Psalm 55: When History Repeats

Today’s reading is Psalm 55.

According to the psalm pigeonholers, David doesn’t write an imprecatory psalm. However, he does offer imprecations. Two in particular trouble modern readers. In vs. 9, David calls God to “Destroy, O Lord, divide their tongues.” In vs. 15, he begs, “Let death steal over them; let them go down to Sheol alive.” Shudder.

As Christians, we balk at these preferring Jesus’s prayer for God to forgive because the people don’t know what they are doing. However, David’s requests accomplish more than a surface reading suggests. David doesn’t merely angrily beg God to blast his enemies.

First, always remember the doorway into imprecations found in Psalm 7:12. Every imprecation in the Psalms fits the context established there: “If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword.” Imprecations apply to the impenitent. Even the forgiveness Jesus requested came only to the penitent.

Second, David’s imprecations call to mind historical precedents. When David asks God to “divide their tongues,” likely a poetic reference to his prayer in 2 Samuel 15:31, he places Ahithophel and Absalom on par with the builders of the Tower of Babel. Those ancients ignored God’s instruction, setting themselves on par with God. When Absalom attacked the Lord’s anointed, he followed in the footsteps of Babel’s rebellious builders. David Calls God to repeat His judgment. Rebellion parallels idolatry and demands a commensurate judgment.

When David asks God to “let them go down to Sheol alive,” he brings a previous rebellion to mind. In Numbers 16:30, Moses explained God’s impending response to the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. In Moses’s day, God did something new opening the ground, letting it swallow the rebels, sending them “down alive to Sheol.” David didn’t ask for something new. He asked God to repeat His judgment on those who rebel against the Lord’s anointed. David asked God to show the world His appointed leader. God obliged. Absalom and Ahithophel died, as did their rebellion.

If we repeat ancient rebellions, we must not think we’ll escape ancient judgments. Rebellion deserves judgment. Learn from history. Accept God’s leader. As Psalm 2 said, “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry with you and you perish in the way.”

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 55.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

What in Psalm 55 encourages you to Hope in God?