Psalm 85
This upcoming Sunday’s Psalm reading is from number 85. I will let you in on a little secret: I have not been a huge fan of the Psalms. To my ear, a lot of them sound whiney, recalcitrant, and even (at times) obdurate. Not any of which would reflect the way I, in my piety, would vent at God. However, when the dark times arise, I now find comfort in the depth and complexity of the psalmist’s pleadings standing in the face of Christ and his mercy and grace.
I will admit, however, much of my thoughts are quite dependent on the translation I am reading. I was raised on the King James Version and it’s poetic language. It is hard to voice one’s grievances at God using “thou’s” and “thee’s”:
Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?
Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?
From <https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+85&version=KJV>
Compare to the God’s Word translation, which is a bit more raw:
Will you be angry with us forever?
Will you ever let go of your anger in the generations to come?
Won’t you restore our lives again
so that your people may find joy in you?
From <https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+85&version=GW>
If I was more conversant with today’s Generation Alpha’s language, I would put it something like this:
Sigma, brah. How long this sus skibidi brainrot? Give us that mad lit rizz.
Don’t ask me to decipher that last bit, it is already out of date!
Every generation should sing and reflect on this:
I want to hear what God the Lord says,
because he promises peace to his people, to his godly ones.
But they must not go back to their stupidity.
Indeed, his salvation is near those who fear him,
and his glory will remain in our land.
Mercy and truth have met.
Righteousness and peace have kissed.
Truth sprouts from the ground,
and righteousness looks down from heaven.
The Lord will certainly give us what is good.
From <https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+85&version=GW>
Trust the Promises,
Steve Skiver