Psalm 59

ARTIST STATEMENT:

Betsy Weldy

David found himself in a scary, troubling and seemingly hopeless time as Saul relentlessly pursued to kill him. The initial verses of the Psalm depict David's acute awareness of the evil that surrounded him as he describes his enemies and asks the Lord to protect and deliver him from “bloodthirsty men.” However, amidst the shadows of despair, David remembers the unwavering love and strength of the Lord and turns his gaze upward in his hour of need. 

In this piece, my aim was to visually communicate the Lord's salvation amidst the shadows and tumult of life's trials. I utilized an outer canvas, painted black, to unveil a luminous and tranquil landscape beneath—a representation of God's love and favor breaking through the darkness.

I hope that viewers will engage with this piece on multiple levels, encouraging them to contemplate not only the biblical narrative of David's deliverance but also to draw parallels with other scriptural motifs such as the miraculous parting of the Red Sea, the symbolism of traversing the Valley of the Shadow of Death (as articulated in Psalm 23), or the profound moment of the temple veil tearing at the crucifixion of Christ.

Ultimately, I hope this art serves as a reminder that God is willing and able to rescue us through our dark circumstances and we can find confidence in the steadfast love and strength of the Lord no matter what lies before us.

*Fun fact- the world's blackest paint was used in the making of this art.