Ps. 28 (part II)

Part II

“Requite them / according to their action – and according to / the evil / of their practices. – Requite them / for what their hands have done – and render to them / their recompense.” The psalmist here calls down curses upon the evildoers. It may be that these are covenantal curses (if one lives according to the covenant then one can expect blessing, if one breaks covenant, one can expect curses). It may, however, also be the ‘natural’outworking of evil, something we see, for example in Psalm 1 and in other psalms where evil produces its own ‘reward’/punishment. To ‘requite’ someone is to either pay them for what they have done or to return to them what they have given. Both ideas work well here: in many other requests for judgment/curses, the psalmist asks that Yhwh let their evil ‘return’ to them (in a type of boomerang fashion). The image of ‘payment’ is also appropriate and is picked up in the final verse: “render to them their recompense.” The image here is of evil purchasing its destruction/curse. It is as if evil is a form of payment made over to Yhwh who then merely provides the evildoer with the ‘goods’. This is entirely appropriate given the conception of evil in the OT as an active force that Yhwh often does not need to ‘do’ much in order for it to become judgment/curse (evil is a purchase of a curse). Notice too how the evil spoken of before is in the mixture (or doubleness) of ‘peace’ and wickedness while here the punishment is meted out according to the wickedness. When judgment falls it is not something that is fooled by the ambiguity inherent in the wicked. Rather it discerns the ‘payment’ of wickedness and delivers on that payment and in proportion to the amount received. Finally, it is important to note that the psalmist lifts his ‘hands’ to the holy of holies whereas the wicked man’s ‘hands’are the source of his curse; in the next verse of the psalm this will be picked up as it applies to Yhwh’s ‘hands’. “Because they do not / understand / the works of Yhwh – and what his hands / have done –he will tear them down / and not rebuild them.” Here is the fulfillment of the curse: the utter destruction of the wicked. The wicked are here conceived of as buildings. This curse is very reminiscent of Jeremiah where he is told his prophetic ministry will be to ‘tear down’ the nations so they will not ‘be rebuilt’. The economic image of the previous verses has now been transformed into one of physical destruction. The ‘payment’ they will receive for their evil deeds will be their‘tearing down’. The judgment is total: this tearing down will not be in order to rebuild (or replant). Whereas what “their hands have done” is evil and double, what Yhwh’s “hands have done” are his ‘works’, which may be either his acts of judgment/deliverance in the past or the created word. Ultimately, both of these could be referred to: the act of creation is itself laden with images of deliverance, as every act of deliverance is laden with images of re-creation. To understand the ‘works of Yhwh’s hands’ (either in creation or in history) is to perceive the same momentum and God at work. To not understand these works, then, places on at odds with the god who is king over both creation and history: it is to, therefore, be wicked. The only payment such ignorance could deserve is its destruction. The massive failure on the part of the wicked is rooted in their lack of understanding the ‘works of Yhwh and what his hands have done.’

“Blessed be Yhwh – for he has / heard the voice / of my supplications.” Some assume that in between this and the previous verse a temple priest delivered an oracle that Yhwh had ruled in favor of the psalmist/supplicant and he had, therefore, won his appeal and would not be regarded as a wicked person. This seems appropriate and justifies the sudden shift in perspective. As far as the psalm, though, and regardless of any supposed historical context, the images are beginning to reverse themselves. The psalmist, before, implored Yhwh not to ‘turn a deaf ear’ to him, lest he become silent. He asked Yhwh to ‘hear the voice of my supplications.’ Here, Yhwh has ‘heard the voice of my supplications’. Before, the psalmist implored Yhwh for help; here “Yhwh is / my strength / and my shield.” Before, the wicked had ‘evil in their heart’. Here, “my heart / has trusted / in him.” Before the wicked were ‘requited for their deeds’.Here, “I was rescued / and my heart exulted.” Before, the psalmist implored Yhwh to save him lest he become silent; now, “I will praise him / with my song.”The point is this: with the action of Yhwh in finding the psalmist innocent, every force that worked against him as well as every danger he faced, is removed and he is placed on such solid ground that he can now ‘sing praises’. Before, he was filled with an incredible anxiety: not simply of the ‘pit’ but of being ‘dragged off’ to the pit, of public shame and the danger of being regarded as one of the wicked. His ‘appeal’ was in earnest; everything was going to depend on this ruling by Yhwh. In this ‘reversal’ then we witness the psalmist placed back into the ‘presence of Yhwh’ and the ‘sphere of blessing’ (whereas before he was in danger of being consigned to the sphere of curse). Furthermore, and picking up on our previous reflections: he is now one and not divided. He is no longer in danger of becoming regarded as ‘unclean’ and of the dual nature of the wicked. Yhwh, who himself was previously ‘divided’, as being the judge hearing both sides, has not issued his ruling and become, himself, united in his declaration. A final reversal occurs in the last verse—whereas before the wicked were torn down and not rebuilt, Yhwh now is aid to “Deliver your people / and bless your inheritance, - and be their shepherd / and lift them up / for ever.”In Yhwh’s sphere, life is perpetual (blessing resides here) and one’s ‘inheritance’is certain—for the wicked, who operate in curse, life ceases (in the pit) and one is “not rebuilt”. For the psalmist, with Yhwh’s ruling, he catches a vision of Yhwh’s national blessing of his people (and his anointed), as well as the fact that Yhwh will be their shepherd/king who continuously provides for them.