Interpreting the Psalms initially seemed an easy task. Knowing the history, and where the symbolism came from, we could understand Psalms as a piece of work trying to convey morals, and create a pure lifestyle. After reading On Christian Teaching, I find that my views on interpreting the Psalms has changed somewhat.
The first thing that was brought to my attention was symbolism and which is natural, and what is not. The best example of natural symbolism is smoke, because where there is smoke, there is fire. The opposite side of the scale is an actor’s hands, and symbolism of the moments in relationship to the meaning and emotion the actor is trying to convey. The second part of interpretation that comes up is interpreting through translation. Ideas are universal, but in some languages, and specific idea may be better communicated (Like in Funes' language, it would be described perfectly). What this means is that, while something may have significance in one language, it will lose its meaning in another. I know that the Psalms are translated so i have to wonder how i would have looked at them if i could have read them before translation.
What I just realized though, is that is doesn't matter at all that the Psalms were translated. While i said my views on interpreting the Psalms has changed, my views on the Psalm have not. As i said before, a language conveys an idea, but some languages canc convey it better than others. Because the Psalms are ideas and views on how to live life, it does not matter, as long as they convey the same message. The Psalms couls be written as lymrics, but it wouldn't matter, because the idea would be the same. The only thing i have to ask now is, did the person who translated the Psalms understand their full meaning in the previous langauge? If so, I have nothing to worry about. If they did not, whatever words they use, i will never fulling understand the initial meaning.
...and furthermore, the initial meaning is lost the moment the author writes the word down. i like augustine's comment that the spoken word is lost the minute is spoken, but i think it's the same for written words: because we are different from the author, we will never capture the exact meaning that was in the author's mind at that precise moment that they were writing. but i think authors know that their words will affect others differently, and the reason that they write them down is because they want to communicate the essence of an experience or belief. at least, i think this is a more constructive way to think, otherwise what would be the point in reading, watching, or listening to anything?
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