We’re reading through, and with intentionality, praying through the Psalms during this school year. There are 150 Psalms, divided into 180 different readings. See this post for more info.
We are temporarily suspending the audio portion of this study via the RichlySpeaking podcast. Here is today’s prayer, preceded by the text from the Contemporary English Version, copyright 1995, by the America Bible Society.
Our God, don’t just sit there,
silently doing nothing!
Your hateful enemies
are turning against you
and rebelling.
They are sly, and they plot
against those you treasure.
They say, “Let’s wipe out
the nation of Israel
and make sure that no one
remembers its name!”
All of them fully agree
in their plans against you,
and among them are
Edom and the Ishmaelites;
Moab and the Hagrites;
Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek;
Philistia and Phoenicia.
Even Assyria has joined forces
with Moab and Ammon.
Our Lord, punish all of them
as you punished Midian.
Destroy them, as you destroyed
Sisera and Jabin
at Kishon Creek near Endor,
and let their bodies rot.
Treat their leaders as you did
Oreb and Zeeb,
Zebah and Zalmunna.
All of them said, “We’ll take
God’s valuable land!”
Our God, scatter them around
like dust in a whirlwind.
Just as flames destroy forests
on the mountains,
pursue and terrify them
with storms of your own.
Make them blush with shame,
until they turn and worship
you, our Lord.
Let them be forever ashamed
and confused.
Let them die in disgrace.
Make them realize that you
are the Lord Most High,
the only ruler of earth!
Here is today’s prayer:
Psalm 83.
God, Abba, Father.
You are the Most High God. You are the only ruler on earth. You alone are worthy. From the highest mountain top of Everest to the Dead Sea in the Zin Wilderness, the lowest place on earth, or to the depths of the cavernous ocean, you are worthy to be praised. We bless your name!
Lord, we thank you for our salvation and pray for those who do not worship you. Send your Holy Spirit to chase them down, to bring them to their knees before you. May we all bow in holy reverence for who you are and what you have done. You make the way straight. You make the rocky paths smooth. You part the waters that would easily engulf us. When we find ourselves suffocating by the weight of stress and anxiety, you remove our burdens and give us the fresh air of your compassion and love.
We thank you for the stories of old, the examples of those who chose to rebel against you. May we learn from them. We thank you that since those days, however, you have given us grace. Yes, through your son, Jesus, you have shown us the one way. You are the only truth. You are the abundant and eternal life for all men and all women.
We need you. Hear our prayers. Please, don’t be silent. Defend us as we pursue your revelation. And we pray for the peace of your children in Israel. Confuse those who would choose to bring havoc on the Promised Land of your people. Strengthen those who follow as you lead. Give us all courage and hope for tomorrow.
In the name of our Messiah, Jesus, we pray.
Amen.
(c) 2020. Rich Ronald.
RichRonald.com 