“A person’s life is like grass. Like a flower in the field it flourishes, but when the hot wind blows by, it disappears, and one can no longer even spot the place where it once grew. But the Lord continually shows loyal love to his faithful followers, and is faithful to their descendants, to those who keep his covenant, who are careful to obey his commands. The Lord has established his throne in heaven; his kingdom extends over everything. Praise the Lord, you angels of his, you powerful warriors who carry out his decrees and obey his orders! Praise the Lord, all you warriors of his, you servants of his who carry out his desires! Praise the Lord, all that he has made, in all the regions of his kingdom! Praise the Lord, O my soul!”
— Psalms 103:15-22
Would need to look at Hebrew to see where stanza markings are. NET seems to break it here, but it seems long. Not sure how ideas of a fading life and God’s kingdom interact with one another. Makes sense that lives fade, but God is faithful to His followers. We like that thought of an Almighty God taking interest in what others find worthless. (There are still OT overtones throughout this passage, but they can easily be applied to all followers of YHWH)
Maybe it is a closing thought to the whole psalm that God reigns supreme over all thing. Kingdom of God needs to be understood in OT context, which Jesus will unpack in gospels, but this is where we understand what He will be unpacking. Idea that God reigns over all things, and where God reigns, that is His kingdom. This is what Jesus brings to earth later. But all those themes can’t be read back into OT.
Bc of God’s might and sovereignty, He deserves praise from all inhabitants of universe. Love reading about angels as mighty warriors. “Hosts” throughout Bible is army term. They fulfill His will.
No comments:
Post a Comment