To the lead player, a David psalm.
In You, O Lord, I shelter. Let me never be shamed. In Your bounty, O free me. Incline Your ear to me. Quick, save me.
Be my stronghold of rock, a fort-house to rescue me. For You are my crag and my bastion, and for Your name's sake guide me and lead me. Get me out of the net that they laid for me, for You are my stronghold.
In Your hand I commend my spirit. You redeemed me, O Lord, God of truth. I hate those who look to vaporous lies. As for me, I trust in the Lord. Let me exult and rejoice in Your kindness, that You saw my affliction, You knew the straits of my life. And You did not yield me to my enemy's hand, You set my feet in a wide-open place.
Grant me grace, Lord, for I am distressed..... For all my enemies I become a disgrace, just as much to my neighbours, and fear to my friends. Those who see me outside draw back from me. Forgotten from the heart like the dead, I become like a vessel lost...
As for me, I trust in You, O Lord. I say, "You are my God." My times are in Your hand - O save me from the hand of my enemies, my pursuers. Shine Your face on Your servant, rescue me in Your kindness. Lord, let me not be shamed, for I call You....
How great Your goodness that You hid for those who fear You. You have wrought for those who shelter in You before the eyes of humankind. Conceal them in the hiding-place of Your presence from the crookedness of man......
Love the Lord, all his faithful, steadfastness the Lord keeps ... Be strong, and let your heart be firm, all who hope in the Lord.
(Psalm 31.1-12,15-18,20&21,24&25: R. Alter translation*)
A few years ago, I received a new translation of the book of Psalms, by a notable Hebrew scholar, annotated with his own observations on the texts and their meaning. I have dipped into it occasionally since then, and often find that the sparse and fresh expression of texts which in older translations are very familiar, is refreshing and enriching. This particular psalm is introduced with the observation that many of the phrases and images are echoes of other psalms and parts of the bible - the books of Job and Jeremiah. I loved the idea that the author, whoever they were, did not hesitate to take words and ideas from all over their scriptures in order to praise God and to express their prayers.
Jesus makes a very explicit point in teaching his disciples, that prayer is not about the cleverness of one's words, or the length of one's sentences, but about honesty and straight-dealing with our God, from whom nothing is hidden. And I think that we should never be ashamed when we find ourselves using the words of others to praise or bring our petitions to God - when someone has found ways to express what we think and feel in powerful ways, we naturally find ourselves using their images and words ourselves!
The danger in using other people's words comes when we do so unthinking, relying on their clever or powerful language to make our case, instead of truly meaning what we say. I know that some particularly well-beloved hymns are very difficult to sing meaningfully because I know them off by heart and can repeat the words parrot-fashion... that is not worship, or prayer.
In this case, we find the psalmist gathering images which speak powerfully of God's care, of strength and refuge, of deliverance and reasons to hope - ultimately, hoping in God's desire that all be done to honour his name and glory... so that His name will be hallowed and exalted as his power, love and justice are witnessed at work on behalf of his people. There is urgency, and passion, and also a deep understanding of God's faithfulness to those who trust in him alone. As I read these words in a fresh translation, I am stimulated to think about where my trust is, and to make this psalm a true prayer of my own.
Let us rejoice that we have so many sources from which to draw as we come to God in prayer and praise - all the riches of the Hebrew scriptures; all the dynamic and beautiful texts of the gospels and letters; the incredible treasury of texts written by saints through the ages of the church and the hymns and songs which God's people use in worship. May God keep us sincere and truthful in our prayer and praising, no matter where our words come from, fiull of thankfulness for his goodness to us in every way.
(The Book of Psalms - a translation with commentary: Robert Alter, 2007, WW Norton &Co Ltd London)
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