Summary: How does Psalm 146 develop the theme of liberation?
Although Psalm 146 does not explicitly detail specific liberation, its list of vulnerable people of society (which does after all include the oppressed, poor and prisoners) is one that speaks into the concepts of Liberation Theology.
Liberationists argue that God has a bias towards to the poor and oppressed. It could indeed be stated that liberation is action on the behalf of vulnerable in society that betters their situation (thus realms such as education and health care can be seen as working towards liberation).
This Psalm does seem to provide evidence that Yahweh was perceived as being faithful towards and acting on behalf of the vulnerable. This led the Psalmist to exhort His people to praise. In the historical-context this faithfulness was a unique attribute to Yahweh, in contrast to other deities.
This study has already stated that liberation was the means Yahweh used for revelation and this provided the basis for the covenantal relationship with His people and was the motivation Yahweh used to expect compassion from His people and this provided the basis for loving relationships towards others in one’s care.
Psalm 146 reminds its readers that Yahweh is faithful towards the vulnerable and this should lead to praise of Yahweh’s unique promise-keeping nature. More succinctly, it lends us evidence that liberation should lead to proclamation of the faithfulness of Yahweh towards the vulnerable.
2 comments:
21 January 2010 at 10:40
I agree with your statements. We should remember that all those without Christ are the vulnerable and poor in Spirit. God desires for all of his people to live their lives for him. This includes taking care of all people, and in a "money" society, this will mean giving specific focus to those who have less/nothing.
21 January 2010 at 12:55
Do you think 'poor' refers to spirit or to actual physical poverty? I think sometimes we 'over-spiritualise' the term 'poor'...?
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