Rev Dr Keith Beech-Gruneberg,
director of local ministry training, Diocese of Oxford

I’m currently teaching a course on the Psalms.

These ancient poems and hymns are for many Christians a favourite part of what we call the Old Testament, because so often they enable us to express what we want to say.

And that is because they are both unashamedly realistic and unashamedly full of faith.

The Psalms don’t pretend that everything is OK with the world.

The Psalms are honest that things can be difficult and that God doesn’t seem to be helping.

Psalm 10 complains that the wicked are doing very well because of their persecution of the poor. It; the psalm asks God why he is keeping at a distance and tells him in no uncertain terms that he should get up and do something about the problems.

Psalm 102, to give another example, is the prayer of someone who is so distraught that they can barely eat and lie awake at night and wonder why God is angry with them.

So I think the Psalms encourage us to be honest too, with one another, and in our prayers and worship.

We may have learned that in England the polite answer to "how are you?’ is ‘I’m OK, thank you,’ but sometimes we need to be able to say that we’re struggling.

We may have picked up the idea that we should only say nice things about God, but maybe sometimes we need to say that God doesn’t seem to be helping the situation.

But coupled with their realism and honesty, the psalms are also full of faith.

However bewildered or angry they get, they never quite let go of God.

Sometimes it seems that as the difficult situation is taken to God in prayer, faith is renewed.

Sometimes it seems that as God is praised and worshipped, the problem comes to mind and comes to dominate what is said.

And sometimes the prayer goes backwards and forwards between God and the problem several times.

But no matter how bad things seem, the psalms never give up on the idea that God is there, does care and will make a difference.

And of course many Psalms enable us to express a sure faith, full of trust and praise and worship.

Psalm 23 is a good example as it confidently says ‘The Lord is my shepherd’ who guides me, leads me, protects me and will continue to do so for ever.

But even this Psalm doesn’t deny that we may go through tough times, walking through dark valleys, which is why it’s so appropriate for funerals – faith is often strong because it has been tested rather than because everything has been easy.

The Psalms are so rich there’s much more I could say.

But As I write this in the run up to a General Election there’s one thing that leaps out at me.

That is that the Psalms are clear that humans in general and human leaders in particular have a real authority over society and creation.

But this is exercised on behalf of God – he remains sovereign.

So we should be looking for leaders who will act responsibly, justly, compassionately and for the good of all, governing as God would do.