Thanks for Praying
Kent and I wish to thank all of you who have shared so wholeheartedly in our recent baby joy. We appreciate every comment, email, note, offer of help and congratulations. What a privilege to be in this God adventure together!
As a gesture of my gratitude, and an extension of how God’s Word does indeed speak to our daily needs in very relevant ways, I wanted to share Psalm 20 with you during this “babymoon” season. A friend of mine who had been raised Jewish and then later converted to Christianity brought it to my attention just before I had our son. She explained how this particular psalm has been traditionally repeated by the parents during delivery. Once I revisited Psalm 20, I could see why. I was particularly moved by its timeliness in calling out to our Lord in our distress, and in trusting that He desires to give us, in turn, the desires of our own hearts. I ended up meditating upon it during my delivery, in fact (as much as one can meditate upon something at such a time!) and found it to bring about great power, focus and comfort. I never cease to be surprised at how Scripture feeds our souls: that it really is like accessing a mysterious power that is difficult to put into words, and entirely unrivalled.
I was also overjoyed at the final line, given how we planned to name our son “Kingsley” or “King” for short … we had not revealed this decision to anyone yet, so my friend could not have known this added goose bump of relevancy. But I know that my God has a great sense of humour, and that He often speaks to me in puns because He knows I take delight in them, and He knows each of His children so intimately. He knows I love a good cosmic chuckle, and that I appreciate how He is the God of inside jokes as well. :)
I wonder what inside joke He is sharing with you today?
And so, I was prompted to do a little additional research to the role of this psalm in childbirth. As a result, I consulted a few other resources, including Michele Klein’s book A Time to Be Born: Customs and Folklore of Jewish Birth (see especially pp. 141-45, the sections on “Giving Birth” and “Easing Delivery”). Klein explains how the “time of trouble” at the beginning of the psalm and the “day when we call” at the end of the psalm can both be understood as the day of labor and delivery. Of course, labor and delivery are major themes in the Bible at large, culminating in Revelation. Interestingly, this psalm has nine verses symbolic of the nine months of pregnancy. Klein also notes that a long tradition exists of Jews reciting psalms to ease delivery, especially this particular psalm. A midwife might be particularly involved in repeating it to help the woman in labor remain saturated in the words, and lifted up by the prayer.
Praise be to God that I discovered I had a believing nurse right there with me the entire time of my delivery! In a secular hospital setting, nonetheless. Just when I was feeling a bit “abandoned” giving birth now in a “new” city (having relocated here after 20 yrs away and having had my other children in Seattle). My regular doctor was not the one on call. And the environment, though comfortable and a newly renovated hospital, seemed sterile and disassociated. As we progressed through the delivery together, she remained the person I was most dependent upon (God bless nurses in general – special crowns in heaven for that profession, I tell you!). I was even able to share the discovery of this psalm together, and I could only marvel that the Lord would set someone so wise in her faith and so caring in her deeds in my path at this particular moment.
Yes, God loves His people through His people.
How me, the former cynic of fellowship, has been forced to see this, and embrace it, and yearn for it, and be fulfilled by it, again and again and again (as I madly texted my pastor for prayer as well!).
So here is the psalm that surprised me with its joy, that sustained me in my pain, that exulted us as we raised our newborn son to rest against my heart … may it speak to you too, today, and for always (as the Word of God was made to do).
Psalm 20
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
May the Lord answer you when you are in distress;
may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
May he send you help from the sanctuary
and grant you support from Zion.
May he remember all your sacrifices
and accept your burnt offerings.[b]
May he give you the desire of your heart
and make all your plans succeed.
May we shout for joy over your victory
and lift up our banners in the name of our God.
May the Lord grant all your requests.
Now this I know:
The Lord gives victory to his anointed.
He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary
with the victorious power of his right hand.
Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
They are brought to their knees and fall,
but we rise up and stand firm.
Lord, give victory to the king!
Answer us when we call!
Lover of God, happy wife, mama to 4, writer, teacher, author of 
Carolyn, what a beautiful entry. This was meaningful to me on two levels. First, because I recently sent a reference to Psalm 20 to my firstborn daughter as an encouragement as she “births” a new career move in Los Angeles, then because of the Jewish connection and a birth and name story. If you have time, you might enjoy reading of God’s surprising me by JOY in a special story of my second daughter’s name. Here is a link to her blog where it is recorded: http://www.brynnabegins.com/2012/01/finding-my-name-guest-post-by-my-mama/
Your sister in Christ,
Karen in Spokane
I love the idea of referring to the psalm to celebrate other “births” in life as well. How wonderful! And I so enjoyed your blog link, Karen. I will have to send my sister there, too, as her daughter’s middle name is very similar. Thanks so much for sharing. God’s joy to all of you! :)
Blessed report and celebration! Thinking of His tender love for you all….I love Him, oh how He loved us first and oh how He loves us forever. Rejoicing with you dear friend!!
Thank you for joining in our joy. Means so much to us! God bless!
Sa-WEET. What a perfect gift for you at such a tender and uncertain time. Although — I must say, Caro. If ANYONE had been reciting scripture or anything else to me during any of my 3 labors, I would have thrown something their direction. I needed no talking, please. Just let me focus and get this job done. Different strokes, I guess. :>)
OMG(oodness) Diana, you always make me laugh! And you are always spot on. So true! I agree. I was not reciting as much as recalling, although this birth was blessed with good conversation around it, actually! A nice change for me :)
Caroline, I love your “added goosebump of relevancy” in applying a biblical phrase very directly to your situation.
I was just thinking earlier this morning about a short talk I’m to give at the end of October and how I’ll be sharing about two ways I engage Scripture: the first (and, I believe, most spiritually productive, enriching my intellect and informing my volition/will) is to find the principle in a passage and apply it to the practice of living; the second (more “natural” to me, more instinctive, and almost always more immediately emotionally nourishing) is to read devotionally for the connection I FEEL in God’s Word to me personally. This second seems to be what your goosebump is about–made all the more meaningful by your research on Jewish tradition. Super interesting–thanks for the post!
And what a delightful photo, as well–the wee child encompassed by the massive, protective hand of Daddy (I assume–or is it Grandpa?).
As a postscript, I’ll mention my own Rolled Scroll study I post monthly or so on my website, where I follow cultural and literary images found in the Bible (mirror, perfume, heart) in an attempt to unearth God’s meaning in His pattern of usage: http://www.debelkink.com/?blog. Take a peek sometime!
Thanks for joining us here, Deb! Such great ideas you share and I’m grateful to be linked through our love of goosebumps :) Yes, those are Daddy’s hands holding the little King. And I enjoyed the link! Great site! I will be continuing to take more than a peek … how great to be in touch!
Thank you for the idea of a celestial “joke.” In the early time after my conversion, I laughed with God, but it has been a long time since then and many trials. I love puns too! I always got the impression that puns were bad somehow- you liking them gave me the boldness to come out of the closet, so to speak, and admit I love them too! I’m going to make laughter and jokes a matter of prayer now- it doesn’t seem right that I should share them with my friends and not with my Lord. I’ve developed a bad habit of seeing him always as stern.
Many blessings to you- and so glad to hear about the encouragement you recieved during labor!
You are so right, Holly. I think it’s easier in life to grow grave (as we near the grave) than to grow in mirth and joy. A slippery slope, and no wonder, given life’s trials. I appreciate your self-reflection here. Inspiring and perspective giving for me.
This is a beautiful use for the Psalms. I enjoyed the Lord’s joke on you. My sister-in-law encouraged me to read Psalm 71 prior to delivery. When I looked it up, my eyes went to the other side of my Bible to Psalm 70. I found it very appropriate for me, since most of my children came long after their due dates.
How wonderful! Great story, Sharlene. I was one week overdue this time, and soooooo ready! gave me greater compassion for others who percolate long ;) So glad you joined us here!
Carolyn, I absolutely love the psalms. When I read in your post that the midwives would read psalm 20 for women in labour to keep them saturated in the word and lifted up in prayer, I thought of how the word of God affects me. Psalm 41 refers to God being an everpresent help in time of trouble and in this world we will have trouble whether we look for it or not. The word of God is often that help for me. When I read, my fears are calmed, I am strengthened in spirit, and my mind is refocused on the truth like a compass being set to north. I think that’s a right analogy. I’m not much of an orienteer.
I also love the picture of Kingsley. It’s a beautiful image of being secure in the arms of the Father.
I love your connections here, Brenda, from Scripture to the photo. You always teach me so much!
Carolyn, I read this post on my phone right after you posted it, and I am just now getting here to comment. I was so blessed! I love this type of context for appreciating Scripture. Thank you for sharing! And I am so impressed by your blogging while nursing a newborn and caring for three other young children!