Prodigal Texts: Psalm 34 & 2 Corinthians 5

The lens of Jesus's wisdom story about the Lost Son in Luke 15 illuminates Psalm 34 and 2 Corinthians 5 — these three scriptures are assigned readings in for Year C Lent 4 lectionary of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). Here are two reinterpretations of Psalm 34 and one of 2 Corinthians 5 based on the prodigal parable, using the ESV as the starting point:

(1) Psalm 34 substituting Prodigal for the second-person and third-person subjects, and substituting father (lower-cased for a human father) for Yahweh — in call-and-response format:

Psalm 34.4–10 & 18–22 (ESV, alt. Prodigal & father)
4 The Prodigal sought father, and father answered the Prodigal and delivered the Prodigal from all his fears.
5 Prodigals who look to father are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.

6 This poor Prodigal cried, and father heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of father encamps around Prodigals who fear him, and delivers them.

8 Oh, taste and see that father is good! Blessed is the Prodigal who takes refuge in him!
9 Oh, fear the father, you his Prodigals, for those who fear him have no lack!

10 The young Prodigals suffer want and hunger; but those who seek father lack no good thing.
18 Father is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the Prodigals, but father delivers him out of them all.
20 Father keeps all the Prodigal’s bones; not one of them is broken.

21 Affliction will slay the wicked, and those who hate the Prodigal will be condemned.
22 Father redeems the life of his Prodigals; none of those Prodigals who take refuge in father will be condemned.

(2) 2 Corinthians 5 substituting Prodigal for the first-person and third-person subjects, and substituting Father (capitalized) for God. This declaration of truth may be most effectively read by a single reader to the congregation:

2 Corinthians 5.17–21 (ESV, alt. Prodigal & Father)
17 Therefore, if any Prodigal is in Christ, the Prodigal is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
18 All this is from the Father, who through Christ reconciled Prodigals to himself and gave us Prodigals the ministry of reconciliation;
19 that is, in Christ, the Father was reconciling the world to himself, not counting Prodigals’ trespasses against them, and entrusting to Prodigals the message of reconciliation.
20 Therefore, we Prodigals are ambassadors for Christ, the Father making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to the Father.
21 For Prodigals’ sake the Father made Christ to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Christ we Prodigals might become the righteousness of God.

(3) Finally, we read Psalm 34 with personal pronouns in response to the call in 2 Corinthians 5 to be God’s ambassadors. These declarations may be most effectively read in unison by the congregation:

Psalm 34 excerpts (ESV, alt. personal application)
4 The Prodigal sought me, and I answered the Prodigal and delivered the Prodigal from all his fears.
5 Prodigals who look to me are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor Prodigal cried, and I heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.
8 Oh, taste and see that I am good! Blessed is the Prodigal who takes refuge with me!
10 The young Prodigals suffer want and hunger; but those who seek me lack no good thing.
18 I am near to the brokenhearted and save the crushed in spirit.
21 Affliction will slay the wicked, and those who hate the Prodigal will be condemned.
22 I redeem the life of my Prodigals; none of those Prodigals who take refuge with me will be condemned.