A few weeks ago, Ada Jett would have been very ashamed of me. Not just me, but practically everyone who I work with.
I grew up in a country church. It was a one-room sanctuary.
For Sunday school class, the kids went to the corners of the room, and our
classroom was separated from the rest of the room by a sheet on a clothesline.
Ada was my Sunday school teacher from preschool through early elementary.
Recently at the end of our Thursday chapel service at work, we were
all asked to recite Psalm 23 from memory in unison.
We didn’t pull it off. We started off ok, but proceeded with
less confidence. You started hearing words not matching. I think some people
faded into the Lord’s Prayer, or perhaps the Apostles Creed. We left out at
least one verse entirely.
Ada would not have been pleased. Remedial lessons would have
been assigned. The bite-sized Milk Way candy bars would have been withheld.
I blame some of our chapel confusion on reading so many
different translations. Great for Bible study, not so good for reciting
something as a group. Those KJV-only people have this on the rest of us.
I’ve often thought of the writing process of the 23rd
Psalm. David up there on the top floor of the keep, the room with the good view
of all the rooftops, hanging out with his psalm-writing buddies. They are
kicked back, drinking some wine, bouncing ideas off of each other, putting some
quill to parchment scrolls. After he’s been quiet for a while, David says, “Hey
guys, tell me what you think of this one:
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me
beside the still waters.
Ok, I’m listening
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of
righteousness for his name's sake.
You got me. Keep going man.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of
death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they
comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine
enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Yeah, Davey! You got this one. Bring it on home now!
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of
my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Woo hoo! There are high fives all around the room. One of
the guys call out, “People are going to be cross-stitching this one and hanging
it up in their kitchens for a few thousand years!”
I’ve been reading the daily devotional guide that I was
given for Christmas. I read it right as I go to bed at night. Sometimes I’m
very tired, and I read it very quickly, and as I sit down my Bible I realize I
have no idea what I just read.
Back in January it had us reading Psalm 15. I couldn’t
believe it. It was like I had to read half the Bible. But I soldiered through.
I believe the Bible is the inspired word of God, but parts
of it are written much better than others. Psalm 15 is a bit of a train wreck.
How did it make the cut to get into the Bible? I have to think better Psalms
were written at the time. And maybe since.
Enter Jelly Roll.
I was listening to country radio last weekend, and heard a
song by Jelly Roll called A Favor.
I only talk to God when I need a favor
I only pray when I ain’t got a prayer
So who I am to expect a savior
When I only talk to God if I need a favor
I know Amazing Grace
But ain’t living by the words
Spent more Sundays drunk
Than I have in church
Hard cover King James
Only saving dust on the nightstand
Don’t know what to say
By the time I fold my hands
I mean, I’m not saying all of Jelly Roll’s theology is going
to be perfect, or Wesleyan, but it’s better than Psalm 137 which has us
snatching our enemies’ babies and dashing their heads against the rocks.
This is why Ada would have us all focus on winners like Psalm 23 and skip over some others.
Shall we pray:
Gracious God, we give you thank for David, Jelly Roll and
all the psalmists out there who craft words that help open hearts to you. Amen.
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