfair and the Psalmist expresses this frustration in "Why God? Why did I try so hard to stay pure in heart...it did not seem to matter?" There seems to be a shift in v. 16 in a focus on constancy of eternal God and the image of deliverer and God of the 'other'will triumph over this world's chaos and redeem the needy,, the poor, the broken-hearted. "let prayer, be said always" seems to be the antidote to the Psalmist's struggle with his desire. It seems there is a shift in his desire after this proclamation to pray (unceasingly--seems to ring a bell) and the desire and want transforms into 'prayers' for others and praise to God
Carla/Ken
ReplyDeleteThis Psalm begins with Surely God is good. The Psalmist observed wicked men prosper while good people are afflicted. The wicked are not bound by consciousness; their pride is in their necklace v.6. They are incapable of reaching heaven with their hands and so they use their tongues v. 9 their mouths lay claim to heave, and their tongues take possession of the earth. But the Psalmist in his affliction was able to complain to God and rejoice kno wing that God alone who made the soul can make it happy. The body will die v.26 but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
For the Psalmist, coveting can pplace one in a "Funk." envy, jealousy, can put one in a place in which thier spirit is cast down. we see this in verse 3 of the text - "for I was envious of the arrogant. I saw the prosperity of the wicked. Second thing the Psalmist points out is that Coveting can be "oppressive." "when I tried to understand it was wearisome to me. Third, covetousness causes one to loose thier willingness to remain obedient to God. "all is in vain, for all day long I have been plagued and am punsihed every morning. Fourth, covetouness will cause one to doubt God. "Is there knowledge in the Most High?
Within Psalms 73, the psalmist demonstrates at least for the first half of the passage, what Deuteronomy 5:21 states; that one should not set thier desires excessively, nor with a sense of longing for or lusting for. Perhaps such desires is what generated the feelings of oppression, doubt, and emptiness. we see however, in the latter portion of the passage the psalmist coming to his senses. "Indeed those who are far from you will perish; you put an end to those who are flase to you. But for me it is good to be near God: I have made the Lord my refuge, to tell of all your works."
Lisa and Debbi
ReplyDeleteIt is difficult; nearly impossible to go through life and not at one time or another covet what someone else has. We live in a society where on all sides, we see those who live, look, have more than we do. Media sets standards for us that are so difficult to live up to. Like the psalmist, we see so many outside of the church with more material wealth. They have so much fun! While we pay attention to our inner selves/Godly selves those who seem to have no relationship at all with God prosper. So those feelings can creep in and make us wish for what we do not have. And then, like the psalmist, we remember all of God's promises. God will be with us always. God loves us. God came to give us abundance. The antidote? To remember God's grace, even when we covet, we are forgiven and continued to be known by God as "treasured possessions". Our requirement is to walk in true repentance and receive the true things of God that will last forever.
The Psalmist speaks of his envy for the wicked. In essence, the Psalmist cry was that the grass seemed greener on the other side. It was not that God was not good to the pure at heart, but God's goodness was apparently not enough. In the Psalmists estimation of self, the wicked were in a much better position. As a result of this covetousness, he almost slipped as a result of spending more time focusing on where they appeared to be doing better than he, than he had spent on the goodness of God. The antedote is keeping in mind the final destination. In this Psalm, the Psalmist's perspective changes, when he considers the long run, the bigger picture as opposed to what is happening right now. Suddenly, the grass no longer seems greener on the other side.
ReplyDeleteQ. Sutton/Danielle L. Brown
Sabbath Group
The writer was coveting the lifestyle of the wicked based on what could be seen with the eye. Everything looked great for the arrogant person who was successiful in the physical sense. The writer even seem to regret his good behavior in verse 13 of the text in saying he kept his heart clean in vain. Luckly the house of God was the salvation for the writer because being there opened his eyes to the inevitable ends of those who live wicked lives and the swift way in which God does away with them. Too often we don't get to the point where we see the ends before we covet fully and self distruct.
ReplyDelete