The commentators cannot tell whether the imprecations were uttered by the psalmist himself against one of his foes, or by these foes against him. What is God to think in Psalm 109? Whose side is he on? The liberation theologians will always say that God is on the side of the poor and the oppressed. Is this not the stand that Jesus would also take? Nan Merrill in Praying The Psalms translates “May I open myself to change, to being guided by the Spirit;” Psalm 110 is one of the most important of the messianic psalms. In this psalm Na Merrill prays “You, O Divine Breath, dwell within our hearts; with unconditional Love, You assuage our fears.” Psalms 111 and 112, alphabetic hymns, as such, contain thoughts rather loosely strung together. In contemporary language, Nan says in Psalm 111 “Your stead fast Love is food for the soul, nourishment in times of fear.” In Psalm 112 she says, “who knows when the Seed will find a fertile heart? The fruits of those who know Love are blessing to all!” Psalm 113 praises the Lord for his care of the lowly. Because of the importance in Israel of large families, the barren wife was considered disgraced and cursed. Thus, the Lord is praised for establishing the barren wife as a joyful mother of children. Psalm 114 recalls the wonders at the exodus with a poetic rendering of the earthquake that took place when God appeared on Mount Sinai. Psalm 115 is a song in praise of the living God and in derision of the lifeless idols of the pagans. The psalmist passes on to us “Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to thy name give glory.”
The commentators cannot tell whether the imprecations were uttered by the psalmist himself against one of his foes, or by these foes against him. What is God to think in Psalm 109? Whose side is he on? The liberation theologians will always say that God is on the side of the poor and the oppressed. Is this not the stand that Jesus would also take? Nan Merrill in Praying The Psalms translates “May I open myself to change, to being guided by the Spirit;” Psalm 110 is one of the most important of the messianic psalms. In this psalm Na Merrill prays “You, O Divine Breath, dwell within our hearts; with unconditional Love, You assuage our fears.” Psalms 111 and 112, alphabetic hymns, as such, contain thoughts rather loosely strung together. In contemporary language, Nan says in Psalm 111 “Your stead fast Love is food for the soul, nourishment in times of fear.” In Psalm 112 she says, “who knows when the Seed will find a fertile heart? The fruits of those who know Love are blessing to all!” Psalm 113 praises the Lord for his care of the lowly. Because of the importance in Israel of large families, the barren wife was considered disgraced and cursed. Thus, the Lord is praised for establishing the barren wife as a joyful mother of children. Psalm 114 recalls the wonders at the exodus with a poetic rendering of the earthquake that took place when God appeared on Mount Sinai. Psalm 115 is a song in praise of the living God and in derision of the lifeless idols of the pagans. The psalmist passes on to us “Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to thy name give glory.”
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