Sing Into Your Storm

The Shiggaion song

“stirred zeal – mighty justice ”

here is a type of Psalm ( song ) in the Bible that is fervent and tenacious. It is a kind of plea unto the Lord. It is only found twice in the Word - in Psalms 7 and Habakkuk 3. You might be familiar with some of the different types of structured Psalms like a “ maskil ” (a skillful Psalm of wisdom or instruction) or perhaps a “ mikhtam ” (precious and impacting like engraved gold). But this other type or fashion of Psalm is called a “ shiggaion ” (pronounced sha-guy-yawn), and it means a “wild, mournful ode” or to “reel back and forth or stagger violently with de ep emotional duress or passion.” It represents the deepest, heartfelt emotional cry ( song ) unto the Lord, pleading for justice or breakthrough. In the case of Psalm 7 it is the worshipful anguish from David unto the Lord on behalf of some great injustice that was done to him at the hands of Cush the Benjamite (as well as others). A “ shiggaion ” could well be called “ The Song of the Slandered Saint ” as Charles Spurgeon calls it. Every Christian will encounter the pain and suffering of slander and personal attack (accusation) at some time in their Christian walk, which can produce deep emotional trauma - it is inevitable! David opens up Psalms 7 by lifting up his “ shiggaion ” (worshipful plea) unto the Lord against his accuser who has charged him with treason and treachery before King Saul

193