“As my life
Was ebbing away,
I remembered
Yahweh.
My prayer
Came to you
Into your holy Temple.
Those who worship
Vain idols
Forsake their true loyalty.”
As Jonah was sinking away in the sea, he remembered Yahweh. His prayer came to Yahweh in his holy Temple. Jonah was lucky, since he worshipped a true loyal God. However, those who worshipped vain idols would not have loyalty.
Zayin
“The thought
Of my affliction
Is wormwood!
The thought
Of my homelessness,
Is gall!
My soul continually
Thinks of it.
My soul is
Bowed down
Within me.
But this I call to mind.
Therefore I have hope.”
This author complained about his bitter thoughts. His affliction was like the sour bitter wormwood plant. His homelessness annoyed or galled him. This is like the prayer of a homeless person. His soul was continually sinking. However, when he thought this out, he still had some hope. These three verses start with the Hebrew consonant letter Zayin in this acrostic poem.
“But as for me,
My prayer is to you.
Yahweh!
At an acceptable time!
O God!
In the abundance of your steadfast love
Answer me!
With your faithful help,
Rescue me
From sinking in the mire!
Let me be delivered
From my enemies!
Let me be delivered
From the deep waters!
Do not let
The flood sweep over me!
Do not let
The deep swallow me up!
Do not let
The pit closes its mouth over me!”
David prayed to Yahweh. He was willing to get a response at an acceptable time from God. He knew that God loved him. Thus he wanted to be rescued from sinking in mud. He wanted to be free of his enemies. He wanted to get away from the deep waters. He did not want the flood to come and swallow him up. He certainly did not want to go down to his grave, the pit that would swallow him up. This time of the flood of water overtaking him continued from the opening verses.
“Rouse yourself!
Why do you sleep?
Yahweh!
Awake!
Do not cast us off forever!
Why do you hide your face?
Why do you forget our affliction and oppression?
We sink down to the dust.
Our bodies cling to the ground.
Rise up!
Come to our help!
Redeem us!
For the sake of your steadfast love!’
Instead of an ending praise, this is like a command to God to help them. This psalmist wanted God to wake up from his sleep. They did not want to be cast off forever. Why was God hiding his face? Had he forgotten about their afflictions and oppressions? They were sinking like dust on the ground. He wanted God to rise up and help him. He wanted God to show his steadfast love by saving them.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 