Psalm 33: Poetry In A Burning City

It’s very difficult to plan during a period of uncertainty, when you lack any agency in choosing how your future looks. During times like this throughout history, writers, playwrights, actors, artists, poets, singers, prophets, and preachers have provided an emotional salve to a problem that does not have a logical response.

I choose to think that Psalm 33 was written by a poet, in a besieged city, with an oppressive army and stochastic flames controlling the destiny of every citizen within its walls. Cold logic has no place, when there is a king with a large force or warriors with great strength (33:16) being driven by their egos, with little care for you or your problems. All of your worldly possessions are worthless, because they may be destroyed on a whim and they cannot transport you to safety and freedom (33:17). You constantly fear famine and near certain death (33:19).

It is only the words and imagination of the artists and preachers who can create an alternative reality, to bring comfort for the moment, to help you both forget your current circumstances, but also to help you frame them in something greater than your own myopic perspective. It is the imagination, not intellect, that frees you from your situation.

It’s not a placebo; words and thoughts can help you change your reality. They help you develop grit, and provide you with something to look forward. When you rejoice in God in your heart (33:21), it means that you have not given up. You sing a new song (33:3), because the old ones don’t make sense when you are in this state.

The lonely feel less alone, when they know that God is watching them (33:13), and the forlorn find faith there is a plan greater than they can fathom (33:11).

When there is nothing than can be done to change the external circumstances, the psalmist is able to create a poem of faith, of salvation, of hope in the hearts of the hopeless. Because sometimes all a writer can do is help us dream of a new world with a better tomorrow.