That is your view of the lack of authority and reliability of the Psalms. In fact, it's affirming your low view of Scripture - the Psalms.
This is the biblical view that I, a Baptist, take with regard to Scripture - all of Scripture - (and so does Wayne Grudem, professor of theology & biblical studies at Phoenix Seminary): '
AllScripture is
breathed out by Godand profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work' (2 Tim 3:16-17 ESV).
The Scriptures do not affirm the authority of creeds. The Nicene Creed is a useful summary of theology, but it is not authoritative as are the Scriptures.
The Scriptures affirm that God's attribute of
eternity/infinityis not shared by us. According to Job 36:26, Elihu said of God, 'Behold, God is great, and we know him not; the number of his years is unsearchable' (ESV).
God's eternity is suggested by NT passages such as Rev 1:8, 'I am the Alpha and Omega, says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty' (ESV). So, God's eternity is affirmed in both OT and NT, the reliable Scriptures that are 'breathed out by God' and have a guess what? They are 'profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness' to equip us for God's good work in our lives. That applies to you and me and all Christians on this forum.
Thus,
God is timeless in his being. God was never created so he did not begin to exist. See Gen 1:1; 1 Cor 8:6; Col1:16; Heb 1:2.
Second Peter 3:8 confirms that
God sees all of time equally: 'But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day' (ESV). Isaiah 46:9-10 affirms similar teaching:
This attribute of God's eternity/infinity is demonstrated in time, where all human beings exist: Acts 17:30-31 provides but one example:
You can denigrate the Psalms, but that view is not supported by the doctrine of Scripture I've cited above, but the Scriptures affirm God's eternity where:
- God is timeless in his being;
- He sees all time equally; and
- God acts in time - the time we experience.
That's Bible, and denigrating the Psalms is an avoidance mechanism in dealing with the authority and teaching of Scripture on God's eternity/infinity.
If you don't believe the Psalms are a reliable source for theology, why don't you start a new thread with a title such as, 'The Psalms are unreliable teaching on biblical Christianity'. I look forward to the response when and if you bring Psalm 23 into that view.
Oz
Why are you arguing against positions that I have never taken in any post in any thread at Christian Forums? In very numerous posts I have affirmed the inspiration of Scripture. And of course God is infinite and man is finite! However, I do recognize the clear and obvious truth that the Psalms are written in a genre of literature that expresses feelings of emotion rather than objective facts—as they were intended to! Psalms 23 is an excellent example of this:
Psalms 23
The Divine Shepherd
A Psalm of David.
1. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
2. He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters; {Heb [waters of rest]}
3. he restores my soul. {Or [life]}
He leads me in right paths {Or [paths of righteousness]}
for his name's sake.
4. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, {Or [the valley of the shadow of death]}
I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff—
they comfort me.
5. You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6. Surely {Or [Only]} goodness and mercy {Or [kindness]} shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
my whole life long. {Heb [for length of days]} (NRSV)
When this psalm is compared with the historical record of David found in Samuel, 1 Kings, and 1 Chronicles, we find one historical contradiction after another. Indeed, there is next to nothing historically accurate in the psalm! When this psalm is compared with Old Testament theology, we find one theological contradiction after another. Indeed, there is next to nothing theologically accurate in the psalm! This inspired psalm was not written as a treatise on ancient Hebrew history or theology—it is an inspired
psalm! The same thing is true of the other 149 psalms.
2 Peter 3:3. First of all you must understand this, that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and indulging their own lusts
4. and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since our ancestors died, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation!”
5. They deliberately ignore this fact, that by the word of God heavens existed long ago and an earth was formed out of water and by means of water,
6. through which the world of that time was deluged with water and perished.
7. But by the same word the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the godless.
8. But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day.
9. The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. (NRSV)
These words from Peter do NOT in any way, shape, or form even vaguely suggest that “God sees all of time equally.” Who is man to say that “God sees all of time equally”?
Romans 11:33. O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
34. “For who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?”
35. “Or who has given a gift to him,
to receive a gift in return?”
36. For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen. (NRSV)
1 Corinthians 2. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God.
13. And we speak of these things in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual things to those who are spiritual.
14. Those who are unspiritual do not receive the gifts of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to them, and they are unable to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
15. Those who are spiritual discern all things, and they are themselves subject to no one else’s scrutiny.
16. “For who has known the mind of the Lord
so as to instruct him?”
But we have the mind of Christ. (NRSV)
