My heart overflows with a pleasing theme;
I address my verses to the king;
my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe. . . .
I will cause your name to be remembered in all generations;
therefore nations will praise you forever and ever. (Psalm 45:1, 17)
When was the last time you were so moved by something that you felt the urge to get creative in expressing your excitement? When was the last time stock phrases couldn’t express your delight? When was the last time you labored — even for a moment — to find fit words for your worship?
Most of us can think of a time. Perhaps you composed a birthday card for your spouse, or you spent five minutes coming up with a caption for that sunset image on social media, or you thought of the perfect metaphor to describe your team’s miraculous victory. You probably know what it’s like to put a little bit of poetic effort into praise. Something special happens. The labor to say well is a means of seeing well.
But when was the last time you put in that same level of effort to find a fitting way to praise God — a way beyond the regular accolades and expressions? As wonderful as they are, “God is good” and “Praise the Lord” are not the only true things we can say. Can you recall searching for more? The poet of Psalm 45 certainly can. In this poem, he offers us something like a template for creative praise, showing its posture and purpose.
Posture of Creative Praise
In verse 1, the poet opens the door to his studio. He lets us see where the magic happens. He reveals the posture that leads to creative worship: a moved heart, a worthy audience, and an eager tongue.
First, the creative worshiper has a moved heart. Literally, his heart has been stirred up by a “good thing [dābār tôv].” And what is the good he’s seen? The Davidic king in his “splendor and majesty” (verse 3), ruling in righteousness, conquering his enemies, a champion for the weak and a king for the ages, anointed with joy and crowned in song, with his “all glorious” queen by his side (verse 13). In short, he’s seen the beauty of the King. That “pleasing theme” has so ignited his affections that his delight is full to overflowing.
Yet surely we too have witnessed this royal one and his bride. The author of Hebrews identifies the king of this psalm as Jesus (Hebrews 1:8–9). How often have we witnessed his righteousness, clearest at the cross but also seen in countless daily ways? How often have we watched his enemies fall or felt our weak hearts uplifted or received help from his hand? How often has his “oil of gladness” dripped down on us (verse 7)? Don’t our hearts also bubble over with this beautiful theme?
Second, the creative worshiper has a worthy audience. He crafts his poem for the King. His creative praise flowers and bears fruit for the honor of his Sire. This is not art for art’s sake, but art for the King’s sake. All of his poetic efforts are tethered to the crown. Yet we must not limit this praise to poetry. The word translated “my verses” in verse 1 is more literally “my making.” Here we stumble into Tolkien’s wonderful world of sub-creation. We are made in the image of a Maker, and all of our making should be for the King.
Saint, what works of creative worship can you bring before the throne? Perhaps it is word work. We need Christian poets and preachers, scholars and storytellers, who extol the fairest of the sons of men (verse 2). Or perhaps it is music. The call to sing a new song will outlive the stones. Perhaps it is visual art, or hospitality, or architecture — or a thousand other things. Let us dedicate our making, our creative works of worship, to the King.
Third, the creative worshiper has an eager tongue. He is awake to wonder and attentive to the King. His tongue has a hair trigger, ready to exert poetic effort at the slightest provocation. Like a skilled scribe, he keeps his pen poised as he anticipates what he will see and hear. And the image of the scribe is telling. Scribes are not concerned with being original or taking the spotlight. They do not draw attention to themselves. They record what they are given. They embody undistracting excellence.
We can learn much from such a scribe. Our creative worship flows from an inspiring Spirit (Ephesians 5:18–19). Only when the King’s word dwells in us will our mouths overflow in fitting praise (Colossians 3:16). Though we want to be creative, our aim is not to draw attention to ourselves but to decrease as he increases. And like the scribe, we should be poised and ready to pour out our praise.
Ever-Expanding Worship
The posture of creative praise — the moved heart, the worthy audience, the eager tongue — all conspire toward one aim: ever-expanding worship. After laboring to say beautifully the beauty he has seen, our poet announces his purpose: to cause the King’s name to be remembered “in all generations” so that “nations” will praise him (verse 17). His purpose is praise that continually swells and spreads and grows until it includes all times and all peoples. His little poem, crafted with creativity, contributes to that glorious end.
And all of our creative praise does as well. Each attempt adds one more thimbleful to the ocean of worship that will one day cover the earth. So let us exercise poetic effort as we seek to show others the beauty of our King. Pen a poem. Craft a song. Put thought into how you can share an aspect of God’s goodness toward you with a little more verve. When you do, you will find that you see more and savor more and are able to share more. Our King deserves such delighted effort.
Desiring God