You’re probably wondering what “psong” means. I wanted to write a psalm, in form and spirit, but it felt sacrilegious to call it that outright. So I made up a silly word. I have been loving the Psalms lately, and am so thankful for them!
Holy Father, your ways are so beautiful, so perfect;
I want to shout them across the ocean!
No image can contain you—your glory bursts any image we create;
It floods the whole earth.
In my ignorance I imagined you like me, only much better;
Your holiness burned that image to ash.
You are a consuming fire, of goodness and perfection;
How could I stand before you?
My heart shriveled, my spirit wasted away,
When I tried to worship you on my own terms.
Help me not imagine you as I like,
But seek to know you through your Word.
You lovingly created me,
you know me better than I know myself.
You make yourself known to me, your creature.
If you hadn’t lifted the curtain, I would still be in the dark.
Through your creation you are glorified, defining beauty;
Through your written Word you speak, revealing your ways.
You became poor in the manger;
The Word became flesh among us.
At the perfect time, you came near,
A helpless babe, lighting the darkness.
Because you desire a real, honest relationship with me, you left glory behind.
Your pursuing love revives my heart of stone.
You are not obliged to love me, I was walking away from you.
Sitting in judgement of you left my soul in ruins.
Your love is nothing like ours, it knows no fickleness or limitation.
You chose to love me, sending your Son, before I ever knew my need.
Your love is light that darkness must flee before.
Your love is powerful enough to free me from the sin that strangles.
You are the just judge, the authority on what is good and right;
Your anger is not senseless like ours, you are right in all your judgments.
Your holiness cannot tolerate sin, your heart knows how it destroys us;
And so you sent your Son, to pacify your own just wrath.
He died no peaceful martyrs death;
Though willingly he went, the agony he faced we’ll never know.
You are just and justifier of all who cling to Jesus’ propitiation;
He transformed your righteous anger into favor.
Now my spirit rejoices that you have made me your child!
Once an enemy, now adopted into your family!
You have given me the greatest gift,
Your Spirit of adoption that cries, “Daddy!” in my need.
Your Spirit that enables me to rest my head upon your chest,
As a small child, listening to my father’s heartbeat.
Now my heart longs to be near you, to be like you,
To see you respected by all.
I am your daughter, my Savior is my brother,
One day I will see you face to face.
Right now you take my hand and guide me through your Word;
And the road you choose for me is not the easy one.
You are not, and have not, easy answers to all life’s pain and problems.
My security is in your hand that has taken mine and will not let me go.
When I was a babe in faith you cuddled me close with joy unspeakable;
Like I once rode inside my father’s coat, protected from winter.
But as I grow older you mature me through heartache,
No man can hold a candle to my jealous God who fights for my heart.
In love you do not shield me from pain, so that I may learn to hold fast to you,
Unable to rely on my own strength or understanding.
To your glory you have hidden your plans for my days,
But are generous with wisdom one moment at time.
The ways of your world do not make sense to me.
I bow before you and submit to your mysterious ways.
Thank you for all you have spoken, oh LORD, my King,
Your Word is like sunshine on my frozen heart, promising life.
No matter how I blow it, I know you will never give up on me,
Because you are faithful.
Your love is adequate enough to grow me into your image;
There’s no place I’d rather be than here in your love!
Note:
A lot was inspired by J.I. Packer’s Knowing God, which has helped ground me in Biblical reality the past few months. I wanted to do a book review, but it turned into more of a profession of faith, when my dear friends Jessica and Judith recommended I write a song, like the Psalms.