A Song for the Soul

“The LORD put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD.” ~Psalm 40:3 (NRSV).

The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness is a gorgeous portion of the Lord (Isaiah 61:4). There is majesty and mystery in the stoic approach of the otherwise besieged person detecting the Lord in their presence. When depressive times come we reach for a song or we clamour in helpless desperation.

Not much of a choice.

Finding a Song at Depth

The story of Psalm 40 is an inspiring one. The miracle of redeemed rationality has climbed aboard the conscious awareness of the psalmist.

He has found something altogether alluring—a thing that non-believing onlookers will be amazed by as they take note. “Fear,” in this setting, is not being afraid but being in total awe by the transformation that has taken place: a low person, who has found their feet, having climbed from their knees, bellows a song of praise in spite of the tremulous events they find themselves in.

Finding a song at depth is something that can only occur in, through, and for God.

Discovering such a song is a gift of Divine revelation in response to a search; prayers sent to the Almighty for a clear and present salvation to amend the challenge at hand.

A song at the depths can only be found through faith, motivated by the state of being sick and tired of being sick and tired. The moment staunchness takes over from self-pity, raw honesty from insipid excuses, God joins the hunt.

In Truth the Song Lifts the Soul

A song for the soul is one we either sing vocally or by the movement in the mood of our heart—it’s the rocking therapy of the Spirit.

The practice of singing, allowing the melodic meander of a favourite tune to soothe the weary bones of the psyche, is a thing facilitating tears; initially in sadness, sure, but then our souls are enlightened by the refining joy of a salvific moment; the redemption of the Lord.

The music in the song, or the words, brings us to an imaginative place—a dreamy land destination—where God’s healing hand goes to work.

Music makes as open, ensuring that our guard is dropped for long enough that Spiritual healing can occur.

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Songs for the soul are the fruit of healing and the besieged are freed. They break us down to who we are; no pretence, no barriers, no pride. Only there can God work on us, massaging the warmed oil of gladness into the dulled, numb glow of the spirit’s heaviness. Praise comes.

© 2011 S. J. Wickham.