The Killers and Psalm 69

Some of you may know the song, "All These Things I've Done" by the Killers. More of you know the bridge, "I've got soul, but I'm not a soldier"

There are alot of different opinions on the meanings of the lyrics. "Lyric debates" were around even before we were trying to figure out if Paul was the Walrus. So, I am not going to say, "I know what he means" but I can say some of the lyrics of this song cause me to think. Lines like, "When there is no where else to run, is there room for one more son?" They also cause me to look to the Psalms. Lines like, "Help me out, yeah you gotta help me out" etc.

There is alot of angst in these lyrics. Angst. It is a tension, an intense feeling of emotional strife. I see and hear angst in many twenty somethings, and thirtysomethings and fiftysomethings. So as I listened to this song today on the way to school with my daughter, and as we talked about it, I thought, "I got soul. Am I a soldier?" I mean, can you have angst, and be a soldier? Are we capable of pressing on and not freezing up? The psalmist in Psalm 69 says, "Yes!"

The first 12 verses of Psalm 69 are the most pathetic description of a life. Miry depths, floods engulfing, enemies, scorn etc. Angst. Then he makes a declaration, "Zeal for Your house consumes me!" That is soldier language. He prays, "Answer me O Lord!" He prays that God would pour out His wrath on His enemies and he prays for protection. That is soldier language.

It is a wonderful Psalm to meditate on and pray through. I want to encourage you if you have angst tonight. You got soul and you are a soldier. Listen to The Killers, go to the Psalms, go to the Lord. He is Captain of the host and protector of your soul. And The Killers remind us,

"Over and in, last call for sin;
While everyone's lost, the battle is won,
All these things I've done."