Lord Jesus Christ,
Grief. Tears. Shocking sad. More new losses. Unchanging circumstances.
But…
Your songs, the Psalms, are the most powerful song lyrics. You composed them. You sang them in Your earthly life. They’re all…about You. You’re singing to me into this fresh grief, as You weep with me.
The most powerful song lyrics sustained You in Your own earthly suffering, just as they do me.
Into your hand I commit my spirit…O LORD, faithful God (Ps. 31:5 ESV).
Man of Sorrows! what a name
for the Son of God, who came
ruined sinners to reclaim:
Hallelujah! what a Savior!
(“Man of Sorrows,” Bliss, P. P., 1875)
Your powerful song lyrics are singing to me of who You are, Jesus
Blessed is the Man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked (Ps. 1:1 ESV, emphasis added)…
Guilty, vile, and helpless, we;
spotless Lamb of God was he…
My Jesus…
Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.
They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment.
You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, but you are the same,
and your years have no end (Ps. 102:25-27 ESV).
You’re singing to me of what You’ve done for me
They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt;
there is none who does good,
not even one (Ps. 14:3 ESV).
Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
in my place condemned he stood,
sealed my pardon with his blood:
Hallelujah! what a Savior!
I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation;
behold, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O LORD (Ps. 40:9 ESV).
So He saved them
from the hand of the foe and redeemed them
from the power of the enemy (Ps. 106:10 ESV, emphasis added).
Full atonement! can it be?
Hallelujah! what a Savior!
The LORD says to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand, until I make Your enemies Your footstool” (Ps. 110:1 ESV, emphasis added).
Lifted up was he to die,
“It is finished!” was his cry:
I have not hidden Your deliverance within My heart; I have spoken of Your faithfulness and Your salvation; I have not concealed Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness from the great congregation (Ps. 40:10 ESV, emphasis added).
now in heav’n exalted high:
Hallelujah! what a Savior!
Your powerful song lyrics sing to me of what You’re doing for me right now
My faithfulness and My steadfast love shall be with him, and in My name shall his horn be exalted (Ps. 89:24 ESV, emphasis added).
Depart from Me, all you workers of evil, for the LORD has heard the sound of My weeping (Ps. 6:8 ESV, emphasis added).
For He has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and He has not hidden his face from Him, but has heard, when He cried to Him (Ps. 22:24 ESV, emphasis added).
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want (Ps. 23:1 ESV).
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit (Ps. 34:18 ESV).
Jesus, LORD, You now sing to me Your promises in the midst of my suffering:
Because he holds fast to Me in love, I will deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows My name.
When he calls to Me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him (Ps. 91:14-15 ESV).
Your powerful song lyrics sing to me of my sure hope, composed in Christ, rejoicing in our future together, Lord Jesus
When he comes, our glorious King,
all his ransomed home to bring…
Those who fear You shall see Me and rejoice, because I have hoped in Your word (Ps. 119:74 ESV, emphasis added).
Then My soul will rejoice in the LORD, exulting in His salvation (Ps. 35:9 ESV, emphasis added).
O LORD, I love the habitation of your house and the place where your glory dwells (Ps. 26:8 ESV)!
then anew this song we’ll sing:
Hallelujah! what a Savior!
Your songbook is filled with Your love songs to me, my Bridegroom, my King
My heart overflows with a pleasing theme;
I address my verses to the King;
my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.
You are the most handsome of the sons of men;
grace is poured upon Your lips;
therefore God has blessed You forever.
Gird your sword on Your thigh, O mighty One,
in your splendor and majesty! (Ps. 45:1-3 ESV, emphasis added).
In Your name, majestic and mighty Lord Jesus, who is Himself my song, amen.
A playlist to sing Your powerful song lyrics back to You, Jesus, into our suffering
This week’s playlist gift is a Psalm-singing one, singing the songs Jesus sang into His own suffering. Singing the songs He’s singing to us now, in His compassion to us, His beloved ones who are also suffering. Singing the same songs that our Father used to encourage Him, in His own life of suffering.
If this would be His comforting and calming gift as we adore and rejoice in Him, sister in Christ, sign up here, and it will come to your email with my love.
To read more of Lauri’s writing, you can use her devotional Bible study lament prayer journals: Praying God’s Promises Into Suffering, or Near to God: A Devotional Bible Study of God’s Character as We Suffer, or Singing the Gospel to Job: Finding Hope in Suffering. In the Valleys of God’s Love is written for children aged 3-8, a perfect read for grandparents, parents, and children to share together, preparing them for suffering to come.
