Use of Davidic Psalms Is an Effective Way to Counsel Military Personnel with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Abstract

Counseling is part of a pastor’s call. He is to rightly divide law and gospel to nurture and sustain God’s people in the one true faith. Not all counseling is the same. Sometimes trauma is involved and affects people in negative ways. This counseling can be done with any appropriate portion of Scripture. Not every counselee will have the same story. Their fears, cares, and concerns will most likely be different. There are pastors in WELS churches who are counseling men and women in the military. Research included surveys that were sent to these pastors. Their responses will remain anonymous. The military section of society is unique. They may be taken for granted. Few seem to take the time to consider what warfare can do to a person. Soldiers may relate to King David. He endured combat, a whole lifetime of traumatic episodes. Every soldier who deploys comes back home with some ill effects of the war zone engrained on his memories and minds, some who are diagnosed or will be diagnosed with disorders. The purpose of this thesis is to recognize challenges associated with counseling military personnel, and to propose a counseling model using David’s psalms.