Praying the Psalms

One of the spiritual practices for times of trouble, and for times of joy, although times of trouble seem to be more common, is “praying the Psalms”.  Somewhere in my library of books I have a small volume by that name written by the noted biblical scholar and theologian, the recently deceased Walter Brueggemann.

The essence of this practice is that the Psalms provide the words for we humans to talk to God.  Sometimes the psalmist is filled with joy and thanksgiving for life.  Sometimes, though, the person writing a psalm is overwhelmed by suffering, by a physical ailment, by fear, by danger, by just being overwhelmed.  And in those very familiar circumstances, the psalmist’s conversation with God is raw and angry.  You can feel the tears running down the cheeks and the balled fist in the air.

And you know what, those kind of psalms were not discarded because our ancestors in faith knew that we can be angry at one another – and even, more important, we can be angry at God for our circumstances and those words, those prayers are heard and honored by God’s Own Self.

Praying the psalms means reading those psalms that express your deepest emotions.  Read them aloud if you want!  Shout them if you feel like it.  Read them through your tears if you need time.  Most, but not all of the time, the psalmist comes around to affirming confidence in God.  But saying the nice words at the end does not change the other emotions.  The psalmists of old have given us words to speak, words to pray.  So if you need some help venting, try some Psalms.

• Psalm 6 deals with the psalmist inflicted with some grave illness
• Psalm 10 is about deliverance from enemies
  Psalm 12 is pleading for help in evil times
• Psalm 22 is a prayer for deliverance from suffering and hostility. The first line of this Psalm is the what Jesus prayed from the cross
• Psalm 23 is that familiar psalm that comforts in time of sorrow and death
• Psalm 26 is a plea for justice
• Psalm 28 is a prayer for help
• Psalm 29 relates to great storms
• Psalm 38 is a plea for healing
• Psalm 43 is a prayer for troubled times

This gives you an idea about what is available in this book of the Bible.  Pray the words of the Psalm.  Adjust the words to your situation or your concerns.  Put the verb tense into what YOU want.  Say the words quietly – and not so quietly.  Repeat as often as you want.  Eventually, you may well get to that thank you phrase!

Rev. Clara