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10 April 2008
Word on the Web
Psalm 73 v 18-25
You have put [the wicked] in danger; you cause them to be destroyed.
They are destroyed in a moment; they are swept away by terrors.
It will be like waking from a dream. Lord, when you rise up, they will disappear.
When my heart was sad and I was angry,
I was senseless and stupid. I acted like an animal toward you.
But I am always with you; you have held my hand.
You guide me with your advice, and later you will receive me in honour.
I have no one in heaven but you; I want nothing on earth besides you.
These are stark verses. In the end the wicked are destroyed while the faithful receive guidance, are received by God and want for nothing despite anger, sadness and stupidity. These first verses are as dreamlike and mysterious reflections. What a contrast to the sadness, anger, the senseless stupidity, the acting like a wild animal towards God, in the following verses. We can only imagine the torment of the writer of this psalm, to act like an animal towards God. An animal has no idea of God, no sense of God. An animal only eats and reacts to survive. It has no sense of anything beyond its immediate existence. Is this how it was for the writer? A kind of wild torment, but alongside this, the writer proclaims, 'but I am always with you' and goes on to put the first move with God, 'you have held my hand'. The writer is saying that however distant God feels, God is always present, holding our hand. God with us is God with us. God does not move away from us but is always close enough to hold our hand no matter what we feel, think or do.
From me to you O God? Far. From you to me O God? Near. Whether you are near or far, never let go of my hand. Amen.
Written by Denis Tully
Word on the Web
Psalm 73 v 18-25
You have put [the wicked] in danger; you cause them to be destroyed.
They are destroyed in a moment; they are swept away by terrors.
It will be like waking from a dream. Lord, when you rise up, they will disappear.
When my heart was sad and I was angry,
I was senseless and stupid. I acted like an animal toward you.
But I am always with you; you have held my hand.
You guide me with your advice, and later you will receive me in honour.
I have no one in heaven but you; I want nothing on earth besides you.
These are stark verses. In the end the wicked are destroyed while the faithful receive guidance, are received by God and want for nothing despite anger, sadness and stupidity. These first verses are as dreamlike and mysterious reflections. What a contrast to the sadness, anger, the senseless stupidity, the acting like a wild animal towards God, in the following verses. We can only imagine the torment of the writer of this psalm, to act like an animal towards God. An animal has no idea of God, no sense of God. An animal only eats and reacts to survive. It has no sense of anything beyond its immediate existence. Is this how it was for the writer? A kind of wild torment, but alongside this, the writer proclaims, 'but I am always with you' and goes on to put the first move with God, 'you have held my hand'. The writer is saying that however distant God feels, God is always present, holding our hand. God with us is God with us. God does not move away from us but is always close enough to hold our hand no matter what we feel, think or do.
From me to you O God? Far. From you to me O God? Near. Whether you are near or far, never let go of my hand. Amen.
Written by Denis Tully
