For some time now, I’ve read the Psalms with two alternating lenses.

• Lens 1: the context in which the Psalms were written.

• Lens 2: the context in which I live.

It’s good when these lenses work together, much as a set of properly prescribed eyeglasses. When they do, I can best answer the preaching question I long used in sermon preparation and for my own study: Based on what I know of this text and my/our situation, what is the subject for consideration and what conclusions can I make, while holding them lightly enough to continue to be shaped?

For some time now, though, those lenses have not worked together for me and need some correction.

I was struggling to embrace the constant self-righteousness contained in the Psalms—so many expressions of religious smugness, and public declarations of personal righteousness and nationalistic pride. I sensed the root of the self-righteous prayer that Jesus critiqued: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ (Luke 18). I began to equate the Psalmist’s expressions with today’s quasi-religious and righteous sentiments of Christian nationalism.

Doesn’t society have the opportunity to grow beyond this? Haven’t we? Isn’t there a choice beyond wickedness and a hypocritical righteous indignation? (Who can express righteous indignation without being a hypocrite—without utter self-delusion?)

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In recent weeks, however, I’m finding that the Psalms are much more the cry of my heart. Consider today’s lectionary Psalm, Psalm 26.

It refers to:

• naked deceit,

• hands that need to be purified because they’ve shed innocent blood,

• fear of being swept along in the currents created by others’ wickedness,

• unbridled greed for riches and power.

These are not the actions of yesteryear.

These are not limited to uncivilized corners of the globe

These are playing out in front of us faster than we can react. And were we to point out the awfulness, to whom could we make our appeal? Objective and righteous judges appear to have left the building.

And so my appreciation for the Psalms resumes with an updated set of lenses. I’m no longer worried about sounding self-righteous. Rather, I’m pleading as did the Psalmists of old that I not be found among the company of the wicked. I am offering thanks and praise that, so far, I’m not contributing to the surrounding madness.

___________

Reflecting on Psalm 26 this morning, I’m drawn to the profound spiritual insight of the first Director of the UN, Dag Hammarksjöld, in his book Markings:

“You cannot play with the animal in you without becoming wholly animal, play with falsehood without forfeiting your right to truth, play with cruelty without losing your sensitivity of mind. He who wants to keep his garden tidy doesn’t reserve a plot for weeds.”