David—A Genuine Heart
Canvas: 20” x 30”
Time: Approx. 3 hours
Cost: $1,500
Artist Statement
And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. —1st Samuel 30:6 (KJV)
Doug and Jim co-preached the message that morning on David’s response to trauma of Saul kidnapping all the wives and children of the village. Jim quoted Miroslav Volf, “Rage belongs before God. It’s the only safe place for it.” This is what David did, he poured out his raw emotion to God; it was an act of trust and authenticity that allowed him to be strengthened by God. Jim revealed during the message his tendency to be passive, to hold it in and fake being “fine.”That is my tendency as well. So this painting was cathartic for me, each brushstroke a shout. Before the service had started, as Doug briefed us, an image came to mind of David flashing hot with rage, sadness and joy simultaneously. How was this going to work?! I tried to show a progression from (1) psalm of lament to (2) psalm of rage to (3) psalm of praise. I’ve gone through such a cycle in my own work of healing from trauma and, mysteriously, I now cherish those traumatic events since they opened the door to amazing growth. Then, we were asked to write down our own psalm of distress and express it to God. (I wasn’t sure how to paint the background, so I myself was a bit distressed at that moment!) But just then, Psalm 103 was read aloud--”Praise the LORD...who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion.” And I saw the clouds forming a crown over David’s head--foreshadowing Christ calling out to the Father on the cross. Just then, Jim picked up the guitar and praised passionately, a wave of joy burst out of me and my brushes seemed to dance across the canvas by themselves to finish the painting. And we all praised God together!