Words of Beauty, Power, and Promise

Ruth Ann Stites, Staff Writer

One of the first Bible passages I memorized as a child was Psalm 23, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul” (Ps. 23:1-3a, KJV). In one sense these words are comforting because they are so familiar. Yet, they are rich and majestic conjuring a vision of Jesus as the Good Shephard in John 10:11-15. Both passages evoke the image of the shepherd providing and protecting his sheep. This is not simple language but richly textured and culturally significant.

All the Psalms provide deeply resonant and depictive imagery as they draw word pictures to help us “get” the point in both petition and worship. No matter how familiar their words may be, we can still find the power of their poetry, even in the English translation most of us use. To fully appreciate the Psalms it helps to understand Hebrew as a language and as literature. That is the Psalms are poetry in another language with very different rules than apply to English language and poetry. Yet, even in translation, they draw pictures of depth and power and meaning we can appreciate and employ in our prayers to our Lord.

In one passage from Psalm 25, verses 12-15, we can examine the depth and richness of the emotions and the power of the language to engage us and allow us to join in King David’s desire for relief from trial and deepen our hope in the Lord.

Who, then, are those who fear the Lord?
    He will instruct them in the ways they should choose.
They will spend their days in prosperity,
    and their descendants will inherit the land.
The Lord confides in those who fear him;
    he makes his covenant known to them.
My eyes are ever on the Lord,
    for only he will release my feet from the snare.

Let’s look at verse 15. Have you ever encountered a snare? Not metaphorically, although that applies here as well, but actually having your feet tangled in something that catches and holds you and causes you to be trapped or fall. I have. A few years ago, I got my feet tangled up with a stick, fell, and broke my leg. I spent the next two months in hospital and rehab. When David speaks of being released from a snare, I understand what he means to be snared and to be freed. I understand at a visceral level why having one’s eyes on the Lord is where true release is to be found.

It is tempting to race through the Psalms picking up a point here or there and acknowledging their wisdom and beauty. Yet how much more of their richness and depth would we appreciate if we slow down our reading and explore the images they contain. Part of learning to pray, with the Psalms as our guide, is to allow their imagery to help us understand ourselves in light of who the Lord is and rejoice in His response to our weaknesses, desires, and longings to know and exult Him in our prayers.

Reflection Questions:

• Have you taken time to enjoy the Psalms as poetry, seeing in your mind’s eye some of the striking images the authors use? What are some of the most memorable word pictures you have discovered? Why do they resonate with you?
• Here is a link to a short article about the Psalms: 10 Things You Should Know about the Psalms | Crossway. It may be helpful in deepening your understanding of this book. When looked at as literature as well as powerful prayers, what new things do you see in them? Does understanding more about their form as well as their content increase your appreciation of the Psalms?
• What images stand out most clearly for you in Psalm 25? What do you identify with most strongly in it?

(Photo description and credit: One of the word pictures from Psalm 23 is that of green pastures and still waters, “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters” (v. 2, KJV). This picture depicts both…Arkansas style. Taken by R. A. Stites, Walnut Valley Road near Avoca, AR, April 2020.)