At first I thought this longer psalm might be different. I noticed a number of nature images, like fire and rain, silver and gold, sheep and doves. This psalmist also gives ol’ YHWH a nickname that I hadn’t seen before, calling the universal soul YAH (or JAH, in the KJV). Acronyms indeed.
But, no, this psalm — like so many others — explains why the State of Israel is and always has been about war, even mentioning one of the hotspots we hear about now in the news — no, not Gaza, but the Golan Heights, which this psalm calls the “mountain of Bashan,” where YAH lives.
Unlike Yeshua’s loving “Father” in the Gospels, YAH says, “I will bring [your enemies] back from Bashan, / I will bring them back from the depths of the sea, / That your foot may crush them in blood, / And the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from your enemies.” That’s harsh.
Well, which is it? Fire or rain, silver or gold, sheep or doves? Loving father or angry god? Old or new? Or can YAH be everything to everyone at the very same time? I guess that’s possible. As YAH told Job just one book back, “I can do what I please, pal, and I don’t ever have to say why.”