With the loyal you show yourself loyal; with the blameless you show yourself blameless; with the pure you show yourself pure; and with the crooked you show yourself perverse. For you deliver a humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring down. It is you who light my lamp; the Lord, my God, lights up my darkness. (Psalm 18: 24-28)
I am neither blameless nor pure. I despair of ever being so. But the psalm's original Hebrew encourages me.
What the translator has chosen to render as loyal can also mean kind. Instead of blameless the reading might be whole or complete or to have integrity. Rather than being pure, the emphasis might be on making a good choice.
It is especially meaningful that the verb barar, translated above as show, can also mean to choose. God makes choices that reflect our choices.
Whatever we choose, the psalmist highlights that what we choose determines what we will find of God.
A God of love, freedom, and creativity will not impose, but our God will respond abundantly to invitation and partnership.
I am neither blameless nor pure. I despair of ever being so. But the psalm's original Hebrew encourages me.
What the translator has chosen to render as loyal can also mean kind. Instead of blameless the reading might be whole or complete or to have integrity. Rather than being pure, the emphasis might be on making a good choice.
It is especially meaningful that the verb barar, translated above as show, can also mean to choose. God makes choices that reflect our choices.
Whatever we choose, the psalmist highlights that what we choose determines what we will find of God.
A God of love, freedom, and creativity will not impose, but our God will respond abundantly to invitation and partnership.
posted by Didymus | 4:59 AM
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