Living intheflow of time - The white religious right is too stupid to understand they're the ones being cursed in Psalm 109.

Psalm 109 actually supports Obama. Really!

Don't believe me? Let's look at the psalm in its entirety, not just cherry pick a couple lines completely out of context like the teabaggers/freepers/Christian Taliban folks like to do.

I'm using the Contemporary English Translation of Psalm 109 for my illustration.

Psalm 109
(A psalm by David for the music leader.)

Ah ha! Did you catch that? This is a prayer-song written by King David for his music director, who was obviously a good person. The first few stanzas are about the music director's virtuous responses in the face of cruel persecution.

A Prayer for the LORD's Help

1 I praise you, God!
Don't keep silent.

2 Destructive and deceitful lies
are told about me,

3 and hateful things are said
for no reason.

4 I had pity and prayed for my enemies,
but their words to me
were harsh and cruel.

5 For being friendly and kind,
they paid me back
with meanness and hatred.

OK, who does that sound like? Obama is the face of world diplomacy today, he's the poster child of being "friendly and kind." Meanwhile "destructive and deceitful lies are told about" him, "hateful things said for no reason." Has the far right ever been friendly and kind? Have they ever had pity on their enemies (and victims)? Um, no. That is why this psalm is not about them. But it could be about Obama.

It goes on...

6 My enemies said,

This part is important!

What you are about to read is an excerpt from his enemies' talking points.

It reads like a Glenn Beck show transcript, complete with faux indignation and crying. This is where we get the infamous verse 109:8 that's in the news today.

"Find some worthless fools
to accuse him of a crime.

7 Try him and find him guilty!
Consider his prayers a lie.

8 Cut his life short
and let someone else
have his job.

9 Make orphans of his children
and a widow of his wife;

10 make his children beg for food
and live in the slums.

11 "Let the people he owes
take everything he owns.
Give it all to strangers.

12 Don't let anyone be kind to him
or have pity on the children
he leaves behind.

13 Bring an end to his family,
and from now on let him be
a forgotten man.

14 "Don't let the LORD forgive
the sins of his parents
and his ancestors.

15 Don't let the LORD forget
the sins of his family,
or let anyone remember
his family ever lived.

16 He was so cruel to the poor,
homeless, and discouraged
that they died young.

17 "He cursed others.
Now place a curse on him!
He never wished others well.
Wish only trouble for him!

18 He cursed others more often
than he dressed himself.
Let his curses strike him deep,
just as water and olive oil
soak through to our bones.

19 Let his curses surround him,
just like the clothes
he wears each day."

So the Christian right is very clearly identifying with the oppressors of King David's friend.

Hello!! Christian Taliban!! King David is Jesus' great-great-great-grandpappy! How do you think Jesus is going to feel when he checks his naughty/nice list on Judgement Day and sees you sided with the David's friend's tormenters? My guess would be judgement would not run in your favor, Freeper.

20 Those are the cruel things
my enemies wish for me.
Let it all happen to them!

21 Be true to your name, LORD God!
Show your great kindness
and rescue me.

Like Carly Simon's song "You're So Vain," these next stanzas are probably why the right thinks this song is about them.

22 I am poor and helpless,
and I have lost all hope.

23 I am fading away
like an evening shadow;
I am tossed aside
like a crawling insect.

24 I have gone without eating, until my knees are weak,
and my body is bony.

25 When my enemies see me,
they say cruel things
and shake their heads.

Many of the religious right are indeed poor and have lost all hope. Their whole (white) world view has come crashing to the ground with this past election, and they feel tossed aside like crawling insects. We certainly see them and shake our heads! Right down to the economic crisis causing so many people to go without food or shelter. Poor white conservatives are a dying breed and they know it.

What these rabid right-wing white Americans fail to grasp is that they are not the only poor people in the world. In fact, most poor people, most truly starving, helpless people throughout the world look more like Obama than like them. Thus again, these stanzas apply to Obama in that he is symbolic of decent, kind people the world over by virtue of his compassion and skin color.

I add these last stanzas to include the whole psalm, not just the parts that particularly support my thesis. They're not necessarily meant to invite discussion about if Obama prays or if he even believes in god (since this psalm was written for someone, the views expressed may not necessarily be his own

). Most of the rest of this psalm is praise to the Lord (which, speaking from a historical Jewish perspective, was God, the only god, not the Trinity, and certainly not Jesus who hadn't even been born yet).

26 Please help me, LORD God!
Come and save me
because of your love.

27 Let others know that you alone
have saved me.

28 I don't care if they curse me,
as long as you bless me.
You will make my enemies fail
when they attack,
and you will make me glad
to be your servant.

29 You will cover them with shame,
just as their bodies
are covered with clothes.

30 I will sing your praises
and thank you, LORD,
when your people meet.

31 You help everyone in need,
and you defend them
when they are on trial.

So this psalm does indeed pray for Obama--it prays for heavenly intervention against the rabid and dangerous white religious right!