Psalms 100, 101, 102, and 103: Hesed and Human Identity

READING THE BOOK OF PSALMS

PART LXIII

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Psalms 100, 101, 102, and 103

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How should we respond to the demonstrated faithfulness of God?  The particulars depend upon who, where, and when one is:

1. Psalm 100 does what anyone can do:  praise God.
2. Psalm 101 reflects the point of view of a ruler, who seeks to govern wisely and justly.
3. Psalms 102 and 103 acknowledge human sinfulness and divine punishment.  The context of Psalm 102 is the Babylonian Exile.  Psalm 103 contrasts divine attributes with human characteristics.  God knows that we are dust, and divine steadfast love–hesed–is forever.  God’s judgment and mercy exist in balance, so God has not destroyed the rebellious Chosen People.

This is a post in a series centered in the Book of Psalms, of course.  However, I choose to digress from the Psalms for one paragraph while remaining on topic.  As one reads the Gospels closely, one may notice that Jesus did not offer a one-size-fits-all answer to the question of discipleship.  There is the story of the rich man who refused to obey Christ’s command to divest himself of wealth.  Yet the Gospels indicate that Jesus knew other wealthy men without even hinting that he ever told them to give away their riches.  And, when we read stories of people eager to follow Jesus–literally–we read of him accepting some of them as literal followers and telling others to go home.  Applications of timeless principles vary; the particulars depend on the circumstances.  Why not?  We live in circumstances, not in abstract principles.

By this point in this series, the themes of Psalms 100-103 are familiar.  I can write little else in this post without repeating myself.  However, I conclude with one thought:  The only proper basis of human identity is God.  We pass away about as quickly as we arrive, in divine perspective.  And empires, kingdoms, and nation-states do the same.  When I ponder geological time, which stretches into eons, I find scientific confirmation of the poetic assertion that our days are like those of grass (Psalm 103:15).  So, may we joyfully and faithfully accept our dependence on hesed and keep the covenant.  We may not live for long, but may we live well.

KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR

FEBRUARY 6, 2023 COMMON ERA

THE FEAST OF SAINT MARCUS AURELIUS CLEMENS PRUDENTIUS, POET AND HYMN WRITER

THE FEAST OF DANNY THOMAS, U.S. ROMAN CATHOLIC ENTERTAINER AND HUMANITARIAN; FOUNDER OF SAINT JUDE CHILDREN’S RESEARCH HOSPITAL

THE FEAST OF DAVID EVANS, WELSH CALVINISTIC METHODIST/PRESBYTERIAN HYMNODIST, COMPOSER, AND HYMN TUNE HARMONIZER

THE FEAST OF SAINTS MATEO CORREA-MAGALLANES AND MIGUEL AGUSTIN PRO, MEXICAN ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIESTS AND MARTYRS, 1927

THE FEAST OF SAINT VEDAST (VAAST), ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP OF ARRAS AND CAMBRAI

THE FEAST OF WILLIAM KETCHAM ANDERSON, U.S. METHODIST MINISTER AND HYMN TUNE ORGANIZER

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