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You are here: Home / Devotional / Psalm and Antipsalm by David Powlison

Psalm and Antipsalm by David Powlison

July 26, 2010 by Christina

“The antipsalm tells what life feels like and looks like whenever God vanishes from sight: the “I’m-all-alone-in-the-universe” experience. The antipsalm captures the drivenness and pointlessness of life-purposes that become petty, and thus self-defeating. It expresses the fears and silent despair that cannot find a voice. There’s no one to really talk to, no one who really cares. Something bad gets last say, when whatever I live for is not God, when how I’m living forgets what’s so.”

Antipsalm 23

I’m on my own.
No one looks out for me or protects me.
I’m always restless. I’m easily frustrated and often disappointed.
It’s a jungle – I feel overwhelmed. It’s a desert – I’m thirsty.
My soul feels broken, twisted, and stuck. I can’t fix myself.
I stumble down some dark paths.
Still, I insist: I want to do what I want, when I want, how I want.
But life’s confusing. Why don’t things ever really work out?
I’m haunted by emptiness and futility – shadows of death.
I fear the big hurt and final loss.
Death is waiting for me at the end of every road,
but I’d rather not think about that.
I spend my life protecting myself. Bad things can happen.
I find no lasting comfort.
I’m alone… facing everything that could hurt me.
Are my friends really friends?
Other people use me for their own ends.
I can’t really trust anyone. No one has my back.
No one is really for me – except me.
And I’m so much all about ME, sometimes it’s sickening.
I belong to no one except myself.
My cup is never quite full enough. I’m left empty.
Disappointment follows me all the days of my life.
Will I just be obliterated into nothingness?
Will I be alone forever, homeless, free-falling into void?
Sartre said, “Hell is other people.”
I have to add, “Hell is also myself.”
It’s a living death, and then I die.

“But the antipsalm doesn’t tell the final story…”

“It only becomes my reality when I construct my reality from a lie. In reality, someone else is the center of the story. Nobody can make Jesus go away. The I AM was, is and will be, whether or not people acknowledge. When we awaken, as we see who Jesus actually is, everything changes. You see the person whose care and ability you can trust. You experience his care. You see the person whose glory you are meant to worship. You love him who loves you. The real Psalm 23 captures what life feels like and looks like when Jesus Christ takes you in hand, when he puts his hand on your shoulder, when he takes your hand.”

Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside quiet waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me.
Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil.
My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

“Can you taste the difference?”

HT: Reformation Theology

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Comments

  1. melissa says

    July 26, 2010 at 9:16 pm

    that was a breath of fresh air! It raised my spirit! Thank you my beautiful sister.

  2. Petra Hefner says

    July 26, 2010 at 9:20 pm

    So, this is what an antipsalm looks like – life without God! This is really good. I’ll probably read the Psalms differently now, with much more gratitude! Thank you dear sister!

  3. Oscar Colon says

    July 26, 2010 at 9:23 pm

    That Antipsalm was so negative I almost could not finish reading it…

    • Christina says

      July 26, 2010 at 9:24 pm

      Me too, Oscar! I know exactly what you mean! Bless God it’s a lie!

  4. Christina says

    July 26, 2010 at 9:27 pm

    @ Melissa – so glad it raised your spirits! It raised mine too!

    @ Petra – yes, this is what life without God looks like and we don’t want it!

    Blessings galore to you both!

  5. Paul / Jen Dare says

    July 27, 2010 at 9:16 am

    Yes! I love this! Showing by way of comparison the glory of the truths in God’s Word.

    “…in reality, someone else is the center of the story. Nobody can make Jesus go away. ”

    AMEN to that statement! That’s a “shout it from the rooftops” statement!
    -paul

  6. ~ Patricia says

    July 27, 2010 at 3:35 pm

    That was so good. “Taste the difference?” Indeed, I can! Thank you so much for sharing this, Christina. I needed it this very day.

  7. Diane says

    July 28, 2010 at 9:44 pm

    The thing that hit me hardest reading this was the fact that it is the anthem for so many people I know and have known. It is the anthem for everyone who is riding a bumpy road at the moment. When things are going great they take their hope in their circumstances and in their own resources. But as soon as life starts to unravel, this is what they’re left with.

    How tragic.

    Thank you for the stark reminder to preach hope to the captives!
    love you!

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  1. Coffee Collection (Volume 1) | Caffeinated Theology says:
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