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By William Van Zyl

Published in August 2024

‘Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls; All Your waves and billows have gone over me.’

What a stunning descriptive line! It encapsulates the most profound emotions. He calls from his deepest needs and troubled emotional place, raising a distress call. David seeks comfort and salvation from his deepest need and situation to the depth of the Great Provider. 

Are you interested in learning more about writing, or are you interested in developing your own writing?

Why not learn how King David wrote to develop an additional layer to your writing? Why not add an extra string to your writing bow? All writers have to shoot straight and accurately. Writing like King David of the Bible, particularly in the style of the Psalms, involves adopting a poetic, expressive, and profoundly spiritual approach. Some of the most amazing words ever written are found in the Psalms. How did David do it? In this very short article, I explore the different techniques and concepts. 

Here are some key elements to consider:

1. Use of Parallelism

• Definition: Parallelism is a common feature in Hebrew poetry where two or more lines express similar or contrasting ideas.
• Example:

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. / He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.” (Psalm 23:1-2)

• Application: Use parallel structure to reinforce ideas, contrasting concepts, or elaborate on a theme.

2. Express Deep Emotion

• David’s Style: David’s psalms are known for their deep emotional resonance, expressing joy, sorrow, fear, hope, and repentance.
• Example:

“O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.” (Psalm 6:1)

• Application: Pour out your emotions sincerely, whether it’s praise, lamentation, or supplication.

3. Invoke the Divine with Reverence

• David’s Style: David frequently addresses God directly, using titles that reflect God’s power, mercy, and majesty.
• Example:

“O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! Who hast set thy glory above the heavens.” (Psalm 8:1)

• Application: Address God with reverence and awe, using titles and descriptions highlighting His attributes.

4. Use Vivid Imagery and Metaphor

• David’s Style: David often uses nature and vivid imagery to convey his thoughts and feelings.
• Example:

“The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.” (Psalm 18:2)

• Application: Employ metaphor and imagery to create powerful, relatable expressions of faith and emotion.

5. Express Repentance and Humility

• David’s Style: David frequently acknowledges his sins and seeks God’s forgiveness with a contrite heart.
• Example:

“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.” (Psalm 51:1)

• Application: Write with humility, confessing weaknesses and seeking divine grace.

6. Incorporate Thanksgiving and Praise

• David’s Style: Many of David’s psalms are filled with thanksgiving and praise for God’s works and character.
• Example:

“I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” (Psalm 34:1)

• Application: Frequently express gratitude and praise, recounting God’s blessings and faithfulness.

7. Use Repetition for Emphasis

• David’s Style: Repetition of words or phrases is common in David’s writing to emphasise key points.
• Example:

“O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever.” (Psalm 136:1)

• Application: Repeat key phrases or ideas to reinforce their importance.

8. Structure with a Clear Focus

• David’s Style: David’s psalms often have a clear structure, moving from a problem to a plea to a resolution or praise.
• Example:

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1)

• Application: Build your writing with a purposeful flow, leading the reader through a spiritual journey.

9. Invoke the Covenant Relationship

• David’s Style: David often recalls God’s promises to His people, grounding his prayers in the covenant relationship.
• Example:

“Remember thy covenant; for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.” (Psalm 74:20)

• Application: Refer to divine promises or covenants to strengthen the spiritual basis of your writing.

10. End with Confidence in God

• David’s Style: Even in Psalms of lament, David often concludes with a reaffirmation of trust in God.
• Example:

“Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.” (Psalm 27:14)

• Application: Conclude your writings on a note of faith, trust, or hope in God’s ultimate plan.

Sample of Psalms Inspired by David:

O Lord, my refuge and my strength, / In thee do I find my peace. / Though my foes surround me like a flood, / Thou art my shield and fortress.

The winds howl, and the waves rise high, / But Thou, O God, dost calm the storm. / Thy hand upholds me in the deep, / Thy mercy is my anchor sure.

Forgive me, O Lord, for my wayward heart, / Cleanse me from my secret faults. / Renew a right spirit within me, / And lead me in paths of righteousness.

I will praise Thee all the days of my life, / For Thy goodness endures forever. / Thou art my rock, my deliverer, / In Thee, O Lord, will I trust.

Writing in this style invites deep reflection and connection with God, Jehovah, drawing on the rich traditions of biblical poetry.

Copyright © 2024 by William Van Zyl

The Writing Skills of a  King.

All rights reserved. This eBook/article or any portion

thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner

without the publisher’s permission, except for using brief quotations in a book review.

Published by Five House Publishing in August 2024.

More eBooks and articles are available at https://fivehousepublishing.com/

More about the author at http://williamvanzyl.com/

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