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How does this psalm piece interpret the psalm?
We live in difficult times marked by fear and uncertainty as we face countless struggles in our homes, churches, and communities. For many of us, life seems harder now than ever. Often it feels like the ground underneath us is shaking.
The song “Trust in You” interprets and applies the words of Psalm 9:7–11, which speak of the Lord’s sovereignty over creation. It is worth noting that the image of the Lord’s throne recurs throughout the psalms. For example, the assurance of God’s sovereignty (specifically, God’s “throne”) is repeated in Psalms 45, 89, 93, and elsewhere.
Because this theme recurs throughout Psalms, this song gathers consolation from the many psalms that speak of God’s sovereignty. Verse 1 reminds that sovereignty is not a distant theological concept, but a reality that should inspire us to worship. Verse 2 depicts the expanse of creation to remind us, as Colossians 1 does, that there’s nothing outside of God’s control. The chorus speaks of our confidence in the Lord, who remains faithful even when everything around us feels unstable.
The song was composed during a time of discouragement, while one of the songwriter’s friends underwent brain surgery. In the years after, many other personal difficulties followed, ranging from unemployment to ovarian cancer. Yet through all of life’s sorrows and disappointments, the words of this song continue to comfort. While the words are simple and straightforward, during life’s greatest difficulties simple truths can bring untold comfort.
The song feels more relevant now than ever as we face immense health and economic crises around the globe. The hope is that this song will comfort listeners and guide believers to our ultimate source of hope: our sovereign Lord.
This song can be used in congregational worship to express trust in the Lord. It is especially fitting in a congregational setting after a scripture reading, a sermon about struggles, or hearing difficult news.
Text and Music: Psalm 9; Joel Jupp, © Joel Jupp
Carmen Imes has spent the past fifteen years immersed in the book of Exodus, writing about it for both her master’s thesis and her doctoral dissertation. In this lecture, Imes will share some of the most paradigm-shifting insights she’s had while reading Exodus through an Egyptian lens.
This panel considers the psalms as a source of artistic and theological engagement, exploring how musicians and songwriters draw from these ancient texts to navigate the emotional complexity of the human experience. Through diverse musical approaches and cultural perspectives, the panelists will consider how the psalms continue to resonate in modern contexts by offering language for lament and praise, shaping liturgical practice, and fostering resilience in both personal and communal experience.
“Deconstruction” is a popular term among young people who grew up in the Christian church. In this public lecture, Robert Chao Romero will consider the challenge of widespread deconstruction while offering a hopeful path forward. Expanding on Phyllis Tickle’s analogy of the church having a rummage sale of ideas every few centuries, Romero invites us to consider the contributions of Latina/o theology and the history of the Brown Church as valuable resources for reconstruction on the other side of deconstruction.
Carmen Imes has spent the past fifteen years immersed in the book of Exodus, writing about it for both her master’s thesis and her doctoral dissertation. In this lecture, Imes will share some of the most paradigm-shifting insights she’s had while reading Exodus through an Egyptian lens.
This panel considers the psalms as a source of artistic and theological engagement, exploring how musicians and songwriters draw from these ancient texts to navigate the emotional complexity of the human experience. Through diverse musical approaches and cultural perspectives, the panelists will consider how the psalms continue to resonate in modern contexts by offering language for lament and praise, shaping liturgical practice, and fostering resilience in both personal and communal experience.
“Deconstruction” is a popular term among young people who grew up in the Christian church. In this public lecture, Robert Chao Romero will consider the challenge of widespread deconstruction while offering a hopeful path forward. Expanding on Phyllis Tickle’s analogy of the church having a rummage sale of ideas every few centuries, Romero invites us to consider the contributions of Latina/o theology and the history of the Brown Church as valuable resources for reconstruction on the other side of deconstruction.
In this workshop, the McGrath family and Kiran Young Wimberly will discuss how spiritual practices, particularly singing the psalms, can build resilience in our lives. In a retreat-like experience, interwoven with psalms set to Celtic music, we will sing together as we reflect on what brings us joy, strength, and hope so we can flourish in the face of daily challenges.
