Tuesday 08 March 2016

Psalm: Psalm 52

Background

The invasion of the kingdom of Judah by the Babylonians and thedestruction of Jerusalem are described in 2 Kings 25. KingNebuchadnezzar of Babylon was sweeping through the Assyrian Empireand its vassal states. So Nebuchadnezzar captured King Zedekiah ofJudah: the last thing Zedekiah saw before having his eyes gougedout was the slaughter of his sons, and therefore the end of hopefor his dynasty (2 Kings 25:7). With the destruction of thekingdom came the destruction of its city, Jerusalem, including itswalls (2 Kings 25:10). With the destruction of thecity came the destruction of the temple and the looting of itsequipment (2 Kings 25:14-17). And with the destruction ofthe temple came the execution of the temple officers - not justpriests but even the doorkeepers - in a symbolic destruction of thepower of the God who had been worshipped there (2Kings 25:18, 21). God's presence in the tabernacle or 'tent ofmeeting' on the holy mountain of Zion was no more.

It is out of this experience of utter destruction that theprophet Jeremiah brings hope in the words of today's passage.Jerusalem would be rebuilt, symbolically restoring the "tents ofJacob" (v. 18) - including the most important tent, that in whichGod's presence could be found (Exodus40:34-35). The worshipping congregation would once more gatherin thanksgiving for all that Jacob's God had done (verses 19-20).And this rebuilt Jerusalem would no longer be a province of a vastempire, with its regent appointed by a distant emperor. Thepeople's ruler would be "one of their own" (v. 21). Verse 21 alsonotes that only the king anointed by God would be permitted intoGod's presence. Unlike the heathen foreign kings of Assyria andBabylon who had been ruling God's people, this new prince would bethe perfect intermediary between God and God's people.

It is likely that verse 22 is an addition, repeating the formulaof the covenant that God made with the people of Israel under Moses(Deuteronomy 26:17-18; 27:9) which Jeremiahfocuses on in the next chapter (Jeremiah 31:33).

To Ponder

• Psalm 137:1-4 expresses the inability of thepeople of God to sing praises to God while in the alien land ofBabylon. Is it really the case that because the Temple wasdestroyed so was the worship of the people?

• What does this need for a 'house of God' say to the churchtoday? Is the church too focused on buildings? Why do you give thatanswer?

• King Nebuchadnezzar thought he had destroyed the power of theGod who was worshipped in the temple at Jerusalem. In what ways dopeople today think that they can destroy God's power?