A recent article from F.M. Riley notes a particular translation of Psalm 113 from the Hebrew. It is at htpps: netbible.org. "7 He raises the poor from the dirt, and lifts up the needy from the garbage pile, 8 that he might seat him with princes, with the princes of his people." I have read other translations in which the phrase dung hill is used. How is garbage pile different? The very poor often live near garbage piles, or dumps. They search them for things of value.

 

   There is another association, a disturbing one. Where are discarded fetuses taken? Some are burned in incinerators. Some are put in medical waste bags tossed  into a locked dumpster. When unlocked, the dumpster contents are taken away as bags of garbage. Part of the garbage pile. Are the unborn fetuses part of the needy to be lifted up according to Psalm 113? Are these clues for us to consider the discarded, the poor, the needy, the garbage pile? Earth likened to degeneration, to a dung hill, a huge pile of garbage in Psalm 113? Look to Psalm 114:7 "Tremble, oh earth, before the Lord."

 

   Come quickly, Lord...

 

 

With Love and Shalom,

Jean