(Read this post to see why I'm studying this particular passage in this particular way. Scroll down down down to see the entire passage.)
Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more.
I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods
or take up their names on my lips.
This verse is BIG
This negative-sounding verse is pivotal to the whole passage. Nearly every single word or phrase contrasts with a positive reference elsewhere in the psalm. It's quite deliberate and fascinating, and I'm not even a big fan of poetry!
"Those who..."
The previous verse talked about the a group of spiritually mature people dedicated to God; the "saints" or "holy" people. This verse? Exact opposite.
"run after other gods"
In verse 1, I noted that the psalmist declares he runs to God for refuge. Note that this opposite group runs to gods, not God. Same action; opposite direction.
"other gods"
It's worth clarifying here what "other gods" means in Scripture. The Israelites were often tempted to literally adopt fake gods from other cultures - statues of idols they thought would bring them good luck, superstitions they followed because they didn't trust God fully, blood sacrifices and worship and prayer to nature and visiting temples dedicated to made-up deities or demonic entities.
We tend to ascribe these beliefs to undeveloped people groups, some of whom follow these ways. I have seen them firsthand. I have seen Christians in these people groups who mix God with fake gods the same way the Israelites did.
But we "modern, educated" people with internet access have gods too. Biblically, a "god" is anything that has priority over the real God. That includes unbelievers (who do not follow the real God at all) and believers who choose to prioritize anything over God.
These are some idols I've put over God. They are just as concrete as the physical idols Israelites carried into their homes, and burned, and brought back.
- Showing other people that they are wrong
- Anger
- Pursuit of pleasure over better things
- Self-righteousness
- Desire for children
- Desire for health
- Love of money
This phrase is a warning. And according to the story of the Israelites - who suffered more and more every time they adopted other gods - this is the truth.
"I will not..."
My confession above deviated from the psalmist's point, but I was just explaining the context. I want both believers and unbelievers to know that in context of the whole biblical narrative, these two verses do not give believers permission to be self-righteous or put themselves above unbelievers.
Back to the actual text, then...
Verse 1 started out with a declaration of something the psalmist does in obedience to God: "In you I take refuge." Now, this stanza ends with another declaration of obedience: "I will not [pour out libations of blood to such gods...]".
AGAIN, considering we JUST talked about how believers still sin, we know this declaration is not a promise. How can it be? Paul said, "I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out...For in my inner being I delight in God's law..." (Romans 7:15-24).
We can't make promises to God; that's ridiculous. HE is the only promise-keeper. Our promises are "pie crust promises; easily made, easily broken" in the words of Mary Poppins. So why does the psalmist make them?
I think the benefit of these declarations are resolutions to ourselves. Self-talk isn't a modern concept. David often speaks to his own soul. I have said this to children sometimes, and to myself: "You can decide now how you will respond to this situation. You may not be able to choose how you feel, but you can choose how you respond."
Of course, resolutions don't always work; mine usually last from January 1 to January 15. But it's still good to have goals to work toward, and the best goals are those resolving to follow God.
"...pour out libations of blood to such gods..."
The pouring out of blood is another concept foreign to us; repeated blood sacrifice was the only way gods could be appeased - even the holy God, which can be hard for us to fathom (how can a loving God say animals should be killed? That's another topic...). But this is why it's even more unfathomable that Jesus poured out his own libation of blood to God to appease him, which is why we call it the ultimate sacrifice. This concept is so very rich, but I don't even know enough about it to write the book it deserves. Best to just read the Bible a few times =)
"...or take up their names on my lips."
Names are also very significant in the Bible - and, I might add again, in many of the same cultures we consider "less developed" with much of the same culture as the Bible. The significant part of this line is the very word "name."
Verse 2 said, "I say to the LORD..." We talked about how "LORD" in all capital letters is a reference to his personal name. LORD is also the first word in the next verse (nice transition). After that, his personal name is mentioned two more times in this short psalm, for a total of four times.
So, another contrast: "I will not take up [the names of other gods] on my lips" but I will take up the name of the LORD on my lips. A lot.
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