The division of the psalms into chapters is a relatively late addition - likely around the 12th century CE, by the same Chrisitan clerics who divided the entire Hebrew Bible into chapters. Prior to that, the book was only divided into the five subsections. So it’s not surprising that some psalms seem to go together - such is the case with today’s chapter, which seems to echo the themes of the one we just read yesterday. The soul’s longing, in particular, is a repeated trope here, with words that continue the deer’s longing from the previous verses:
מַה־תִּשְׁתּ֬וֹחֲחִ֨י ׀ נַפְשִׁי֮ וּֽמַה־תֶּהֱמִ֢י עָ֫לָ֥י הוֹחִ֣ילִי לֵ֭אלֹהִים כִּי־ע֣וֹד אוֹדֶ֑נּוּ יְשׁוּעֹ֥ת פָּ֝נַ֗י וֵאלֹהָֽי׃
Why so downcast, my soul,
why disquieted within me?
Have hope in God;
I will yet give praise,
my ever-present help, my God.
Ps. 43:5
The psalm is yet again about the spiritual-psychological yearnings for meaning and connection, whether we long for happiness, fulfillment - or a life lived with firm faith in whatever god means to each of us.
But beyond the words there are also hints and clues to other layers of meaning in these chapters, and Dr. Irvin Scott, an American educator and Senior Lecturer on Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education brings both the lens of literature - and math - to a fascinating deconstruction of both chapters from yesterday and today. He breaks down the verses to wonder about the ratio in our lives between our yearnings (20%), conflicts (26%), and states of hopefulness (64%) :
“I am an English teacher, but I have spent the last 30 years married to a math teacher. Perhaps it is this combination of sensibilities that led me to read, analyze, and interpret these complementary psalms from both a literary and computational perspective. What I discovered has led me to a deeper appreciation of the ancient poet’s ability to give eloquent voice to the mixture of sorrow, anger, wonder, and joy that are all a part of life.
There appears to be at least three different “states of mind” that the writer experiences throughout Psalms 42-43. I will refer to the first as anticipation or hopefulness, the second as opposition or conflict, and the third as wondering or questioning.
Using a metaphor of a spirited deer looking to quench its thirst, Psalms 42 opens with a deep sense of anticipation and hopefulness. This thirst can only be satisfied by a supernatural river of water that never runs dry. So begins the imagery of the human quest for a transcendent relational existence beyond our mundane individual existence and satisfaction. I have counted 41 lines in which the poet is in this state of anticipation or hopefulness.
Yet, there are times when the writer is in a much darker, confrontational state of mind. Sometimes the confrontation appears to come from external forces. Therefore, I refer to this state as oppositional and conflictual. There are 18-20 lines of poetry that reflect this state of mind.
Finally, there is a state of mind that seems to be interrogative. Here the psalmist is in a state I call wondering and questioning. This is neither a period of triumph or hopefulness, nor a time of clear challenge or opposition. Rather, the writer is posing questions to a God he cannot see or fathom. According to my calculations, there are 13 lines of poetry like this, several of them overlapping with the two other states.
Of all the verses in Psalms 42-43, 20% of them are devoted to a state of wondering and questioning, 26% to conflict and challenge, and 64% to a state of anticipation and hopefulness.
Now the English teacher in me reemerges to ask several interpretive questions based on these computations:
Does this breakdown reflect my experience of life? If so, how do I feel about this distribution?
To what extent do we need this mixture—including the anguish and pain—to live a meaningful life that includes opportunities for challenge and growth?
Theologically speaking, to what extent do I believe God is actively involved in this complicated game of “hide-and-seek”?
How might my memories of intimacy with the Divine and in fellowship with other seekers help me endure times of loneliness or desolation?
In Psalms 42-43 King David (or whoever may have written this text) invites us to contemplate the shape and texture of our lives. How can this ancient text help us to sort through our own feelings of anticipation or hopefulness, opposition or conflict, and wondering or questioning?”
Dr. Scott’s questions linger as we wrap this week and wonder what about these ancient words can help us make sense of our lives, this troubling time, and the ever-present task of building up the muscle of hope.
TODAY: Our Monthly Zoom Session:
If it wasn’t King David who wrote the Psalms, despite popular religious lore, and according to most reliable scholarship - then who are the authors of these poets of piety and protest? Did they leave us some important information to decode as we struggle with our personal and public problems?
Clues are everywhere.
Join me on June 6th for our monthly Zoom conversation Below the Bible Belt - and find out more about the authors and how these ancient hymns may be helpful to us during this difficult time in the world, and as we each face challenges and celebrate life’s blessings.
Whether you are new to this journey or have been on it for a while - please join us on June 6th 2024, 5pm ET and please bring your questions, comments, responses and reflections on the PSLAMS so far.
Here’s the link to the next Below the Bible Belt Zoom Live Conversation:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88915392821
These monthly zoom conversations now welcome all subscribers of Below the Bible Belt, with gratitude to Paid Subscribers for the generous enabling of his blog to be free daily for all.
Please consider becoming a paid subscriber today at the level that works best for you.
details here. Sign up: Here
Your support means a lot.
We’ll share the recording with all subscribers.
Thank you.
Let there be healing, and may peace prevail.
Below the Bible Belt: 929 chapters, 42 months, daily reflections.
Become a free or paid subscriber and join Rabbi Amichai’s 3+ years interactive online quest to question, queer + re-read between the lines of the entire Hebrew Bible. Enjoy daily posts, weekly videos and monthly learning sessions. 2022-2025.
Psalms #PSLAMS #Psalm43 #ספרתהילים #תהילים #BookofPsalms #כתובים #tehilim #Ketuvim #Hebrewbible #Tanach #929 #labshul #belowthebiblebelt929
#areyouhappy? #thirstyformeaning #hopeisamuscle #dealwithdepression #mathofpoetry #yearning #Powerwords #theartoftearning #neverlosehope #endthewar #stoptheviolence #peace #prayforpeace #nomorewar #hope #everywhere #peaceispossible