"the exile" (Jan 2002)

Who would've thought we'd see such a dawn, the blind of the scorch from the west?
What screeching sorrow muffles to the ear, a song in the silence of its rest,
When clenched mouth doth sour, and tongue the driest pallet doth taste,
Where all touch is lost and all pain is felt, no hand to hold, no hand.
Why, my Father, endure this stench of time? -- your Spirit knows.
How long will you hide your face?

Psalm 5 - purpose and method of study

Pastor Scott asked me to lead the devotions for our men's prayer breakfast April 10th. We've been going through the Psalter and have reached Psalm 5. I intend to use this blog to trace my preparation for the devotional.

Study Procedure

First, I will spend time familiarizing myself with the psalm in the English. It will be important to refresh my memory on what a "psalm" is as a literary genre, and try to answer the question "what kind of psalm is this?" I will then proceed to analyze the Hebrew grammar noting any significant textual variants, and compare how various translations interpret the original (e.g. English translations, but also the Septuagint (LXX)). I will proceed to determine the poetic structure of the psalm, rhetorically and thematically. I will move into broader contextual issues that help me understand the meaning of the psalm in its canonical context (e.g. thematic or theological connections to adjacent psalms, how the psalm relates to the history of God's salvation, does it quote or allude to other Scriptures?) Then I will reflect upon how the psalm may speak to Christians, respecting how subsequent authors in Scripture use (or dialogue with) its text or theology to help us understand God's salvation in Christ, the identity of His people, and how we are to be faithful to His revelation.

To begin, here is the text of Psalm 5 (English Standard Version).

TEXT: Psalm 5:1-12 ESV
Psalm 5:1 TO THE CHOIRMASTER: FOR THE FLUTES. A PSALM OF DAVID. Give ear to my words, O LORD; consider my groaning.
2 Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you do I pray.
3 O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.
4 For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you.
5 The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers.
6 You destroy those who speak lies; the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.
7 But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house. I will bow down toward your holy temple in the fear of you.
8 Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me.
9 For there is no truth in their mouth; their inmost self is destruction; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue.
10 Make them bear their guilt, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out, for they have rebelled against you.
11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you.
12 For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover him with favor as with a shield.

Sight Under Construction

Now then, let's begin.
If you've come expecting answers here, why not be patient?
If you're still looking for a final draft, it's right there.

_r_o_w_ (.e.d.pyle.)

   _r_o_w_

   _r_o_w_

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(( [ur-BoaT] ))

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                        (s (t (r (e) @) @)m )

    :)    :)    :)    :)

   w@@@ter

          f           :o

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          @@@@@@@h! \\XX//

(see also pdf format)

love is a messy room

Sometimes love is a messy room missing all its pretty flowers,

a fairy tale frozen from its first kiss,

a conversation never spoken...