You Tube Theology

Ellen Charry (Princeton Theological Seminary) considers the meaning of Psalm 35, one of the several "psalms of imprecation." The psalms designated as imprecations may be Christianly troubling because they seek retribution against those who have harmed the speaker when Christians would prefer an offer of forgiveness and the reestablishment of relationship. Psalm 35 is a seemingly perfect portrait of one who is scorned and asks God to dishonor those who have insulted him. The poem is about how to handle one's emotions when scorned. By asking God to justly punish, rather than taking direct action himself, the complainant is exercising self-restraint, thereby setting standards for civil society. The pastoral challenge of the scenario is that the wounded not emerge from the incident by becoming smug and that the scorners not emerge from it unchastised. Whether viewed in the context of a private little war or as a public rebuke of those who scorn others who are working on a commendable but unpopular public issue, such psalms can provide for catharsis and a way beyond pathological grief and anger. The complainant seeks to have his suffering acknowledged and thereby valued. Complaining serves a salutary purpose when it arouses compassion and empathy from others strengthening bonds with them on a personal level and raising awareness of the anti-social dimension of contempt.