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“A man can’t be always defending the truth; there must be a time to feed on it”
- C. S. Lewis
For many, myself included, the Book of Psalms are an escape. No, they don’t magically teleport us to mystical worlds like Narnia, Neverland, or Wonderland. Nor do we travel across distant galaxies on the Millennium Falcon or begin an adventure with a grey wizard. Rather, each psalm transports us to a place of familiarity. Each psalm is a doorway to understanding the human condition in a fallen world. They remind us of the beauty all around. They depict a picture that highlights the artistry of our Creator displaying His magnificent work in creating humanity and the marvelous world we experience every day. They nourish our souls.
We often forget how beautiful this world is, especially when sometimes we can’t observe past the turmoil of our own life. While the psalms showcase the enchantment of creation, they simultaneously portray the suffering of a fallen world. We feel abandoned in our anguish, forgotten in our fears, and plagued by our past. However, the psalms pierce our lowly state to remind us of two things. First, the Psalms divulge a choir of distressed and discouraged people. Agents against creation drive to cut us off and close us off. Making humanity feel like we cannot relate to one another. Instead of relating, we see ourselves more like an island inside of an archipelago, with each struggle to sunder us from the common ground that unites us. Yet, the psalms remind us we all share the pain of this world. Each day we carry the strain of loss, see the stains of shame, and relive the terror and trauma of those who hurt us. We all have experienced these. Our lives feel like a nightmare we can’t escape. However, unlike a nightmare where you are alone, we stand united in our painful afflictions. Read the Book of Psalms, listen close to the voices of the choir for the broken. Hear their tears as they plea to God. Why do the psalmist chase after God? Because they know they are never hidden from Him, and you and I are never hidden, either. They run to God because He is there to run, too.
This is the second point. Just like sheep grazing in a field, if we will look up, we can trust and perceive that our glorious shepherd stands watch. Our present circumstances, good or bad should never move us to evade God. He deserves our praise. This is what the psalms teach us and show us. Through every smile and tear, the Book of Psalms points out how to adore Him in all we do. The Book of Psalms is a treasure chest of scripture not just to read and study, but to pray and sing. Let’s dive into this treasure trove together. Friends, let’s lock arms with those who sojourned this life before us. Let’s praise God.
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