various lands

December 3, 2015

Thanksgiving psalm (Ps 107:1-107:3)

“O give thanks to Yahweh!

He is good!

His steadfast love endures forever!

Let the redeemed of Yahweh say so.

He has redeemed them from trouble.

He has gathered them in from the lands.

He has gathered them from the east.

He has gathered them from the west.

He has gathered them from the north.

He has gathered them from the south.”

Psalm 107 opens the last book of psalms as a thanksgiving psalm with no titles. The psalmist wants to give thanks to Yahweh because he is good and his steadfast love endured forever. This was a very common lovely theme, often repeated. Yahweh has redeemed them from trouble in various lands in every direction, east, west, north, and south. This would seem to indicate a post-exilic psalm since they are all returning from captivity.

December 1, 2015

Dislike of the Promised Land (Ps 106:24-106:27)

“Then they despised the pleasant land.

They had no faith in his promise.

They grumbled in their tents.

They did not obey the voice of Yahweh.

Therefore he raised his hand.

He swore to them.

He would make them fall in the wilderness.

He would disperse their descendants among the nations.

He would scatter them over the lands.”

Based on Numbers, chapter 14, the Israelites were reluctant to enter the Promised Land. In fact, some wanted to return to Egypt. They had no faith in the promise of Yahweh. They grumbled. They said that they would not obey the voice of Yahweh. This made Yahweh angry. Once again, Moses intervened. This time Yahweh said that the grumblers would not see the Promised Land. Instead they would die in the wilderness before they got there. On top of that, their descendents would be scattered among many nations and various lands. This seems to be a justification for the later Exile.