Is the Book of Psalms able to be a source of inspiration when our hearts are overwhelmed by turmoil, grief, bitterness, and uncertainty? The answer: yes. In the 150 chapters of Psalms, there is a precious heritage of faith for believers. The Psalms were not born in a safe space away from the struggles of life, but instead came as a voice of faith struggling in the midst of the turmoil of everyday life. In times of joy and sorrow that come and go in the lives of God's people.
It's no wonder Martin Luther called the Psalms a "mini-Bible." For in them, God's word is not merely present as a top-down message, but as a bottom-up cry, a human voice crying out, praising, lamenting, pleading, and hoping to God. The Book of Psalms becomes the people's prayer book: a collection of songs that accompany the steps of God's people on their long journey through life.
The Psalms are organised in five sections (Psalms 1–41; 42–72; 73–89; 90–106; 107–150). Each section closes with a doxology that affirms that the struggle of human faith always ends in praise and worship. The final word in the entire Book of Psalms is Hallelujah, a reminder that as long as we are still breathing, this life is geared towards glorifying God.
The Psalms as Portraits of Reality
The Hebrew language calls psalms מִזְמוֹר (mizmor), songs accompanied by stringed instruments. But they are more than just songs of praise; they also include laments, complaints, prayers, repentance, and cries for justice. Psalm 1 even serves as an entry point that emphasises the book's purpose: "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the way of the wicked, who does not stand in the path of sinners, and who does not sit in the company of scoffers.
But between Psalm 1 and the praise-filled Psalm 150, there is a long road of struggle. Walter Brueggemann, an Old Testament scholar, explains that the Psalms describe three phases of the faith experience: orientation (purposeful and prosperous life), disorientation (chaotic and dark life), and reorientation (restoration and new hope). Such is the life of God's people, never smooth, but always within the grasp of God's love.
Disorientation: When Life is Surrounded by Death
Disorientation.
Disorientation is a very human reality. Yesterday's pandemic reminded us that life is so fragile, like the psalmist who wrote, "O Lord, tell me my end, and the limit of my days, that I may realise how mortal I am!" (Psalm 39:5 TB2). When death seemed so close and life seemed insecure, the psalmist dared to cry out, "Now what do I look forward to, O Lord? My hope is only in you" (Psalm 39:8 TB2).
The faith does not negate harsh realities, but gives us a pivot to stand on when the world crumbles around us. This is hopeful realism. An attitude of faith that does not reject reality, but finds light in the midst of darkness.
Psalm 90, often recited on birthdays, is actually a profound reflection on human mortality. Gerhard von Rad calls it a meditation on the futility of life and death. Although attributed to Moses - לְמֹשֶׁה (Le-Moshe), its authorship is uncertain, as the Hebrew letter ל (Lamed) often appears as a prefix that can be interpreted as a word: to, for, or of/by. For example:
לְמֹשֶׁה — Le-Moshe → to/by Moses
לְדָוִד— Le-David— to/by David
לַיהוָה — La-Adonai → to/by the LORD
But certainly, he cries out to God as his hereditary refuge, even when the wrath and limitations of human life seem suffocating.
Sickness, Loneliness, and Painful Silence
Pain, Loneliness, and Painful Silence
The Psalms are also a voice for those who lie in sickness, feeling abandoned, even by those closest to them, “My friends and my companions withdraw because of my sickness, and my relatives stay away.” (Psalm 38:12 TB2).
This situation is all too familiar when the covid pandemic hits: sick people suffer not only physically, but also emotionally and spiritually. They feel alone, untouchable, as if forgotten. Prof Berthold A. Pareira reminds us that human touch (presence, prayer, care) means a lot to those on the brink of death.
Next, Psalm 41 witnesses the bitterness of a betrayed heart. “Even my trusted friend, with whom I usually shared a meal, lifted up his heel against me.” (Psalm 41:10 TB2). This means that suffering is often accompanied by deeper inner wounds. But the book also reminds us that forgiveness is the path to healing for both body and soul.
When God Feels Far Away
The darkest psalm is probably Psalm 88. There is no praise at the end of the chapter, only lamentation and a full sense of darkness, “For my soul is saturated with calamity, and my life is near the world of the dead” (Psalm 88:4 TB2). “You have put me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the depths” (Psalm 88:7 TB2). But it is precisely at this point that faith is tested and purified. The Psalms show that dialogue with God remains possible, even when all we cry out is "Why?".
The Psalmist negotiates, "Do you do wonders for the dead? How can the dead rise to give thanks to you?" (Psalm 88:11 TB2). A cry for the living to be given the opportunity to keep praising God.
In the end, faith holds this promise, “It is hard for the LORD the death of his beloved.” (Psalm 116:15 TB2). God never turns a blind eye to the tears of His people.
Jesus Psalmised in His Suffering
The culmination of God's solidarity with human suffering is seen on the cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Psalm 22:2a TB2). Jesus himself prayed using the Psalms, the Psalms of people who feel abandoned. Thus, the Lord Jesus is present not only as a Redeemer, but also as a Friend in suffering. He knows the dark valley of death that we walk through.
Closing
In the midst of the siege of death, the Psalmist invites us to remain vocal: to lament when necessary, to weep when we must, and in due time to praise God again. For as long as there is breath, this life remains in the arms of a faithful God.
“A faith perspective helps us navigate life, including when dealing with death.” (Rev. Anwar Tjen, Ph.D.)
