Passion A Psalm
Psalm 31:9-16
Danny Quanstrom
What do you picture when you read Psalm 31?
Am I the only one who imagines the psalmist checking his myspace page from under his swooping jet black asymmetrical bangs? He then adjusts his choker necklace, pulls up his way-before-they-were-cool skinny jeans that aren’t actually being held up by a studded belt, then looks for inspiration for his profile from his vintage skinny t-shirt. He ends up updating his profile with a My Chemical Romance lyric, “If you look in the mirror and don't like what you see, you can find out firsthand what it's like to be me.”
Doesn’t the Psalmist sound like an early 2000’s emo kid?
“Nobody likes me…” “Everyone is seeking my destruction”
“Even my acquaintances don’t like me!”
I was never an emo kid. I never had the guts. Maybe I wasn’t honest enough with myself
I think that’s why we struggle with Psalms like Psalm 31. It’s just too honest! The Psalmist says things others are afraid to even think; especially those inundated by Moralistic Therapeutic Deism! So many of us have been taught, and only taught, that 1. God created the world, 2. God wants us to be “good” and “nice,” 3. The point of life is to be “Happy,” 4. God doesn’t have to be involved in my life, but I can call on him when needed, 5. Good people go to heaven. How many of us have been unable to be brutally honest with ourselves, let alone our God!?
Not the Psalmist…
And, not Christ!
While not included in our passage for this Sunday, Psalm 31:5 are the final words off of Jesus’ lips, according to Luke. Appropriately placed, Psalm 31 is a psalm of passion. That is, it is a psalm of suffering. And, what might be most difficult, it isn’t a lack of faithfulness that leads to the psalmist’s suffering, but his faithfulness might even be the cause of his suffering! This is something we wrestle with…
But how true is this? Not only for the Psalmist, but for our Christ! And what do we remember as we kick off Holy Week if not the faithful suffering, the passion, of the Christ? What do we celebrate but that Christ is the Lord of Compassion, literally, one who “Suffers with?”
Maybe Psalms like Psalm 31 should be read more frequently than they are. How many of us have been going through a season of life filled with grief, heartache, sorrow? And how many of us need to be reminded by the Psalmist that we can still say, even in the midst of our greatest despair, “You are my God. My times are in your hand.”?
As I said before, I never became an emo kid. I don’t know that I was honest enough for that. But in my adulthood I have become a metalhead. Metal music has become for me a way to acknowledge frustration and hope. I find an honesty in Metal that I’ve not found in other genres. And the more I’ve studied the Psalms the more I’ve come to appreciate Metal as not just a legitimate genre of music, but an essential genre for my faith development. The Psalmist is just so brutally, violently, honest with himself and with the Lord! The Psalmist cries, screams, out to God in agony, sorrow, grief, and in hope! As strange as this might sound, Metal music portrays this grief, sorrow, and deep eschatological hope in ways that sound like the Psalmist.
So I leave you with this song: “21” by Wage War. The lyrics of this song follow the pattern of Psalm 31: Despair and desperation concluding with hope. As understanding Metal may be difficult, I'll give you the lyrics.
They say that there's no hope.
Don't think. Do what you're told. No.
We've lost our way. Abandoned foundations on which we were made. We're all dying of the same disease. I looked for the answer and the problem was me
All along we've been searching for a place to call our home. You and I will never learn if we try to do this on our own.
Underneath it all we are all the same. (All the same) Never knowing where to go. Lost in our way. Can we ever escape? Can we decide our fate?
I'm more than familiar with feeling like I've failed to meet everyone's expectations. When every definition of success becomes different, it's hard to really feel like you're making a difference.
They say that there's no hope.
Don't think. Do what you're told.
Dare to be different. To break the mold. Live your life with intention. Go forth and be bold.
Why do we try to overcomplicate the things that used to be so simple? So step back, you'll be able to see that your purpose in life is not just to be.
I've come to grips with the fact that I'll never be able to change my own past. But I've found strength in divine perspective.
It took me twenty one years to realize: Hope, Love, and Faith are how we survive.
Grace sustains me. Pain has ending. There's still hope.
Lead Pastor, Hastings Church of the Nazarene
Danny Quanstrom
About the Contributor
This week's Sponsor
"SoCal Naz exists to fulfill the Great Commission and the Great Commandment by resourcing the development of pastors and leaders and overseeing local churches in becoming spiritually healthy and fruitful."
Comments