Psalm 109
Psalm 109 (Greek numbering: Psalm 108) is a psalm noted for containing some of the most frighteningly severe curses in the Bible, such as:
- "Let there be none to extend mercy unto him: neither let there be any to favour his fatherless children."
and:
- "Let his posterity be cut off; and in the generation following let their name be blotted out",
and so on. For this reason the psalm is used by Thomas Hardy in his novel The Mayor of Casterbridge. The protagonist and hero of the story, Michael Henchard, is drinking with the choir after practice when he sees his rival, Donald Farfrae, whom he hates. He subsequently persuades the choir to sing Psalm 109. The choir master remarks of this psalm that,
"Twasn’t made for singing. We chose it once when the gypsy stole the parson’s mare, thinking to please him, but parson were quite upset. Whatever Servant David were thinking about when he made a Psalm that nobody can sing without disgracing himself, I can’t fathom."
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[edit] Verse 8
The Apostle Peter quoted this verse, before the apostles elected the replacement for Judas Iscariot in Acts 1:16-26.
In the United States, 109:8 "May his days be few; may another take his place of leadership" has been used by a number of fundamentalist preachers who use the imprecatory psalm as an imprecatory prayer. Pastor Greg Dixon of the Indianapolis Baptist Temple had invoked it,[1] which had been condemned by others.[2]
In 2009, the media has reported more widely on its usage in reference to President Barack Obama,[3] by those such as Pastor Wiley Drake.[4]
In January 2010, a Florida Sheriff's officer was suspended from his force for circling the passage in a bible and scrawling "The Obama Prayer" beside it.[5]
In January 2012, Kansas Speaker of the House Michael O'Neal sent an email quoting Verse 8 to his Republican colleagues that stated:[6]
At last — I can honestly voice a Biblical prayer for our president! Look it up — it is word for word! Let us all bow our heads and pray. Brothers and Sisters, can I get an AMEN? AMEN!!!!!!
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[edit] Uses
[edit] Judaism
- The psalm is recited on the day of Parshat Zachor[7].
[edit] References
- ^ Warren, Ellen (June 7, 1986). "Fundamentalist preachers pray for death of foes". Spokesman-Review Spokane Chronicle: A5. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2f4SAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Yu8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6957,4924923.
- ^ Ide, Arthur Frederick (1986). Evangelical Terrorism: Censorship, Falwell, Robertson & the Seamy Side of Christian Fundamentalism. Scholars Books. p. 116. ISBN 978-0938659013.
- ^ Samuelson, Tracey D. (November 16, 2009). "Biblical anti-Obama slogan: Use of Psalm 109:8 funny or sinister?". Christian Science Monitor. http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2009/1116/biblical-anti-obama-slogan-use-of-psalm-1098-funny-or-sinister?.
- ^ Norman, Tony (November 20, 2009). "Obama-haters are perverting Christianity". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09324/1014951-153.stm.
- ^ Devin Dwyer (2010-01-04). "109th Psalm 'Obama Prayer': Threat or Free Speech?". ABC News. http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/109th-psalm-obama-prayer-threat-free-speech-sheriffs/story?id=12538288.
- ^ Scott Rothschild (2012-01-03). "Statehouse Live: Speaker O’Neal forwards anti-Obama email". Lawrence Journal-World. http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2012/jan/03/statehouse-live-speaker-oneal-forwards-anti-obama-/.
- ^ The Artscroll Tehillim. p. 329.
[edit] External links
- "Tehillim - Psalms - Chapter 109, translation with Rashi's commentary". Judaica Press Chabad.org. http://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/16330/showrashi/true.
- Lilly Fowler (2009-11-24). "Praying for Obama’s death". Salon.com. http://www.salon.com/2009/11/24/praying_for_obama_death/.
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