U2's Bono Shares the Biggest Thing He Learned About God And Himself After Reading the Psalms

Bono
U2 frontman Bono has shared the main thing he learned about God after diving into the Psalms  YouTube

U2 frontman Bono has said that through reading the Psalms, he's discovered that God listens - but man does not listen enough.

In a recent video series with David Taylor, a theology and culture professor at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, the Irish rocker was asked to identify the one thing he's learned about God while reading the Psalms.

"He listens," Bono said .

When asked what he learned about himself through the Psalms, the "Vertigo" singer admitted, "I don't listen enough." He added that the most "troubling and difficult" thing the Psalms required of him was "honesty".

Bono further discussed the importance of listening in the fourth installment with Taylor, encouraging pastors to "look for the drawing in the sand", referring to John 8:1-11.

"I say this because it's my own aspiration to listen more, to be silent more. To both draw in the sand more and to look for the drawing in the sand more," he said.

"I don't know why we don't know what Jesus wrote in the sand. It's telling that we don't know. The privacy of that moment is sort of rich. In a world where there is no privacy, that's rich moment."

Watch the rest of Bono's interview with David Taylor here

The singer also said that he believes all art is by nature "prophetic," and "if the job of the prophet is to describe the state of the soul, the soul of the city, if we want to know what's really going on ... you've got to really go look at the art."

"Go look at the art, go look at the graffiti, go listen to the hip-hop coming out of the ghetto blasters [boomboxes]. Some of it is strong stuff but it's honest. It's reflecting the real state of the soul."

Bono further mentioned that he only just started to realize "the only real problem that God can't deal with is the problem you don't know you have or if you're lying to cover up."

Even when art is made for the most of flippant reasons, Bono added, it's "revelatory" in that is gives pastors a window into what their congregation feels.

The rock 'n' roll singer has become increasingly open about his faith in recent years, and in a 2013 interview with Focus on the Family, he revealed that the Psalms influence U2's music.

"First of all, David's a musician, so I'm gonna like him," Bono said of the author of the Psalms. "And what's so powerful about the Psalms are, as well as their being Gospel and songs of praise, they are also the Blues. It's very important for Christians to be honest with God, which often, you know, God is much more interested in who you are than who you want to be."

ChristianityToday notes that multiple U2 songs do, in fact, reference the Psalms: "Gloria," "With a Shout," "Magnificent," and, most famously, "40," which refers to Psalm 40.

    Most Popular
  • Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Faith-based films often receive mixed reactions, and The Last Supper is no exception. The movie attempts to bring a fresh perspective to one of the most iconic moments in Christian history, but does it succeed? Some reviews from critics and audiences provide insight into its strengths and shortcomings.

  • ‘The Chosen’ Season 5: The darkest season yet—What to know before watching

    The wait is over—The Chosen is back with its fifth season, and this time, things are getting intense. The new episodes dive straight into the final days of Jesus’ life, covering some of the most emotional and dramatic moments in the Bible. If you’ve been following the series, you already know that The Chosen isn’t just about retelling familiar stories—it’s about bringing them to life in a way that feels real.

  • Massacres in Syria: Over 1,000 dead, including Christians and Alawites

    Syria’s coastal regions have been devastated by a series of massacres, with reports indicating that over 1,000 people—many from Christian and Alawite communities—have been killed in brutal attacks. Entire families have been wiped out, and survivors are fleeing in search of safety as sectarian violence escalates.

  • Kim Sae-ron and Wheesung: The tragic irony of Korean society and the principles of happiness

    Not long ago, the media was in an uproar over actress Kim Sae-ron’s passing. Just months before, the same people who had relentlessly criticized her for her DUI incident were now expressing sympathy, saying, "The world was too harsh on her." The irony is impossible to ignore.

  • Newsboys move forward as a quartet after Michael Tait’s departure

    After more than a decade as the lead singer of the Newsboys, Michael Tait has officially parted ways with the band, marking a significant shift in the Christian rock group’s lineup. The remaining members—Jeff Frankenstein, Jody Davis, Duncan Phillips, and Adam Agee—have assured fans that they will continue forward, embracing a new season of music and ministry.