Praying the Psalms II 

I invite you to pray along with me this January in the book of Psalms. 

Psalm 22//Anguish to Praise

Psalms- a strange literature indeed. What are we to make of the psalms of complaint and disorientation that express enormous hyperbole? 

I am poured out like water, 

All my bones are out of joint; 

My heart is like wax; 

It is melted within my chest; -Ps 22:14

 They create an external event that matches an internal sentiment.

A cup full of salty tears is not far from any of us. God hears the overstatement of circumstances in our prayers, although our renderings may not be as eloquent as David’s poetic words.

I have had fleeting thoughts that are better suited to an emoji than to a mature believer. My words cry out in an untrained vocabulary: Holy Guacamole, O Lord, how will I survive this crisis before me that is making me feel like a crushed avocado? 

The writers of the Psalter were not afraid of thoughtful, descriptive language and created vivid, stunning imagery in our minds. David, the shepherd warrior author of this psalm, was vulnerable, employed a pitiful word picture to describe himself, “I am a worm and not a man, scorned by everyone…All who see me mock me.” Jesus selected David’s illustrative cry and made it his own as He hung on the cross: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 

The graphic language evokes a cringe and almost makes the reader want to ask him to stop talking about such devastating circumstances. 

But Psalm 22 ends well. David declares God’s deliverance and reign over nations and his affairs. God transforms with his reply. 

…You answer me. 

I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will praise You…Future generations will be told about the Lord. 

They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn;

He has done it! (“It is finished” in Hebrew) 

Psalm 22:21,22,30b,31

God says, “I know your situation. This is how it will be. ” 

Walter Brueggemann, Old Testament scholar, explains that God permits a transformation and that it is generally overstated because it is essentially promissory. They are descriptions of what is evident–or what is promised and what the pray-er is prepared to trust because of God’s character. 

Sometimes a promissory word is what stands between us and chaos. It is not speculation, but real. The prophetic psalm shouts to us that God has dealt with our trauma and transgressions. 

It is finished—a very Holy Avocado. 

Prayer: 

Pray Psalm 22 

Dear Heavenly Father

I have my moments of anguish that cast a shadow over my day. Make me strong on the journey and lift my thoughts and words so they are transformed into trusting you. Amen