RECIPE FOR RESTORATION

  PSALM 51  ABBY FREE, JULY 8, 2001        'RECIPE FOR RESTORATION'

When a novel begins with the agonizing cry, "O God, have mercy on me," you know that the character is in trouble. This person is so lost or so sick or so worried or so afraid or so guilty, that he or she can't go on without relief. Life has been interrupted by the deepest anguish. And when you read further and learn that this person is wealthy and healthy you really become curious. What could have happened here? - That's how Psalm 51 begins.

A psalm is a song, and there are 150 songs gathered together into one book or scroll called the Book of the Psalms. Psalm songs were sung or recited by Jews and also in the early church and in some present day churches. Ps 51 has been dubbed the Psalm of Psalms. We are about to find out why. This not a poetic composition but a desperate cry. There is a story behind this psalm.  Psalms often have back-stories behind them and Ps.51 may have the largest back-story of all the psalms. In fact, if this were on TV, it might begin with a content warning.

IT'S BLACK. IT'S WHITE, OR GREY IS OKAY

I'll clear the air immediately. This post is not a reference to E. L. James erotic romance trilogy titled, Fifty Shades of Grey. Nor am I thinking about Michael Jackson's hit song, 'Black or White' in which the refrain repeats, "but, if you're thinkin' about my baby, it don't matter if you're black or white." James and Jackson do not own basic colours. I will however, talk about blacks and whites and greys. I do this because opinions about ethics and morality and actions and attitudes emerge from one's colour commitment. That's a metaphorical allusion to the sin vs. righteousness, black vs. white association often made by principled people with a background in scripture. It's understandable. In the Bible, black is primarily associated with the negative aspects of human experience, including death, disease, famine, and sorrow, all of which are bi-results of sin. On the other hand, white is a color of purity and righteousness, refinement and health, even victory.

With that contrast from a trusted source, some people may as a default, view almost everything as either black or white.