The Prayerful Beauty of the Sacred Psalms

Have you ever grappled for the right words to express how you feel? In one of the most blissful moments of your life the words you choose just don’t express your happiness enough?

Conversely, when hard times break in the sadness you feel can leave you speechless. After all, being tested by God is one of the ways that we humans give meaning to suffering.  Words often lack capacity to adequately describe the depth of pain or loss.

The collection of sacred writing in the Book of Psalms provides 150 hymns and contemplative poems that beautifully express so many human emotions. The sentimental words of love, hope, sorrow and gratitude weaved within every page quench the soul’s search for God like no other writing can.

In the words of C.S. Lewis “The most valuable thing the Psalms do for me is to express the same delight in God which made David dance.” By reflecting on their beauty, we too can learn how to set our soul aflame with God’s love.

Biblical scholars agree that the sacred Psalms were composed over many centuries to serve the worshiping community in ancient Jerusalem. Though we encounter beauty in all five categories of Psalms, hymns of praise and wisdom writings are my favorite. Hymns draw my spirit because of the poetic words used to praise God. Psalm 8 is an exquisite example of a beautiful hymn giving glory to God’s sovereignty over all creation. It begins and ends with God’s excellence, reminding the world to consider “the moon and the stars ordained by God.”

These words knitted together so perfectly can never become outdated. God’s divine presence over the world is changeless.

They point us all to the evidence of God’s presence, seen in the moon, stars and heavens as works of His fingers.

Sacred Psalms are pleas to God to hear prayers for help in troublesome times

Those familiar with the Book of Job would not be surprised to know that it mirrors the same qualities as Psalms pleading to God for help. Written by David, these types of Psalms are designed to express our fear, asking for God’s intervention when life’s storms are thrust upon us.  Perhaps the most well known Psalm is David’s prayer “The Lord is my Shepherd of whom shall I be afraid.”

Many years ago, I discovered the beauty of Psalm 25. Its words are said in my daily prayers. The petition to the “God of my salvation to lead and remember me” brings peace to my soul.  I just love asking God to remember me.  Not knowing what each day brings, these words are a timeless way of asking for God’s grace to help us through life’s ever changing circumstances.

Wisdom Psalms are known for their spiritual tone

One of my favorites is Psalm 91. It shares God’s promise that “no evil will befall us” because of His love. Right now the whole world is emerging from the uncharted territory of a corona-virus pandemic. We pray for every family impacted, especially those who lost loved ones. In this Psalm, we can draw fresh courage to step into a new day. It reminds us that God will “deliver us from deadly pestilence that stalks in darkness.” He never leaves us.

God’s peace is woven in all 150 Psalms. They give us beautiful prayers that fill our spirit in a soul quenching way.

Heaven truly enters us when we listen to what they pray.

However, it is up to us to search, dig and uncover the hidden meaning God wants us to know in the very moment we read them.