Philosophy Now Forum

Strangely, the Psalms seem to be replete with sinful uncharitable thoughts. "Let God always remember against him (an enemy) the sins of his parents..."; "may his children be wandering beggars..." (psalm 109).

Even the most famous psalm of them all - the 23rd --"Thou shalt prepare a table for me against them that trouble me." Dr. Moffat translates the last clause as, "while my enemies have to look on."

Thus seems petty and wicked-- feasting (perhaps metaphorically) while childishly chanting, "Nyaaah, nyaaay, nyaaah" at those envious enemies.

Let's face it: there is no way to excuse such petty and vindictive hatred. Worse, in 109 a blessing is pronounced on anyone who will beat a Babylonian baby's brains out (Gaza anyone?).

Of course people were less politically correct and more violent in those days. But still!!

The Old Testament (and of course the New) is replete with passages that seem to hold these curses in the Psalms in contempt. "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.." (Leviticus). "Rejoice not when thy enemy falleth" (Proverbs).

Perhaps the curses in the Psalms represent the divine hatred of sin warped and perverted by human passion. This can be considered poetic license.

Any other ideas?

Alexiev wrote: ↑Sat Aug 31, 2024 6:25 pm Strangely, the Psalms seem to be replete with sinful uncharitable thoughts. "Let God always remember against him (an enemy) the sins of his parents..."; "may his children be wandering beggars..." (psalm 109).

Even the most famous psalm of them all - the 23rd --"Thou shalt prepare a table for me against them that trouble me." Dr. Moffat translates the last clause as, "while my enemies have to look on."

Thus seems petty and wicked-- feasting (perhaps metaphorically) while childishly chanting, "Nyaaah, nyaaay, nyaaah" at those envious enemies.

Let's face it: there is no way to excuse such petty and vindictive hatred. Worse, in 109 a blessing is pronounced on anyone who will beat a Babylonian baby's brains out (Gaza anyone?).

Of course people were less politically correct and more violent in those days. But still!!

The Old Testament (and of course the New) is replete with passages that seem to hold these curses in the Psalms in contempt. "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.." (Leviticus). "Rejoice not when thy enemy falleth" (Proverbs).

Perhaps the curses in the Psalms represent the divine hatred of sin warped and perverted by human passion. This can be considered poetic license.

Any other ideas?

Precisely - this is why I say to the likes of IC (Immanuel Cann) that I don't consider the entire buy_bull as being the word of God and that I attempts discern and reject contents that clearly would not be something a Divine being would insist upon.
It's clear that man with his bigotry has inserted a fair amount of their prejudicial and plain ol bollocks into it. Whenever I read anything from the bible, I do so with much scrutiny.