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Pattern your prayers after Psalms: a lament when surrounded by adversity


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Author's Bias | Interpretation: conservative | Inclination: promise | Seminary: none

1. Study Psalm 3. How would you characterize verse 1?

This is the address element of the Psalm; it describes whom the lament is addressed to. "O Lord" is the psalmist's call to God.

2. How would you characterize verse 2?

The complaint element follows; it describes the heartfelt distress of trouble and why help is being sought. At the end of verse 1, the psalmist describes numerous foes and in verse 2, the taunts of his enemies are described. Parallelism is at the core of Hebrew poetry and this verse is an example of synonymous parallelism, which is the most common form of Hebrew poetry. In this example: the second line advances the concept of the first (",..how my adversaries have increase!" and "Many are rising up against me.").

3. How would you characterize verses 3-6?

Verses 3-6 are the confession of trust element; it is a declaration of trust in the Lord. Described as a "shield," the psalmist finds comfort in the metaphorical description of God's protection. There is trust in protection, in answered cries, and while asleep. So resolute is his trust that he is fearless of the opposition.

4. How would you characterize verse 7?

Verse 7 has two elements: petition / deliverance and assurance / praise. The first part, the petition ("Arise,..! Deliver me,..!"), is a plea for help. It is another example of synonymous parallelism. The latter part of verse 7 is the assurance; it is the complete confidence that God will deliver. In this synonymous parallelism, the imagery is one of a knockout punch, and the psalmist writes as though God has already destroyed his foes.

5. How would you characterize verse 8?

Verse 8 is the final element: praise. The psalmist praises God for His faithfulness.

Key: Read each Psalm as a unit to minimize the risk of losing context!

Psalms have several distinguished composers: David authored 73, Moses authored 1, Solomon authored 2, etc. Their purpose was to worship God in a heartfelt manner through musical poems. Instead of being instructive, Psalms are principally for guidance; they provide an example of how one can communicate their thoughts and feelings while still remaining faithful and dependent on God.

It is believed that David wrote Psalm 3 when he was fleeing from Absalom (2 Samuel chapters 15, 16, 17, and 18); thus, many Psalms may have a historical connection. Psalm 3 is an example of a Lament. It has 6 successive elements to its structure:

Introduction or address,

Complaint,

Confession of trust,

Petition or deliverance,

Confidence or assurance,

And praise.

As inspired prayers and hymns, Psalms offers an example of how we may communicate with God. In the case of adversity, a prayer of lament is one such example. From the pattern above, one can observe some interesting details. For instance, notice that the complaint is followed by the confession of trust and that the petition is followed by the assurance! Notice how many verses are spent on each. What does this reveal about the lament? Do your prayers have elements? How are those elements balanced? What are your prayers for help like? Take a look at the Psalms and discover other details that could help your prayer life!

To learn more about Psalms, read Answering God: the Psalms as Tools for Prayer, by Eugene Peterson (San Francisco: Harper-Collins, 1989).


Return to Systematic Study: Skill Builder

Recognize the Literary Style

Related subject:

Topical Index: Christian Living>Responsibilities toward God>Communicating with God: Prayer

Tutorial: Different Types of Biblical Literature

Literary genres... composing information with style

Related verses:

Scripture Index: Wisdom>Psalms


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