Quick note: This will be a read-aloud on Soundcloud or the best podcast streaming I have access to. I mean to provide my thoughts on the original text. The readings will be from the NKJV. I enjoyed studying it now, and I enjoyed studying scripture as a younger person. I was raised Christian. Straying is subjective under a certain political lens, but I admit I definitely had moments of foolishness, even I would correct and have already done so.
As a lesbian (for my respectful and still respected people of the church of Christ) or as the tolerable anomaly of the other, I admit I struggle in coexistence but hope we can share civility and un-cruel laughter at the proper times. I’ll settle for peace and live and breathe as long as I can.
Unfortunately, because of the climate we live in I must also add: let’s commit to I’m not your rape and murder victim pending neither is my family.
We have faith and cover those in and out of our rank in struggle as best as we can.
Quick synopsis as I know it: The intended purpose of the Psalms is to convey, as explained, “the valleys and the peaks of the human experience” by way of recording the “songs and prayers and poetry” of the psalmist.
Authors: Moses (five centuries before David), David, the sons of Korah (writers of the psalms for centuries), Deborah and Hannah (women, anonymous writers).
This post begins with what is known as Book I: 1-41
As I begin, I pray this will not be used as an anti-theoretical weapon against another, causing an affliction to the point of doing harm. No harm should be done unto the human body. Amen.
This first post is a look at Psalms 1-4. The next one looks at Psalms 5-8. These are the Davidic Psalms.
What to expect: Contrasts between the righteous and the wicked, address God’s blessing and cursing, and focus on righteous living.
In the NKJV I read from: […The] psalms were written in the language of the human spirit.”
Day 1 of 10:
I found that Psalms 1-4 were filled with messages fairly easy to read.
Matters worth discussing:
It’s 2025, what do the “ungodly” look like?
What does their counsel sound like?
How are children and adults to truly avoid these?
Based off my walk and Psalm 1 v. 4, the term “ungodly” merits the equivalent of not quite human. Explained with care, I think tragedy can be avoided.
Potentially, there may be regional variations.
No human is like a husk of corn.
But careful! They can be made into one.
Recently, perhaps it’s all the warfare and heavy talk, I reflected on the topic I will quote from now: “Nor stands in the path of the sinner”. Yeah – that’s very much out of context. Didn’t give you much to go off of.
Allow me to express that what it reminded me of was not allowing the momentum of another to hurt or kill you.
If you don’t have your bible next to you and this lack of context is annoying, I don’t wish to rewrite it here because this would get too lengthy and I plan to read it out loud to later.
I also need to highlight the last verse of the 1st Psalm. I believe it is a calling equivalent to the following:
To be blessed, be recognizable.
This reminds me of: hygiene, garb, and habits. I have seen in my lifetime many broken rites mended ( I mean that in the best sense of the terming, not a strange one). A restoration of a way we recognize in our common human speech.
In the second Psalm, I was reminded of the temperance Jesus displayed when tempted on the mount.
The Psalmist here seems to land the understanding that God in the making of a son in his image (only one was needed we say for good keeping reasons), expected a strong verisimilitude. With so divine a purpose that in human form the son refuses temptation, shows temperance, measures. My impression is that the Psalmist reasoned that the son was expected to burn as hot as the father. However, in reality he became fully human. This is my inculcated understanding.
It’s still incredible to me, even in adulthood, that humans were used as inspired beings in their common speech.
There is a calling to be appreciative of moments.
The phrasing in scripture reads as not coexistence friendly but an unsustainable proximity. As children learn (please don’t envy unhealthily the language they’re born into. I suggest segregating yourself into a large cluster of adults. Do leave if ushers are lacking or slacking and it’s too much), you cannot gaze directly at God it would blind you. Knowing this was an instruction, as I interpret it, in the spirit of protection. Thank goodness He delivered on the son made actually human. Jesus was for peace and could coexist.
Recently, through what I can only explain as divine inspiration, one of the lessons I re-learned was on faith healing (I’m still not the expert) and trust falls.
Mostly the second one.
I speak of this in relationship to prayer. I don’t reference with this what you may see at a church, it looks like fainting- faking it is deplorable. I am referring to faith or belief (not stopping to try to make a big distinction here), that which in secular work looks like a heal accomplished independently within.
On Psalm 3 and some thoughts.
I saw people cruelly targeted and baited by my perspective. I was powerless to do anything about it. I myself was a target and I have been baited.
These are different times. It was not subtle like before.
No man, given all our resources, should have malice thrust upon them ( I know I will meet disagreement here). What I mean is not to the extent that we cannot recognize nor call these humans recognizable.
I refuse to be complicit to this.
I find that safety relies on the faithful themselves:
Verse 4:
Be angry, and do not sin.
Meditate within your heart on your heart on your bed, and be still.
Verse 5:
Offer sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord.
(End of quote)
The sacrifice spoken of here seems to be a calling to speak about your experiences in salvation.
(I add here for safety: I don’t interpret this as a calling to be twisted to conform to acts criminal or as laymen say, criminal to the body. We can spare each other grief or respect the independent work.)
This is healthy, pro-social behavior. The kind of talks we grow from. We all can grow from them without bitterness (it’s a plea or reminder not an intention to overstep) and causing someone to be ostracized. Stay pro-social and healthy.
Honey Aware of the Vinegar 