A Psalm

I wrote the Psalm below inspired by Psalm 55.  I was wrestling with the intensity of the words and the imprecatory nature of David’s plea.  The emotion was so raw – I deeply resonated with the entire Psalm; however, I was frustrated in view of praxis. After much meditation and prayerful, verbal processing, I began to see how the Psalm progressed thematically, engulfed the reader emotionally, and was rooted in theology.  Below is the first half of my personal plea to God in response to Psalm 55; the second half is a worship song of consecration which will be uploaded in due time…

I’m drowning in a sea of my despair
My pain surrounds me
It threatens to swallow me
My enemies laugh and mock
Their words pierce my soul
Exposing my inadequacy
On their lips remains the residue of poison
Concealed by sweetness
You who once stood by my side
My brothers, my sisters, my family
My most intimate of companions (?)
Your kisses appeared to me
As the petals of a rose
While bearing with them
The sting of death
My eyes strain to see a glimmer of light, of hope
But all I perceive is darkness
The stench of death rises around me
My nostrils breath deeply the familiar aroma
To whom can I turn?
Who will rescue me?
I stretch out my hand
My fingers break the surface
Oh my Lord! Vindicate me!
Save me from my enemies!
Tear down their fortress of pride!
Render their weapons useless, silence their tongues!
Frustrate their plans and destroy them by their own devices!
Trap them in the web of their own deceit!