The story behind the song

For more commentary on this week's readings, see the Reflections on the Lectionary page, which includes Carney's current Living by the Word column as well as past magazine and blog content. For full-text access to all articles, subscribe to the Century.

The psalms are poignant. They bear emotion in a way that grabs our souls. They are comprehended by the heart in a way the head can’t.

But I falter when I try to preach them. Since I started preaching, I’ve kept the psalms at a distance. I’ve seen them used effectively in worship, but I’ve never been quite what to do with them homiletically.