Today's psalm is Psalm 5. The prescript says it is a psalm of David written for the flutes. We think flutes and by and large we think light and airy and fun. Sunshine dancing across the hills and Disney animated satyrs.
I suspect ancient flute sections were a tougher breed. This psalm is a cry for help from enemies and a call for God to destroy liars and evildoers. God will bless the righteous but God is going to destroy the liars.
So think more Jethro Tull than the lighter parts of Fantasia. David Carradine always seems to show up with a bamboo flute in his portrayals of Kung Fu masters. He would calmly play it and then peacefully bludgeon someone to death. (I can just see the wheels turn in Ed's mind right now reaching for some rather obvious comments on Carradine.)
I suspect most of the music in biblical times (and we really have little idea what it sounded like) was strong and earthy and passionate. It would have matched the faith of the people.
Showing posts with label Psalms. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Psalms. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Stormy Weather
I am back to blogging after a bit of a break -- no good reasons other than the every present press of life and sometimes, something has to give.
I have been reading five psalms a 5 lately for personal devotions. Take the day of the month and start their then add 30 four times to find the next psalm. Today is September 29 so the psalms would be 29, 59, 89, and 149. Oops, you will say, he skipped 119. Only attempt 119 on the 31st of the month by itself.
Okay so I was reading Psalm 29 and found the writer (David is given credit) really liked storms. Where others saw destruction, he saw God' s raw power at work. Now we might be tempted to say, "Well sure, David safely protected in your solid palace, why wouldn't you feel safe?" But David spent plenty of time in the field -- shepherd, soldier, outlaw on the run -- living in outside circumstances. I would rather think he was inspired by those times to write this.
Certainly lives are touched in sad and terrible ways by storms, but plenty of folks come out of those experiences and create wonderful outcomes. Looking for God's grace in the storms is probably one of the best ways to cope with devastation. What good can come out of this stormy weather?
If storms are blowing in your life today, I hope you find shelter and I hope and pray you can see a bit of God's power in the midst of the struggle.
I have been reading five psalms a 5 lately for personal devotions. Take the day of the month and start their then add 30 four times to find the next psalm. Today is September 29 so the psalms would be 29, 59, 89, and 149. Oops, you will say, he skipped 119. Only attempt 119 on the 31st of the month by itself.
Okay so I was reading Psalm 29 and found the writer (David is given credit) really liked storms. Where others saw destruction, he saw God' s raw power at work. Now we might be tempted to say, "Well sure, David safely protected in your solid palace, why wouldn't you feel safe?" But David spent plenty of time in the field -- shepherd, soldier, outlaw on the run -- living in outside circumstances. I would rather think he was inspired by those times to write this.
Certainly lives are touched in sad and terrible ways by storms, but plenty of folks come out of those experiences and create wonderful outcomes. Looking for God's grace in the storms is probably one of the best ways to cope with devastation. What good can come out of this stormy weather?
If storms are blowing in your life today, I hope you find shelter and I hope and pray you can see a bit of God's power in the midst of the struggle.
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