the schemes

October 16, 2015

Save David from his enemies (Ps 64:1-64:6)

To the choirmaster leader, a psalm of David

“Hear my voice!

O God!

In my complaint!

Preserve my life

From the dreaded enemy.

Hide me

From the secret plots of the wicked.

Hide me

From the scheming of evildoers.

They whet their tongues like swords.

They aim bitter words like arrows.

They shoot from an ambush at the blameless.

They shoot suddenly.

They shoot without fear.

They hold fast to their evil purpose.

They talk of laying snares secretly.

They think.

‘Who can see us?

Who can search out our crimes?

We have thought out

A cunningly conceived plot.’

The human heart and mind are deep!”

Psalm 64 is a choral psalm of David. Once again David wanted to save his life from his enemies. He wanted to be hidden from the secret plots of the wicked and the schemes of the evildoers. Their tongues were like swords. Their words were like arrows from a bow and arrow. They shot suddenly and without fear from various ambushes. They laid secret snares for David with their evil purposes. They thought that no one saw them. No one was going after their crimes. They thought that they had a great cunning plan. Finally David notes that the human heart and mind are deep. This is a little bit like Psalm 58.

July 7, 2015

Job complains to God (Job 10:1-10:7)

“I loathe my life.

I will give free utterance to my complaint.

I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

I will say to God.

‘Do not condemn me.

Let me know why you contend against me.

Does it seem good to you to oppress?

Does it seem good to you to despise the work of your hands?

Does it seem good to you to favor the schemes of the wicked?

Do you have eyes of flesh?

Do you see as humans sees?

Are your days like the days of mortals?

Are your years like human years?

Do you seek out my iniquity?

Do you search for my sin?

You know that I am not guilty.

There is no one to deliver me out of your hand?’”

Once again, the depressed Job hated his life. He was going to complain from the bitterness of his soul. He did not want to be condemned. He wanted to know why God was against him. Why was he favoring the schemes of the wicked? Did not God have eyes to see? His days and years are not like humans. He could look into his heart since he knows all things. He knew his sins and iniquities, but who would deliver him from the hand of God?