PSALM 78 – The Riddles presented by history

Sunday 27 September 2020, the 17th Sunday after Pentecost.

Most of us were taught a bit of history in our youth, and some of us learned from a little book called ‘1066 and All That’, a tongue-in-cheek history of England. The Israelites were a people steeped in their own history as many events influenced them. Some people say that we should learn from history (especially from our mistakes) while others say that history is nothing more than a list of dates. The psalm for 27^th September has a slightly different tone from the previous ones we have been looking at. The Hebrews have been in the Promised Land for some time, and the annual festival has come round again. This time the poet notes the difference in the way people celebrate their God.

1     Give heed to my teaching O my people;
incline your ears to the words of my mouth

2     For I will open my mouth in a parable:
and expound the mysteries of former times

3     What we have heard and known;
what our forefathers nave told us,

4     We will not hide from their children:
but declare to a generation yet to come:
the praiseworthy acts of the Lord
his mighty and wonderful works

 

This is not a question of giving an account of the history of early Israel, for instance after the fashion of a chronicle cast in rhymes, comparable with an epic poem. On the contrary, history here is reflected upon in a way that takes for granted that an account has already been given to the cult community. The psalm does not present a recapitulation of history, rather it wants to impress upon the mind the ‘riddles from of old’ (seen in the word ‘parables’ v2a), or as we may say today - the irrational quality of the things that have come to pass in order that present and coming generations will bear in mind and never forget the revelation of God’s nature and will. Simultaneously they are admonished to be faithful and obedient.

11   For he did marvellous things
in the sight of their fathers:
in the land of Egypt, in the country of Zoan.

12   He divided the sea and let them pass through:
he made the waters stand up in a heap.

13   In the daytime he led them with a cloud
and all night long with the light of fire.

14   He cleft rocks in the wilderness:
and gave them drink in abundance
as from springs of water.

15   He brought streams out of the rock:

and caused the waters to flow down like rivers

 

The psalmist’s meditation on history take as its starting point the fundamental saving deeds at the time of Moses, the deliverance at the Red Sea, and the divine guidance and help in the wilderness, to which the people owe their survival to God alone.

This is a long Psalm, but it bears reading through and attempting to connect with the history of God’s interactions with Israel right up to the time of King David. Try to see what the attitude is of the poet to the people of the covenant.

Thank you Fr Graham Alston for your weekly commentary on the psalms.