Saturday, August 22, 2009

psalm 102

Okay, so what grabs me today with this Psalm? (Aside from how long it is and my worry about what I'll do when I get to Psalm 119)???

I guess it's the idea of solitariness. Ya know??? I'm getting old. I've been feeling old since I was young but lately, I've been feeling really old. Suzette Elgin Haden wrote an article called "Why are Old women older than old men?" I'm feeling this. Especially as a black woman. The world is our mirror, unfortunately. And the world ages us according to its rules. I'm a 50-year-old black woman and to me age is definitely a number. I actually like the kids (15-35) calling me "Moms" in the street. It means I've made it to elderdom. But it also means that I am only viewed as sexual to a guys above a certain age. How fricking stressing! So, I was viable and sexy up to 40 maybe. But now... oh, well. God, please teach me to give up that part of my identity that the world gives us.

Okay, I'm rambling again. Back to the solitariness.
Owl in a desert? yes. Pelican in the wilderness? Not so much.
Pelicans tend not to go in the wilderness...so yeah, I can imagine them being lonely. But owls are found in deserts also. Heck the desert is the homeland of the desert owl. So I suspect there's a solitariness when one is out of one's element, and a solitariness when one is in one's rightful place yet solitary. Gotta think about that.

As for sparrows being alone on the rooftop. Uhm, I rarely see sparrows alone. They're always with their little sparrowy gang.

Again all that solitude is a might much. But then look at verses 18 to 21. The prisoner of solitariness, despair, et al can presumably be freed from all those evils. God has promised this to a people to be created. I think I'll hold on to that promise. I'll have a happy old age I think, surrounded by friends and children's children....and loving Christians. Will see.

Psalm 102

1Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee.
2Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.
3For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.
4My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.
5By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin.
6I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert.
7I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top.
8Mine enemies reproach me all the day; and they that are mad against me are sworn against me.
9For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping.
10Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down.
11My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.
12But thou, O LORD, shall endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.
13Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.
14For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof.
15So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth thy glory.
16When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.
17He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.
18This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.
19For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth;
20To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;
21To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;
22When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
23He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days.
24I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are throughout all generations.
25Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.
26They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:
27But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.
28The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee.

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