downtrodden

February 27, 2017

The impenetrable Yahweh (Lam 3:43-3:45)

Samek

“You have wrapped yourself

With anger.

You have pursued us.

You have killed us

Without pity.

You have wrapped yourself

With a cloud.

Thus no prayer

Can pass through.

You have made us filth.

You have made us rubbish.

Among the people.”

This author turns in an unanswered prayer towards Yahweh, addressing him in the second person singular. Yahweh had wrapped himself in anger and a cloud. He had pursued this author and his friends, killing them without pity. Their prayers to Yahweh could not penetrate through the clouds. They had become filth and rubbish among all people as they were forsaken and downtrodden. These three verses start with the Hebrew consonant letter Samek in this acrostic poem.

October 30, 2015

Rise up God (Ps 74:20-74:23)

“Have regard for your covenant!

The dark places of the land

Are full of the haunts of violence.

Let not the downtrodden be put to shame!

Let the poor and the needy praise your name!

Rise up!

O God!

Plead your cause!

Remember how the impious scoff at you all day long!

Do not forget the clamor of your foes!

Do not forget the uproar of our adversaries

That goes up continually!”

This psalm concludes with a call to God to rise up and help them. The psalmist reminded God about his covenant. There was violence in the land. The downtrodden, the poor, and the needy should not be put to shame. He wanted God to remember how the non-pious people scoffed at his name. Their adversaries were continually clamoring against God.