Blog # 7: Ethics in the Psalms

Most of the psalms do not seem to explicitly mention any sort of ethical or moral code, they seem to more often speak to or about God. When they do mention right and wrong, it is usually what God's peoples' enemies have done that deserves chastisement. There are also a few small sections that mention what people have done to deserve His rewards, which I think qualifies as ethics, or at least some guidelines. It seems that the most important rules to follow as a believer of God are to worship and protect His name, and to keep your heart pure.

Apparently, God's enemies are bad because they do things like: "flung My words behind", "let loose your mouth in evil", or spoken against their brother or slandered against another (Psalms 178:17-20). Most of the wrongs commited by the enemy are acts against God, like praising statues or idols, which they call 'ungods'. "All idol worshippers are shamed, who boast of the ungods." (Psalms 97:7) There are some other faults or crimes that are commited, which more directly affect God's followers: "nations have come into Your estate, they have defiled Your holy temple...They have given Your servants' corpses as food to the fowl of the heavens, the flesh of your faithful to the beasts ofr the earth." (Psalms 79:1-2) This example suggests that it is a crime to disrespect the property, or place of worship of God, or to disrespect his followers.

There are also examples of things that believers should do, though they are fewer and more subtle. It seems that the most important thing to do in one's life is to believe in God, and always praise him. "Happy are those who dwell in Your house, they will ever praise you. Happy the folk whose strength is in You" (Psalms 84:5-6). It may also be prudent to act against those who oppose God. "Each morning I shall destroy all the wicked of the land, to cut off from the town of the Lord all the wrongdoers." (Psalms 101:7) Almost to act as God's soldier, defending His name.