Over the years, the Psalms have helped my soul in ways that have surprised and salvaged me. Like a rescue ship to a drowning life in a raging sea, they have lifted my spirits, given me hope, provided deliverance, offered new perspective, and lighted the way when the skies were dark. Not only have I read and worshiped through them with fellow believers for twenty-five years, but my daily walk has incorporated a steady diet of the Psalms.
The emotional transparency of the Psalms helps me. David, in particular, wrote with raw inspiration as he expressed fears, despondency, hopelessness, and struggle. Conversely, he declared his joy, his confidence, and his great expectancies in God. Even an individual Psalm contains both raw doubt and resolute trust. Life is that way. Most of my days are a mix of ups and downs, joys and sorrows, burdens and blessings.
One lesson I am learning from David is the power of song. I am not referring to our common experience of singing in church, but the personal discipline of singing to the Lord. Certainly, David knew the beauty of congregational singing and music as performance in worship. He directed a large choir in his day. Yet, I am learning from David the importance of personal, heartfelt singing as a spiritual therapy for the soul. The Psalms were largely poems that David sung. He did so as a vital part of his spiritual journey. We need to embrace the power of song to help us through our days of discouragement, danger, and delight.
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Photo by Aundre Larrow
Daniel Henderson
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