Why It Is Good To Read Christian Poetry Devotionally
August 18th, 2008 by DanielPosted in Poems, Ponderances, Prayer
- 1. Because Scripture gives us examples.
Much of the Bible (especially the Old Testament) was given to us in poetic form, for our benefit. These passages do not prescribe forms or styles, but show us that God’s people remember and communicate God’s character and works through poetry.
- 2. Because the Church has always done so.
This is careful ground to tread, but I cite the use of devotional poetry by the church not as a reason for but a validation of using poetry- Christians in nearly every age have found hope in the “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” of Scripture and of their brethren, whether past or contemporary.
- 3. Because poetry expresses what statements and exhortations cannot.
It is a common occurrence in Scripture for God’s people to break into poetry when tasting of the Divine. Adam, Jacob, Moses, Deborah and Barak, Hannah, David, Mary, Zechariah, Paul, John… these are a representation of humanity’s God-given desire to express joy, love, hope, and sadness through poetic utterance.
- 4. Because poetry gives us breadth of learning.
The poetry of others gives our understanding of God a breadth of language and imagery which is difficult to obtain solely through Scripture, because the historical and geographical distance between ourselves and Scripture is often difficult to overcome in a morning devotion intended for communion with Christ (though the Holy Spirit’s work of enlightening our hearts and minds is not to be underestimated!).
- 5. Because poetry gives us breadth in our prayer language.
The poetry of others gives our prayers to God the breadth of language and imagery which we long for, since we, as creatures of habit, tend to retreat to familiar words and phrases in our prayers.
- 6. Because poetry gives us breadth in our imagination.
“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!”
“You make the going out of the morning and the evening to shout for joy.”
“You crown the year with your bounty; your wagon tracks overflow with abundance.”
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
“The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing.”