Friday 22 June 2012

Background

This psalm, beloved of many, is often read as an expression ofconfidence in God's constant presence and saving reach. It suggestsGod knows each person intimately, from their formation in the wombto their end. This is the anticipatory knowledge of a parent,friend, or teammate, who can sense how the other will react. Thepsalm suggests great comfort is given by God's presence. Or doesit?

Another way of reading, one that perhaps fits better with otherwisdom literature, of which this psalm has close connections, is toregard God's pervasive presence as oppressive: "You hem me in,behind and before, and lay your hand upon me" (verse 5). There isnowhere to escape God's judgement. In the words of an American folksong, "You can run on for a long time/ sooner or later God's gonnacut you down". The psalm, then, is a psalm of despair, and arecognition of God's scrutiny, under which all humans fail.

A third way to understand the psalm is as a challenge to God.Perhaps the psalm is a protestation of innocence in the face ofsuffering. This reading makes more sense of verses 19-22, since itallows the calls for vengeance to be directed against those whohave caused the psalmist to suffer.

Often bracketed out of the lectionary reading, these four versesof violence and hatred complicate the question at the end of thepsalm: "Search me ... see if there is any wicked way in me". Isthis the righteous indignation of someone who stands distinct fromthe enemies of God? The rest of the psalm would suggest not. God'sthoughts are as vast and unknowable, so how can humans rightlyidentify those who offend? It would seem that the psalm tempersreligious zeal by denying that any human can bear the weight ofGod's wisdom.

So where might a reading of this psalm end? On a note ofconfidence in God's disturbing and comforting presence? Or withrecognition of the arrogance of human claims to know who Godhates?

To Ponder

Do you find the claim that God is everywherecomforting or troubling?

What would you like God to know about you?

Does God hate? And why do you think this?