The Bible is not a book, is it a pharmacy?

James Cathcart September 08, 2026 6 3

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Psalm 84 (NIV-UK)

1 

How lovely is your dwelling-place,
    Lord Almighty!

2 

My soul yearns, even faints,
    for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
    for the living God.

3 

Even the sparrow has found a home,
    and the swallow a nest for herself,
    where she may have her young –
a place near your altar,
    Lord Almighty, my King and my God.

4 

Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
    they are ever praising you.

5 

Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
    whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.

6 

As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
    they make it a place of springs;
    the autumn rains also cover it with pools.

7 

They go from strength to strength,
    till each appears before God in Zion.

8 

Hear my prayer, Lord God Almighty;
    listen to me, God of Jacob.

9 

Look on our shield, O God;
    look with favour on your anointed one.

10 

Better is one day in your courts
    than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
    than dwell in the tents of the wicked.

11 

For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
    the Lord bestows favour and honour;
no good thing does he withhold
    from those whose way of life is blameless.

12 

Lord Almighty,
    blessed is the one who trusts in you.

The Bible is not a book. It’s a library that spans multiple genres, languages, cultures and perspectives. While all of the Bible contains insights about faith and life — some of it is much harder to read than other bits. Sometimes because of intense scenes, sometimes because of the density of the language, or obscure references, or a host of personal reasons. 

We Christians have often done a disservice to the Bible by suggesting every page is a universal, readily applied cure that can be indiscriminately used to treat any and every situation.

Imagine a pharmacist who stands on the street outside the pharmacy and tells you that you can get any cure you need inside. “Just go in” he says with a warm smile. “But I haven’t told you what’s wrong…” you mumble. He holds the door open and says sagely “It doesn’t matter, what you need is in there, just go and grab it.” He puts a hand gently on your shoulder and shoves you in.

So now you’re standing, on your own in this strange place. You have no idea where to start. The labels are full of long words you can’t make head nor tail of. There’s countless creams and ointments and pills and bottles and you just grab a box at random. You want to catch a word with the pharmacist on the street but he interrupts you, “See, the pharmacy is great isn’t it? It’s such a wonderful place. I go in all the time and always get exactly what I need.” You head home with a prescription you’ll never use, I mean where would you start?

Imagine how different it would be if the pharmacist had come in with you? If they pointed you to a helpful aisle? If they’d listened? If they said what shelves they go to themselves.

I am no medical professional but here’s a prescription for Psalm 84 to be taken for a week daily. It’s an ancient song expressing a deep desire to be close to God. The Psalms are an incredible archive of poetry, song and human emotion. Like a new album, the psalms benefit from repeated spins. Spend time with it. What does it tell you about God and your relationship with God when you read it every day for a week?

Prayer:

Dear God

Be with me

as I spin

Psalm 84 again and again

Amen.