Sunday, December 03, 2006

A Lament over Betrayal

1. For the leader, On stringed instruments. A maskil of David

I
2 Listen, God, to my prayer; do not hide from my pleading;
3 hear me and give answer. I rock with grief; I groan
4 at the uproar of the enemy, the clamor of the wicked. They heap trouble upon me, savagely accuse me
5 My heart pounds within me; death's terrors fall upon me.
6 Fear and trembling overwhelm me; shuddering sweeps over me.
7 I say "If only I had wings like a dove that I might fly away and find rest.
8 Far away I would flee; I would stay in the desert.
9 I would soon find a shelter from the raging wind and storm"

II
10 Lord, check and confuse their scheming. I see violence and strife in the city
11 making rounds on its walls day and night. Within are mischief and evil;
12 treachery is there as well; oppression and fraud never leave its streets.
13 If an enemy had reviled me, that I could bear; If my foe had viewed me with contemp, from that I could hide.
14 But it was you, my other self, my comrad and friend,
15 You, whose company I enjoyed, at whose side I walked in procession in the house of God.

III
16 Let death take them by suprise; let them go down alive to SHeol, for evil is in their homes and hearts.
17 But I will call upon God, and the Lord will save me.
18 At dusk, dawn, and noon I will grieve and complain and my prayer will be heard.
19 God will give me freedom and peace from those who war against me, though there are many who oppose me.
20 God, who sits enthroned forever, will her me and humble them. For they will not mend their ways; they have no fear of God.
21 They strike out at friends and go back on their promises.
22 Softer than butter is their speech but war is in their hearts. Smoother than oil are their words but they are unsheathed swords.
23 Cast your care upon the Lord, who will give you support. God will never allow the righteous to stumble.
24 But you, God, will bring them down to the pit of destruction. These blood thirsty liars will not live half their days, but I put my trust in you.


Psalm 55

OK, the only part that doesn't speak to me is the part about wishing them to death. I do not wish HIM to die, I really do want him to be happy and I do forgive him. That doesn't mean I will allow HIM to do it again.

I think I found this chapter on a link that Moneybags sent to me. It was a bishop's conference on domestic violence. It was a great thing to read. Very helpful to me...thanks Moneybags.

No comments: