Another psalm from the RPCNA's Book of Psalms for Worship: Lord, How My Foes are Multiplied. This is Psalm 3 and is one of those texts that speaks freely of "smashing their [the wicked's] teeth with mighty blows," a phrase notably absent from most contemporary worship songs. In light of such language, I wonder whether another tune might be more fitting for this text. Perhaps something in the phrygian or dorian modes.
What do you think? Do you have difficulty singing psalms with such language? How ought Christians to sing them and in what spirit?
6 comments:
No, I don't. The language is the Lord's language.
We also realize that "Vengeance is mine. I will repay." If we understand the the Psalms are Christ's Psalms then we also understand that we don't have the right to go about smashing the wicked's teetb. That judgement belongs to the Lord. And he WILL do it to all who oppose him.
If we look at this prayer of David, the vengeance has been appropriated by man rather than left to the discretion of the Lord. Mark carefully how Psalm 3 is treated in the BoP and then compare it with the actual Psalm as we have it in the Bible. Having said that, however, the tune is beautiful, more suitable to a choir rendition rather than congregational singing. The tune somehow does not fit with the complaint raised by David as he is hunted down by his enemies
It is not always easy to match texts with tunes properly, although the split-leaf editions of the 1650 Scottish Psalter leave it up to the local minister or to the person presiding at the liturgy. Yes, this text does indeed require a different tune in a different mode capable of communicating its anguish.
We have Psalm 3 as a common metre and like to sign it to the tunes Argyle or Dunlapscreek.
I agree that we need the spirit of this Psalm to drive back the flood of evil workers that threaten the people of God. The singing is beautiful but hardly compatible with the vigour of the language. The tune "Martyrs" to the 1650 Psalter version would match the spirit of David here.
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