Sunday Sermonette: Weird Theology

Now we say goodbye to Asaph, and start what was evidently originally a new hymnal. "Gittith" is probably a musical instrument, but it could be a tune. The meaning is unknown. Anway, whenever these were composed, they aren't monotheistic. In psalm 84, Yahweh is the "God of gods" in verse 7, and otherwise the "Lord of hosts," referring to an assemblage of god over which Yahweh is supreme. 

Psalm 85 is another of those that refers to some unspecified time in which the nation is afflicted and God seems to have withdrawn his favor. It does not seem to refer to the Babylonian exile, however, because the people seem still to be in the land, it's just that times are hard. Generally this group of psalms seems to have an earlier origin. Psalm 86 makes this even more clear. It is attributed to David, and it refers explicitly to the existence of multiple gods in verse 8. Again, the protagonist is in unspecified dire circumstances.

In case you're wondering how much longer we'll have to put up with this doggerel, we're about 2/3 of the way through. There are 150 psalms. Unfortunately, we'll get to the proverbs next, so more interesting stuff is a way off.

84 How lovely is thy dwelling place,
O Lord of hosts!
² My soul longs, yea, faints
    for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and flesh sing for joy
    to the living God.

³ Even the sparrow finds a home,
    and the swallow a nest for herself,
    where she may lay her young,
at thy altars, O Lord of hosts,
    my King and my God.
⁴ Blessed are those who dwell in thy house,
    ever singing thy praise!Selah

⁵ Blessed are the men whose strength is in thee,
    in whose heart are the highways to Zion.^[a]
6 As they go through the valley of Baca
    they make it a place of springs;
    the early rain also covers it with pools.
⁷ They go from strength to strength;
    the God of gods will be seen in Zion.

⁸ O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer;
    give ear, O God of Jacob!Selah
⁹ Behold our shield, O God;
    look upon the face of thine anointed!

¹⁰ For a day in thy courts is better
    than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
    than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
¹¹ For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
    he bestows favor and honor.
No good thing does the Lord withhold
    from those who walk uprightly.
¹² O Lord of hosts,
    blessed is the man who trusts in thee!

Footnotes

1. Psalm 84:5 Heb lacks to Zion

85 Lord, thou wast favorable to thy land;
    thou didst restore the fortunes of Jacob.
² Thou didst forgive the iniquity of thy people;
    thou didst pardon all their sin. Selah
³ Thou didst withdraw all thy wrath;
    thou didst turn from thy hot anger.

⁴ Restore us again, O God of our salvation,
    and put away thy indignation toward us!
⁵ Wilt thou be angry with us for ever?
    Wilt thou prolong thy anger to all generations?
⁶ Wilt thou not revive us again,
    that thy people may rejoice in thee?
⁷ Show us thy steadfast love, O Lord,
    and grant us thy salvation.

⁸ Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
    for he will speak peace to his people,
    to his saints, to those who turn to him in their hearts.^[a]
9 Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him,
    that glory may dwell in our land.

¹⁰ Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet;
    righteousness and peace will kiss each other.
¹¹ Faithfulness will spring up from the ground,
    and righteousness will look down from the sky.
¹² Yea, the Lord will give what is good,
    and our land will yield its increase.
¹³ Righteousness will go before him,
    and make his footsteps a way.

Footnotes

1. Psalm 85:8 Gk: Heb but let them not turn back to folly

A Prayer of David.

86 Incline thy ear, O Lord, and answer me,
    for I am poor and needy.
² Preserve my life, for I am godly;
    save thy servant who trusts in thee.
Thou art my God; ³ be gracious to me, O Lord,
    for to thee do I cry all the day.
⁴ Gladden the soul of thy servant,
    for to thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
⁵ For thou, O Lord, art good and forgiving,
    abounding in steadfast love to all who call on thee.
⁶ Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer;
    hearken to my cry of supplication.
⁷ In the day of my trouble I call on thee,
    for thou dost answer me.

⁸ There is none like thee among the gods, O Lord,
    nor are there any works like thine.
⁹ All the nations thou hast made shall come
    and bow down before thee, O Lord,
    and shall glorify thy name.
¹⁰ For thou art great and doest wondrous things,
    thou alone art God.
¹¹ Teach me thy way, O Lord,
    that I may walk in thy truth;
    unite my heart to fear thy name.
¹² I give thanks to thee, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,
    and I will glorify thy name for ever.
¹³ For great is thy steadfast love toward me;
    thou hast delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

¹⁴ O God, insolent men have risen up against me;
    a band of ruthless men seek my life,
    and they do not set thee before them.
¹⁵ But thou, O Lord, art a God merciful and gracious,
    slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
¹⁶ Turn to me and take pity on me;
    give thy strength to thy servant,
    and save the son of thy handmaid.
¹⁷ Show me a sign of thy favor,
    that those who hate me may see and be put to shame
    because thou, Lord, hast helped me and comforted me.