TUESDAY of HOLY WEEK, APRIL 15 Psalm 71:1-14 Isaiah 49:1-7 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 John 12:20-36 When I was in college, being old and fragile were the last things on my mind. I was more concerned with my upcoming volleyball tournament or when my next paper was due. Even today aging is not at the forefront of my mind. How, then, are young and thriving students to read Psalm 71, a psalm traditionally viewed as a plea for help from the elderly? When reading the text we see multiple references to anguish, wickedness and enemies. Such language can suggest a more universal approach to reading this psalm, seeing that pain and injustice infect people throughout all stages of life. Therefore the idea of old age presented in Psalm 71 can be used as a metaphor for any instance in which life is lost whether it is through disease, malnutrition, war, or a miscarriage. Historical analysis can also help younger readers relate better to Psalm 71. Scholars date the writing of the Psalms to the period when the Israelites were under Persian rule and still experiencing the pains from the Babylonian exile. The Israelites lived in perpetual fear of the unknown during this time, while also coping with continuous threats to their survival from the ruling Persian Empire. Such a history provides readers with the opportunity to relate their own experiences of death with the speaker of Psalm 71. Despite our age, we know God’s grace inclines God to save us. Psalm 71 illustrates God as our refuge and liberator. Therefore we know as children of God that God will hear our prayers. Just as the speaker was faithful and persistent in his or her prayers, so too should we be faithful when we encounter hardships involving death. We must be invigorated by the fact that the ultimate sacrifice and death of Jesus Christ is what allows us to live and see loved ones once again. SARAH JENNINGS University Ministries Graduate Assistant
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