Restore us again

Psalms 85, 86:  Last week I heard  a Jewish scholar talk about the Christian need for clarity about God and Scripture compared to the Jewish approach of coming to an interpretation as a group process. His point was that since God had a covenant with a group of people, no individual was responsible for total understanding. Rather, the group coming together helped each other interpret and understand the scriptures. He admonished Christians for their emphasis on wanting clarity, and suggested ambiguity can be of God as well.
As a community lament written after the exile, Psalm 85 is clearer than some, asking God when they may be restored again as a people. "Will you not revive us again so that your people may rejoice in you?" (v. 6). Christians might take that as a spiritual restoration and revival, but the other meaning of a physical restoration is just as possible.
As an individual lament, Psalm 86 follows a well-established formula of plea and praise, and appealing to the greatness of God. Today, the opening verse resonates with me: Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy." Here the psalmist underlines a recurring theme in the Scriptures: the preferential option for the poor and needy.
And one more thing: Yesterday's sermon was based on Psalm 34, with references to Walter Brueggemann's work from the pulpit, and a fun demonstration for the children on what is meant by "O taste and see that the Lord is good." The storyteller ate a chocolate chip cookie in front of 30 hungry kids (without sharing) and then proceeded to show them that we can taste God with the help of the people around us. A very non-academic example that ties in directly with our Jewish scholar. That was some nice parallelism in a busy week.