Tuesday 25th March 2025
John Greig
“I was silent and still;
I held my peace to no avail”
Psalm 39:2 (NRSV)
Muzzled
Bede, the 7th-8th century Northumbrian Christian scholar, gives an account of a contemplation on how fleeting earthly life is.
King Edwin of Northumbria is considering converting to Christianity and so he seeks his courtiers’ advice. One responds: “Imagine feasting with your Ealdorman in your mead-hall by a roaring fire. A sparrow flies in the open window from the winter storms into the heat and light and then out of another window into the cold and dark.”
Ten centuries earlier, the Psalmist is bemoaning the ephemeral nature of existence. Psalm 39 is believed to have been written by King David when ill, possibly with a depressive illness. He feels abandoned by God. Worse, he is angry with God. He has questions but not answers.
The interesting part is where David talks of his initial reluctance to voice his doubts, partly for fear of incurring God’s wrath but mainly because he does not want to encourage non-believers to scoff at his faith. Eventually he cannot hold his feelings in and writes this.
At the very top of this Psalm the name Jeduthun is mentioned. He was a director of music for Temple worship. This surely implies that the Psalm is intended for use in the public praise of God, rather than being the equivalent of writing angst-ridden poetry in a private notebook.
Do Christian’s sometimes feel under pressure to hide their feelings of unhappiness because they feel it would make their professed faith in God look hollow? This is needless because knowing it will all come good eventually does not mean faking a smile when that outcome is still an indeterminate distance away. Jesus cried over the death of his friend Lazurus even though he knew he would soon return him to life.
David’s despair was driven by the believe system of his era; there was no central, strong narrative of any afterlife. Edwin’s Thane continued his speech by saying this was our life before, now this new faith gives us hope of new life after this one.
Edwin was baptised a Christian.
Shall we pray?:
God who knows our innermost feelings, grant us the confidence to turn to you in all truthfulness, seeking your love no matter how angry or frustrated we may feel. Amen.
John Greig is the session clerk of Tranent Parish Church.