PRAYING THE PSALMS

As we think about the importance of applying God’s Word, consider “praying” through the Psalms. The Psalms provide wonderful examples of how to pray. They often focus on the character of God and thus lead us to look vertically toward Him and His amazing attributes. The Psalms also provide a glimpse into the lives of people who experience suffering and trials and, who in their pain, openly express their raw emotions to God.

Praise is a prominent theme of the book and praise is prayer speech that is endlessly surprised by the character of God and always grateful for life in the world that God makes possible. As such, the Psalms function not only as an instruction manual about how to pray but also invite and authorize us “to speak imaginatively beyond these words themselves” (Brueggemann, Psalms and the Life of Faith, pp. 33, 50). The Psalms provide a means for expressing our experiences of joy and sorrow through the language of honesty rather than speech that engages in a cover-up of the realities we experience. Consider the words of Brueggemann:

“This means that the agenda and intention of the Psalms is considerably at odds with the normal speech of most people, the normal speech of a stable, functioning, self-deceptive culture in which everything must be kept running young and smooth. Against that, the speech of the Psalms is abrasive, revolutionary, and dangerous. It announces that life is not like that, that our common experience is not one of well-being and equilibrium, but a churning, disruptive experience of dislocation and relocation.” Walter Brueggemann, Praying the Psalms, Cascade, 2007, p. 7.

As we cry out to God with honesty in the midst of sorrow and tribulation, we also are drawn to the Creator with whom we are in a covenant relationship; we can engage in a joyous focus on God’s goodness to us and his unrelenting pursuit of his own. We announce through our prayers that God is King who makes all things right. We join in with the psalmist to address the Holy One. We participate in the newness of being a part of God’s people and the joy of participating in the life experiences of other believers who walk through this life as pilgrims and citizens of another world. That is what the Psalms do – they enable us to participate in God’s great drama. Rather than shrinking away in despair, we live boldly because God is always at work creating for us new beginnings. Through praying the language of the Psalms, we ourselves are invited to turn our attention toward God and express our adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication in view of the particular attribute(s) of God the Psalm highlights.

With this in mind, consider the following steps with respect to praying the Psalms:

• A. Read the language of the Psalm in its context. Exploring the context also involves a consideration of the appropriate type of Psalm we are examining – perhaps a Psalm of praise, one of thanksgiving, or even a lament Psalm. A good study Bible will help you to identify the particular category of Psalm you have chosen to study and pray.

• B. Talk to God by using His words – this is a richly personal experience in which your situation intersects with that of the psalmist. Thus, relate the life experience(s) of the individual or community in the Psalm to your particular experience – whether lament or praise. You can do this by determining the “principle” or “timeless truth” that not only was true in the original setting but also true in ours – often this will be a truth derived in some fashion from the character of God.

• C. Restate the principle or timeless truth in your prayer – this is especially relevant to the character of God set forth in the passage you are reading and praying. For example, when reading Psalm 23, we can acknowledge in prayer that God is our shepherd who meets our needs in the darkest moments.

• D. Express your heart to God with honesty, even when you are in pain and feel confused. For example, when reading Psalm 13, we can honestly tell God through our prayer that we feel like he may have forgotten us and that it seems as though he is distant.

• E. Confess your sin to God and ask God to change your life. As you read Psalm 51, for example, you can confess your sin to God by using David’s words in your prayer and also by expressing through the psalmist’s language your desire for God’s forgiveness.

• F. Praise God with your paraphrase of the words of the Psalm. You might consider taking the praise language of Psalm 100 and other similar “Praise Psalms” and using it as a way of expressing praise to God for his character.

These are a few ideas to get you started as you begin to pray the words of the Psalms. Through this practice you can express your worship of God and find comfort and encouragement by stating and trusting in his unwavering character.