Dear RTB’ers,
Today, a very unusual psalm… Except for the first verse (O Lord, God of my salvation…), the entire Psalm reads like a lament – except that, unlike a lament the writer does not explain his situation, what he is lamenting and why. He seems to be near death, or very ill at a minimum. There is one part of a verse where he might be a prisoner, I am shut in so that I cannot escape… (v. 8b), but even there we do not know where or why. He seems to blame God for his situation: You have put me in the depths of the pit, in the regions dark and deep. Your wrath lies heavy upon me… (vv. 6-7a), but again no further information. He sounds a lot like Job, You have caused my companions to shun me… You have caused my beloved and my friend to shun me… (v. 8a, 18a). Here’s Job 19:13-14, He has removed my brothers far from me, and my acquaintances have completely turned away from me. My relatives have failed, and my close friends have forgotten me. He continues to cry out to God, But I, O Lord, cry to You; in the morning my prayer comes before You. (v. 13) However, even that does not seem to be much of a prayer of faith.
A very unusual psalm… Your comments?
Blessings.
Fred