SONGS OF BATTLE


We interrupt the songs of emotion and distress in the time of young manhood when callow youth will succumb to the fraudulent lure of battle. Battle songs would be ludicrous were the consequences not so tragic. The temptatioon for bitter satiric paraphrase of the Psalmist has not been resisted for war songs should never be taken seriously. There are far too many Psalms that do so.

Psalm #2
(a song of arms control)

Why do the nations
so fiercly rage together
imagine vain things.
Break them with rods of iron.
Smash them like a potters pot.



Psalm #2
(righteous indignation)

Man plots, Kings conspire
Regents, Rulers, counsel take
gainst the week, the meek.
Iron bonds - break asunder
Dash em, smash em, rage, thunder.



Psalm #3
(an exultation of paranoia)

All are against me!
Thousands are set around me!
Lord, how they increase!
Smite my foes upon the cheek.
Bust the bastards in the teeth.



Psalm #10
( a song for guerillas)

He sits in ambush,
hiding in the villages.
Stealthy, watchful eyes
like lions in the thicket
Snatching, catching innocents.



Psalm #14
(a song of rage)

The fool in his heart
cries; no sin, no soul, no God!
Foolish, filthy folk;
confounding plans of the poor,
eating people just like bread.



Psalm #18
(a song for warriors)

I stand on the heights,
my arms bending bows of brass,
my hands trained for war.
Alone, I attack a troop,
By God, I can leap high walls.



Psalm #20
(a competition of boasts)

You boast chariots
and boast of fearsome horses.
We boast of our God.
We shout for glory, triumph;
wave our banners - for God's sake.




Psalm #50
( The Superbowl song)

Hey there all ye Saints
Come, march in and join my team.
Everything is mine.
Tribes and fowls and beasts are mine,
and, oh yes, the World is mine.



Psalm #60
(a song of patriotism)

Fling out the banner
let it float, skyward, seaward
soaring high and wide.
Sunlight strikes it's shining folds,
symbols of our love and pride.



Psalm #64
(a song of the CIA)

A diligent search
Searching out iniquities
laying privy snares
that they may shoot in secret
at the heart of the perfect.



Psalm #70
(a battle hymn)

They who say aha,
let them say aha, aha,
ha, aha aha.
Shame on them that seek my soul.
Confound them that want me hurt.



Psalm #72
(a song of Beirut)

A handfull of corn
flung on top of the mountains
and the fruit thereof
shall shake, shake like Lebanon.
City folk shall grow like grass.



Psalm #76
( a song of victory)

Broken the arrows,
the bow, the shield and the sword.
Broken the battle.
Warrior, chariot, horse
are cast into a dead sleep.



Psalm #78
(a song of exodus)

Moses smote the rock
loosed the waters, manna, dusts,
flies, frogs, locusts, lusts
first borns smitten, seas splitten
floods, bloods - then the Lord awoke.



Psalm #83
(an ageless song)

The confederates
have taken crafty counsel
against Israel.
They have said, Come, cut them off
that their name will be no more.



Psalm #105
(a little history)

Seeds of Abraham,
Jacob, Joseph, Israel,
captives in Egypt.
Moses, Aaron show their stuff
Egypt's glad when they depart.



Psalm #135
(a song of the other guy)

Idols of heathen
Silver, gold, silver and gold.
They have speechless mouths,
ears they have that do not hear,
eyes they have that do not weep.



Psalm #115
(a song of the other Gods)

Idols are silver,
silver and gold, works of man.
They have mouths, eyes, ears;
but talk not, walk not, touch not,
see not, hear not, no can smell.



Psalm #118
( an excuse for mayhem)

All of the nations
compassed me about like bees
I will destroy them.
In the name of God I fight,
in the Lord's name, I destroy.



Psalm # 120
(a song for draft dodgers)

I, I am for peace,
but, woe is me, when I speak,
they, they are for war.
Tarrying in Meshech, and,
dwelling too long in Kedar.



Psalm #124
( a song of freedom)

Our soul is set free
as a bird out of the snare,
the snare of fowlers.
We are not prey to their teeth.
The snare is broken, we escape.



Psalm #140
(More paranoia)

Tongues like a serpent,
adders poison in their lips,
snares are set for me.
Save me from these violent men
cast them onto burning coals.



Psalm #149
( a two edged song)

Let saints be joyful.
Let them sing upon their beds.
Let them sing and dance.
Let high praises be in their mouth
and a two edged sword in their hands.



Psalm # 132
(a song for monarchs)

Remember David.
He keepeth his covenents.
His horn shall bud
and the fruit of his body
will be set upon the throne.



Psalter Index**** Songs of Midlife Stress