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Reasons to Hope: From Shepherd to Songwriter, Everyone’s Looking for Songs of Hope

Photo: Priscilla du Preez

Filming Our Story Our Song, I asked MAYLYN which Biblical character she identified with the most. She chose David, for his love of music, for his songwriting: “I’ve always found it fascinating that in the Bible they included that he was a really talented musician, and actually, he was pretty well known. Before any of the stuff we know David for, he was known for being an awesome musician.”

That made me think about how I know King David. Do I know the shepherd boy singing to the universe, or the warrior youth slinging enough hope to stop a giant in his tracks, or the commander of God’s formidable army, the fugitive on the run from a king, or the King of Israel himself. Or do I know the songwriter who penned songs as deep as prophecy, songs that would outlive him and find their way to the cross:  

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest. Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast. From birth I was cast on you; from my mother’s womb you have been my God. Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.

Psalm 22: 1-2, 9-11

Isn’t it fascinating that David’s introduction to King Saul, the man whose life would make possible David’s own heroic journey in a myriad of mysterious and confounding ways, was as a musician? He was summoned to ward off the king’s bad dreams with his music. 1 Samuel 16 has the story: “One of the servants answered, ‘I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the LORD is with him.’” When the dark spirits would torment Saul, he would find relief in David’s song. 

The power of music to bring hope in times of despair is as old as we are. It’s a gift given by God to his creation, a humble way to co-create with our Maker as we offer songs of praise, lament, and hope. 

This week, we look to music again to buoy us, to carry us, to give voice to our joy and to our sorrow. In writing our own Book of Hope, let’s consider what kind of Psalm we would write today. If you’ve never written a song before, don’t be afraid. You just open up and pour out your heart. 

To inspire your own songwriting this week, we’ve built a playlist of Reasons to Hope on Spotify

This week, catch MAYLYN live on Instagram, Monday at 3pm ET talking about what’s giving her Reasons to Hope. Join the conversation and leave your #reasonstohope in the comments. We love hearing from you! 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CMKK8AdMONE/

Writing the Book of Hope 

If you’re just now joining us in writing the Book of Hope, welcome! Here’s all you need to know to get started.

Highlights from earlier weeks:

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