Ethics in the Psalms

Ethical Teaching in Prayer and Song 1 The Lord’s Prayer The Lord’s Prayer Our Father who art in heaven Our Father who art in heaven Hallowed be thy name Hallowed be thy name Thy kingdom come, thy will be done Thy kingdom come, thy will be done On earth as it is in heaven On earth as it is in heaven Give us this day our daily bread Give us this day our daily bread And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Matthew 6: 14 – 15 ‘For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.’ ‘For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.’

Ethical Teaching in Prayer and Song 2 This is our God, the servant king This is our God, the servant king he calls us now to follow him he calls us now to follow him to bring our lives as a daily offering to bring our lives as a daily offering of worship to the servant King Graham Kendrick of worship to the servant King Graham Kendrick Stand up stand up for Jesus Stand up stand up for Jesus ye soldiers of the cross! ye soldiers of the cross! Lift high his royal banner, Lift high his royal banner, it must not suffer loss. it must not suffer loss. From victory unto victory From victory unto victory his army he shall lead his army he shall lead till every foe is vanquished till every foe is vanquished and Christ is Lord indeed. George Duffield and Christ is Lord indeed. George Duffield

Recent Studies of OT Ethics Eckhart Otto, Theologische Ethik des Alten Testaments (1994) Eckhart Otto, Theologische Ethik des Alten Testaments (1994) Cyril S. Rodd, Glimpses of a Strange Land: Studies in OT Ethics (2001). Cyril S. Rodd, Glimpses of a Strange Land: Studies in OT Ethics (2001). R. Norman Whybray, The Good Life in the OT (2002) R. Norman Whybray, The Good Life in the OT (2002) Christopher Wright, OT Ethics for the People of God (2004) 1] Stanley Hauerwas and Samuel Wells, The Blackwell Companion to Christian Ethics, (Oxford: Blackwell, 2004). Christopher Wright, OT Ethics for the People of God (2004) 1] Stanley Hauerwas and Samuel Wells, The Blackwell Companion to Christian Ethics, (Oxford: Blackwell, 2004). 1]

10 Commandments and Psalms Psalms on the law 1, 19,119 Psalms on the law 1, 19,119 78:5-8; 104: :5-8; 104:44-45 First Commandment First Commandment Ps 81: 9-10 //Exodus 20: 3-5 Ps 81: 9-10 //Exodus 20: 3-5 Second Commandment Second Commandment Ps 24: 3-4; 115: 2- 8 Ps 24: 3-4; 115: 2- 8 Third Commandment Exodus 20: 7 Third Commandment Exodus 20: 7 Ps 24: 4; Ps 8 Ps 24: 4; Ps 8

10 Commandment and Psalms (2) 4 th commandment – Sabbath 4 th commandment – Sabbath Ps 92 heading; Ps 81: 3 Ps 92 heading; Ps 81: 3 5 th commandment – parents 5 th commandment – parents Ps 89:26; 103:13; 127: 3-5 Ps 89:26; 103:13; 127: th commandment – murder 6 th commandment – murder Ps 7: 2; 17: 12; 22: 13, 16; 35: 17 Ps 7: 2; 17: 12; 22: 13, 16; 35: 17 7 th commandment – adultery 7 th commandment – adultery Ps 50: ; Ps 51 Ps 50: ; Ps 51

10 Commandments and Psalms 3 8 th and 10 th commandments 8 th and 10 th commandments Theft and coveting Theft and coveting Ps 50: 18; 10; 3, 9; 12:5; 14: 4 Ps 50: 18; 10; 3, 9; 12:5; 14: 4 9 th commandment 9 th commandment False witness False witness Ps 4:2; 5:6, 9-10; 10: 7; 12: 2 etc. Ps 4:2; 5:6, 9-10; 10: 7; 12: 2 etc.

The Righteous and the Wicked Psalm 1 Psalm 1 Righteous enjoy God’s Favour Righteous enjoy God’s Favour Ps 5:12; 7: 9; 14: 5; 34: 15; 37: 17, 29; 112: 6; 34: 15, 17; 37: 39 Ps 5:12; 7: 9; 14: 5; 34: 15; 37: 17, 29; 112: 6; 34: 15, 17; 37: 39 Psalm 92:12-15; 112: 1-10 Psalm 92:12-15; 112: 1-10 The Wicked The Wicked Ps 1: 6: 3: 7; 9: 5, 16, 17; 34: 21; 68: 2; 101: 8; 146: 9; 147: 6; Ps 1: 6: 3: 7; 9: 5, 16, 17; 34: 21; 68: 2; 101: 8; 146: 9; 147: 6; Psalm 73:1-28 Psalm 73:1-28

The Imitation of God Ps 11: 7; 116:5; 113: 7-9 Ps 11: 7; 116:5; 113: 7-9 Kings Kings Ps 72; 101 Ps 72; 101 Psalms 111 and 112 Psalms 111 and 112

Laments and Curses Psalms 13, 88 Psalms 13, 88 Christian Use Christian Use 1. Most quoted in NT e.g Jesus prayed them e.g Saints pray them in heaven 94: 3; 79: 10; 119:84 see Revelation 6: 9 – Early Church prayed them - Athanasius

Athanasius on Psalms ‘If you are persecuted by your own family and opposed by many, say Psalm 3….When you see the wicked wanting to ensnare you and you wish your prayer to reach God’s ears, then wake up early and sing psalm 5….When again, you need to pray against your enemies and those who straiten you, Psalms 17, 86, 88 and 140 will all meet your need….Pay no attention either to the weakness of your humanity or to the brazenness of their attack, but cry unceasingly to God using Psalm 28. ‘If you are persecuted by your own family and opposed by many, say Psalm 3….When you see the wicked wanting to ensnare you and you wish your prayer to reach God’s ears, then wake up early and sing psalm 5….When again, you need to pray against your enemies and those who straiten you, Psalms 17, 86, 88 and 140 will all meet your need….Pay no attention either to the weakness of your humanity or to the brazenness of their attack, but cry unceasingly to God using Psalm 28. Letter to Marcellinus Letter to Marcellinus

Pastoral Value of Laments Not all church goers happy Not all church goers happy Teach the happy to sympathise with suffering Teach the happy to sympathise with suffering Thy kingdom come - Maranatha Thy kingdom come - Maranatha Erich Zenger A God of Vengeance?WJKP,1996 Erich Zenger A God of Vengeance?WJKP, Better to pray than take revenge 2. Show faith in God’s justice 3. Uncover the mechanisms of violence Search me O God and know my heart Ps 139: 23-24