Psalms for a Pandemic Summer 5 Psalm 109

Hate and anger are strong emotions, dangerous emotions.  I have read that hate is like drinking poison and expecting someone else to die.  We are injured by our own hatred.  It eats away at us from the inside.  The Psalms are full of such hatred.  Scholars, such as Walter Brueggemann, caution against selectively avoiding these difficult Psalms.  (Although I think in public worship such selectivity has its place.)  The Psalms express the breadth and depth of human emotion.  Expressing our emotions is the first step towards using them well. Another aphorism I came across recently is 'anything that can be mentioned can be managed'.  It is only when we acknowledge and express our anger and hatred, that we can channel the emotional energy that comes from them into positive change. We need to express our rage so that more harm does not befall us or others.  The Psalmist knew that God was capable of hearing and holding our anger and hate.  Once we shout it out -to God- we can move on.  

Psalm 109

My God, whom I praise, do not remain silent,

² for people who are wicked and deceitful have spoken against me with lying tongues.

⁶ Put my enemy on trial, let him be found guilty,

    
⁸ May his days be few; may another take his place of leadership.
¹⁰ May his children be wandering beggars;
    may they be driven^[a] from their ruined homes.
¹¹ May a creditor seize all he has;
¹² May no one extend kindness to him
¹⁶ For he never thought of doing a kindness,  but hounded to death the poor and the needy and the brokenhearted.

²¹ But you, Lord, out of the goodness of your love, deliver me.

²² For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.
²⁵ I am an object of scorn to my accusers; when they see me, they shake their heads.

²⁸ While they curse, may you bless;
    may those who attack me be put to shame, but may your servant rejoice.
³⁰  I will praise God for he stands at the right hand of the needy, to save their lives from those who would condemn them.

God, I give you praise so please give me some support.

Wicked people have been lying about me,

I haven’t done anything wrong,

Why am I found guilty?

They are the ones who should be tried and convicted.

I hope they lose their jobs, and no one else will hire them.

I hope the bank forecloses on their mortgage and their big house goes to ruin

I hope they and their children end up walking the streets

I hope no one gives them a dime.

 

They certainly didn’t extend any kindness

You never saw them contribute to the United Way

They looked at the poor with distain and blamed the homeless for their own troubles.

Now they look at me that way.

Now I am the poor and needy, the heavy-hearted one

While they curse me, please God, bless me.

Put them to shame and let me be happy. 

 

I will praise God.

God is on my side; I will get through this.