The Psalms have always been special to me. As a young girl, I read the Bible on my own and there were some things I understood and others that were way over my head.
But the Psalms had depth and emotion that even as a child I could understand. When I couldn’t express the pain or hardship I was feeling back then (I had learned it was better to keep it all in for the circumstance I was in) I could mentally let go of it all when reading the Psalms.
As I’ve gotten older, I’m thankful to the Psalms for showing me a different side to the life of David. He is someone that God gave amazing strength and talents to, and yet he struggled, just as we all do. He grieved and made mistakes and we see the emotional side to him through the Psalms that he wrote.
Even now, when I need comfort or I’m confused, the Psalms provide a safe place for me to lay out my emotions so I can make sense of whatever it is I’m thinking and feeling. The words and meter urge me to let go of my pain or sadness and give it all to God.
I think if you’re new to the Bible, the Psalms are a good place to start. The poetry comes with simple, straightforward wording that invites you in. But as you continue to read, you’ll see new meaning in the verses. They aren’t random or throwaway words. They are deliberate but not heavy-handed. The metering will pull you in and give you a melody you’ll create with your own understanding. You’ll play it again and again and as you do it will bring you closer to God.
And if you want further inspiration, consider taking one of my Painting the Psalms ecourses. These ecourses are all separate projects where we create a mixed media painting with inspiration from a particular Psalm. It’s a great way to get into the beauty of the Psalms in a different way. OR, consider picking up my book, Painting the Psalms.
