Poetry can make points that nothing else can. Through poetry, the poet can say what can’t be said otherwise, what would be deemed improper, or even too emotional. There is power in the poet’s pen… 

This is true of the Psalms. The Psalter is full of the tear-filled eyes of the grateful and the tear-stained bed of the hurt. The psalmists could praise God from the hilltops and beg God from the valleys. They could thank God for never departing from them, how He had never failed them and so they never doubted. Others could cry and plead, sob and sorrow, wondering why God never responded. No one would ever say such things but the poet can. They could lament and languish in misery, loneliness, desperation, and despair; wondering to themselves why God has not responded. They could turn to their fellow countrymen and throw painful jabs imploring honest reflection and heartfelt repentance. Sometimes the poem could do more than the plea. 

This is also true of the Song. Yes, Psalms are songs. In fact, the Psalter was essentially the name of Israel’s songbook. Thus, we have a Biblical credence for this point. Songs today do what the Psalter once did for Israel. How much more powerful are the modern songs taken from the Psalms? Our songs today are full of tear-filled eyes of the grateful and the tear-stained bed of the hurt. We must strike this chord with careful balance. Overwhelming gratitude is indeed our great song, but that doesn’t remove the hurt, the pain, or the loneliness. We can still rejoice through the songs of frustration. We, like our great predecessors of faith, can shout to our God. We can cry and plead, sob and sorrow, but instead of wondering so much why God doesn’t answer, we can find faith in knowing He does answer. Nothing says as much as the poet’s pen. Sometimes the song is more powerful than the sermon. As long ago, we will sing more than we will say. The power of poetry is it expresses the truth in far more drastic and colorful language. We will sing without fear what we will not say for fear. 

“Careless soul, why will you linger… O prepare to meet they God…” 

“Have you counted the cost, if your soul should be lost?” 

“Tho’ none go with me I still will follow…” 

“Are you ready for the judgment day?” 

“Someday you’ll stand at the bar on high… Where will you spend eternity? … What will your answer be?” 

“Bring Christ your broken life, so marred by sin…” 

Poetry can do something powerful.