Day 165. Psalms 61-67

Psalm 61
This is a psalm of longing sung by one who feels isolated from the presence of God. Maybe he is physically far from the temple--at "the end of the earth," as he puts it (61:2)--separated by a great distance from the earthly place where God's name dwells. Or maybe he is simply in that place where all of us find ourselves sometimes, where God seems remote and indifferent. In either case the psalmist feels "faint" from lack of contact with the source of his strength. "Lead me to the rock that is higher than I," he prays. The "rock" is the rock of Zion on which the temple, which he calls his "refuge" is built. He longs to find "shelter" there under God's wings (4) and claim the "heritage" he has among "those who fear [God's] name" (5) and worship him there. The prayer for the "life of the king" (6) that ends the psalm is a prayer for order and preservation of the people and their temple. The psalmist realizes that
political peace and stability are necessary for the spiritual health and peace of the nation.
Psalm 62
The psalmist calls upon God—God alone (62:2 and 5)-- in time of crisis. He himself is alone--he has no other support. His existence is like a "leaning wall" (3) upon which the wicked batter. He has done nothing to merit their hostility; they just want to bring down "a person of prominence" (4). But the psalmist tells the "people" who hear his words to "trust in [God] at all times" (8) and not fear wicked and powerful enemies. There is no difference between those who are of high estate and those who are in low—all their lives are just a breath and a delusion (9). In the balance they are "together lighter than a breath" (9). The only stability and permanence come from the "steadfast love" of the God who renders justice to all "according to their work" (12).
Psalm 63
The longing for God is the sure sign of having been found by God. The psalmist expresses his thirst for the LORD in an almost physical sense (63:1). Then thirsty and hungry for God's presence he goes to the temple to experienced worship "in the sanctuary," lifting "up his hands" and calling upon God's name (4). And now he is refreshed "as with a rich feast" (5). Participation in temple worship is the difference between spiritual hunger and contentment, between inward faintness and "joy" (7). The voice ends with an affirmation of God's justice, which is always at work in the world punishing the wicked and rewarding the good. The king "shall rejoice in God" (11)—he is the embodiment of God's justice on earth, and all who obey him will be blessed.
Psalm 64
The psalmist prays for protection against his "dread enemy" (64:1). The wicked are convinced that no one can see them—they do not believe in God—and so they are capable of anything. No one can anticipate to which depths they may descend, "for the human heart and mind are deep" (6). The wicked shoot arrows at the "blameless; they shoot suddenly and without fear" (4), convinced that God will not punish them. But God is even now taking aim and "will shoot his arrow at them," (7). "Everyone" will be terrified and "shake with horror" when they see the "ruin" of wicked—"they will tell what God has brought about" (9), but the righteous will "rejoice in the LORD, and take refuge in him" (10), for he is their "glory."
Psalm 65
God does not need our praise, but praise is "due" to him, because he answers prayers and forgives "our transgressions." But those whom he chooses to bring near him "to live in his courts," and satisfy with his presence in his "holy temple" (65:4) are especially bound to praise him. He creates all things, bringing order out of chaos, silencing "the roaring of the waves," and making a place for human beings to live. He continues his work of creation by calming "the tumult of the peoples" (8) and making peace among them and by watering the earth and making human life possible by bringing forth flocks and grain. The righteous worship the LORD in the temple, echoing the praises the earth itself gives him (13).
Psalm 66
All the earth is called upon to the praise Israel's God—"Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth" (66:1), the psalmist commands. Everyone—the whole earth—is invited to see what God has done in rescuing Israel from slavery in Egypt and parting the waters to bring them safely through the Red Sea and river Jordan (6). And the work of creation continues as he refines his people through their sufferings and trials (10). Even times of defeat and national humiliation have served to strengthen and temper them—"through fire and through water," the LORD has brought his people "out to a spacious place" (12) and established them there. He has created his people Israel as his crowning achievement. So in response to all he has done the worshippers of the LORD will offer burnt offerings in the temple, and tell "all who fear God" what the LORD has done for Israel. God has "listened" to them, and has not rejected "the words of [their]
prayer." God is worthy to be blessed because in no circumstances he has "removed his steadfast love" from his people (20).
Psalm 67
Many of the psalms are very narrow in their focus—they center upon the political life of Israel and its kings, and the worship of the temple community. A sharp distinction is often drawn between the Chosen People and their pagan neighbors, who are neither chosen nor loved by God. But here the circle of blessing is widened and "all the peoples" are called upon to praise the God of Israel. "Let all the nations be glad and sing for joy," the psalmist says, because God works through history to "judge the peoples with equity" and "guide the nations upon earth" (4). And also he is worthy to be praised because he works through nature so that "the earth [yields] its increase" and the needs of all are provided for (6). "May God continue to bless us," the worshippers in the temple sing, but not us alone, but all the peoples with whom we share his concern and care.