The "Anti-Psalm" Approach

David Powlison recommends a fascinating technique for studying a Psalm: write the "anti-Psalm." Here is Psalm 131 and Powlison's anti-psalm:

Psalm 131

O Lord, my heart is not lifted up;
my eyes are not raised too high;
I do not occupy myself with things
too great and too marvelous for me.
But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
like a weaned child with its mother;
like a weaned child is my soul within me.

O Israel, hope in the Lord
from this time forth and forevermore.

Powlison’s anti-psalm:

Self,
My heart is proud
and my eyes are haughty
and I chase after things too great and too difficult for me.
So of course I’m noisy and restless inside; it comes naturally,
like a hungry infant fussing on his mother’s lap,
like a hungry infant, I’m restless with my demands and worries.

I scatter my hopes onto anything and everybody all the time.


Isn't that a great way to help people understand what the text actually says, and encourage their hearts! Try this approach with your teaching.

HT: Tim Challies