Yoyo Theology

vaD 'a' joH'a' ghaH jen, yet ghaH looks after the lowly; 'ach the proud, ghaH SovtaH vo' afar.

Psalms 138:6 For though th LORD is high, yet he looks after the lowly; But the proud, he knows from afar.

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I received a weapon as a gift this last holiday season - an ancient and honorable weapon, used for thousands of years - just the sort of gift to delight a Klingon!

Except... I have to admit, on doing a little more research, what I have isn't REALLY a weapon. But, it is a really cool yoyo! I called it a weapon, because legend has it (probably coming from the public relations for one yoyo manufacturer) that the yoyo was at one time a weapon. This might be based on the fact the modern yoyo came from the Philippines - and there are stories of hunters in the Philippines in the 16th century using sharp rocks with strings attached to kill prey from trees.

Weapon or not, the yoyo is a fun toy - one that illustrates the reversal of the principle "what goes up must come down," and it is a reversal of that nature this verse from Psalm 138 speaks of.

vaD 'a' joH'a' ghaH jen, yet ghaH looks after the lowly; 'ach the proud, ghaH SovtaH vo' afar.

Psalms 138:6 For though the LORD is high, yet he looks after the lowly; But the proud, he knows from afar.

God pays attention - to those who have been brought low; he is distant, remote, from those who are smug, and think themselves secure in this life. I've often said my ungrammatical KLV gives one a start for doing a real translation - here's a try, recasting the KLV into somewhat more grammatical Klingon, you might have:


joH'a' jen, 'ach mIpHa'wI'pu' leghtaH
mIywI'pu'vo' HoptaH

literally: God be-high, but not-rich-ones he-watches,
from-bragging-ones he-is-remote

N: joH'a': God
V: jen: be high
&: 'ach: but, nevertheless, even so, however
N: mIpHa'wI'pu': (pl) one/thing which is/doesnot be rich
V: leghtaH: on-going see
N: mIywI'pu'vo': from(pl) one/thing which is/does brag
V: HoptaH: on-going be remote, far



This is a principle throughout scripture - how God upends our order of who is mighty, and who is powerless. Peter quotes Proverbs when he notes:

God sets himself against the proud,
but he shows favor to the humble. NLT 1 Peter 5:5 (Prov. 3:34)

Just as a yoyo reverses course, this verse from Psalm 138 speaks of a reversal, the attention God gives to the lowly, and the humbling of the mighty. Peter continues in his letter:

So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and in his good time he will honor you. 1 Peter 5:6 NLT

To attract God's attention - to get his notice, we don't need to be great, or rich, or powerful. Watch television and you will expect wealth and accomplishment are all that matter. But the Bible again and again reminds us, God does not count such things as what matters. Through the prophet Micah he reminds us:

No, O people, the LORD has already told you what is good, and this is what he requires: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8 NLT

It's true - what goes up DOES come down. Great wealth, wonderful possessions - all are temporary; they won't last. But the wonderful message is that "what goes down, can come up," when we "walk humbly with our God," he will indeed raise us up! Rejoice!