For a few, poetry is a secret obsession. A great many others enjoy the genre more than they’d admit. Poetry has a unique way of speaking straight to the soul and stirring the spectrum of our emotions. It leverages the power of imagination with the fulcrum of words. A recent National Public Radio Arts & Life piece explores how people have turned to poetry for comfort and courage post-pandemic. Visits to the website poets.org have gone up 30% in recent years. Poetry has a special way of touching us both in our heads and our hearts.
God adopts the voice of a poet to speak to us. We know this by the way he elegantly addresses humans, terse but evocative. Moses asks, “When I go to the people, and they ask, who do I say has sent me?” God’s reply: “I Am Who I Am. Say this to the people of Israel, I Am has sent me to you.” That sounds poetic to me. When Jesus manifests divine energy from a boat to silence the wind and the waves on the sea of Galilee, he utters a poetic rebuke to nature, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He then said to the disciples in the boat with him, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” Call me sentimental, but that language rings as poetry in my ear.
A third of the Bible is written in the literary style of poetry. We think of books like Psalms, Job, Proverbs, Song of Solomon, and it could be argued that the prophetic books in apocalyptic style are poetry. Biblical poetry does not always prioritize rhyme like we do in English. It instead uses repetition, patterns, couplets, and images. This allows the poetry to be understood in different languages because it translates well. The human writers, inspired by the Holy Spirit, composed poetry that expressed their emotion, at times joyful praise to God and sorrowful lament over evildoers at other moments. Those with a high conviction about biblical inspiration could say that the Psalms are our words to God that he receives and then gives back to us.
The poetry books of the Bible have a remarkable power to heal and motivate those of us who believe in the majesty of God. They elegantly speak divine truth into God’s creation and stir us to new heights of praise. Poetry is an experience meant to be felt. Who of us has not been moved to tears, when dressed all in black, we hear, “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.”
Poetic language makes use of images, metaphors, and symbols. Poetry activates our imagination, creating pictures in our minds that we did not see before. It triggers our emotions as we feel deep inside something stir. Reading the poetry of the Bible, especially Psalms, can draw us nearer to God in a way nothing else can. I recommend you give some time to reading. Maybe you’re looking for some comfort and courage during this season of uncertainty. God is handing you a resource to bring peace and still to your stormy sea. Try sitting quietly and alone. As you sit, do a bit of reading. Allow God, through his poetry, to stimulate your head and heart.
- 4th Week of 2024 Reading: HEBREWS 4:12 “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
- Reflections: What’s your favorite poem? Even if you don’t think of yourself as a “poetry person,” consider going ahead and browsing for a poem or two that inspires you today or activates your imagination. For curiosity’s sake, I asked ChatGPT to “Write me a Christian poem for today.” Here’s what it gave me:
In the quiet hush of morning light,
Where dawn embraces the darkest night,
A whisper echoes through the soul,
A tale of grace that makes us whole.
Beneath the canopy of skies,
Creation’s hymn begins to rise.
The stars above, a choir bright,
Declare the majesty of His might.
In every leaf, a story told,
Of love enduring, ageless, bold.
The breeze that dances through the trees,
Carries whispers of His gentle ease.
Upon the pages of sacred Word,
The voice of truth is clearly heard.
A narrative of hope and grace,
Guiding us to seek His loving face.
Within the sanctuary of prayer,
A sacred dialogue we share.
He hears our joys, our sorrows, too,
And guides us in all that we pursue.
Through valleys low and mountain’s crest,
His presence with us, a constant guest.
In every trial, every test,
We find in Him our perfect rest.
Oh, let our hearts with gratitude swell,
For the Savior who loves us oh so well.
In every moment, come what may,
He leads us on the narrow way.
So, on this day, with faith ablaze,
Let songs of praise our voices raise.
For in His love, we find our song,
A melody that lasts lifelong.
- Prayer to God: “Heavenly Father, thank you for this new day. Grant us wisdom, strength, and a heart filled with love and imagination. Guide us in your will, and may your peace reign in our hearts. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”
- Sermon Preview: I’m finishing my sermon series about the if/then statements of Jesus in the Gospel According to John. We’ll wrap up with a close look at what it means to abide in Christ. You’re invited to come and worship with us.
Christian Light 