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.
Here is today’s prayer, preceded by the text from the Contemporary English Version, copyright 1995, by the America Bible Society.
Our Lord, I will sing of your love forever. Everyone yet to be born will hear me praise your faithfulness. I will tell them, “God’s love can always be trusted, and his faithfulness lasts as long as the heavens.”
You said, “David, my servant, is my chosen one, and this is the agreement I made with him: David, one of your descendants will always be king.”
Our Lord, let the heavens now praise your miracles, and let all of your angels praise your faithfulness.
None who live in the heavens can compare with you. You are the most fearsome of all who live in heaven; all the others fear and greatly honor you. You are Lord God All-Powerful! No one is as loving and faithful as you are. You rule the roaring sea and calm its waves. You crushed the monster Rahab, and with your powerful arm, you scattered your enemies. The heavens and the earth belong to you. And so does the world with all its people because you created them and everything else.
Mount Tabor and Mount Hermon gladly praise you. You are strong and mighty! Your kingdom is ruled by justice and fairness with love and faithfulness leading the way.
Our Lord, you bless those who join in the festival and walk in the brightness of your presence. We are happy all day because of you, and your saving power brings honor to us. Your own glorious power makes us strong, and because of your kindness, our strength increases. Our Lord and our King, the Holy One of Israel, you are truly our shield.
In a vision, you once said to your faithful followers: “I have helped a mighty hero. I chose him from my people and made him famous. David, my servant, is the one I chose to be king, and I will always be there to help and strengthen him.
“No enemy will outsmart David, and he won’t be defeated by any hateful people. I will strike down and crush his troublesome enemies. He will always be able to depend on my love, and I will make him strong with my own power. I will let him rule the lands across the rivers and seas. He will say to me, ‘You are my Father and my God, as well as the mighty rock where I am safe.’
“I have chosen David as my first-born son, and he will be the ruler of all kings on earth. My love for him will last, and my agreement with him will never be broken.
“One of David’s descendants will always be king, and his family will rule until the sky disappears. Suppose some of his children should reject my Law and refuse my instructions. Or suppose they should disobey all of my teachings. Then I will correct and punish them because of their sins. But I will always love David and faithfully keep all of my promises to him.
“I won’t break my agreement or go back on my word. I have sworn once and for all by my own holy name, and I won’t lie to David. His family will always rule. I will let his kingdom last as long as the sun and moon
appear in the sky.”
You are now angry, God, and you have turned your back on your chosen king. You broke off your agreement with your servant, the king, and you completely destroyed his kingdom. The walls of his city have been broken through, and every fortress now lies in ruin. All who pass by take what they want, and nations everywhere joke about the king.
You made his enemies powerful and let them celebrate. But you forced him to retreat because you did not fight on his side. You took his crown and threw his throne in the dirt. You made an old man of him and put him to shame.
How much longer, Lord? Will you hide forever? How long will your anger keep burning like fire? Remember, life is short! Why did you empty our lives of all meaning? No one can escape the power of death and the grave.
Our Lord, where is the love you have always shown and that you promised so faithfully to David? Remember your servant, Lord! People make jokes about me, and I suffer many insults. I am your chosen one, but your enemies chase and make fun of me.
Our Lord, we praise you forever. Amen and amen
You are Lord God All-Powerful!
No one is as loving and faithful as you are.
Here is today’s prayer:
God. Abba. Father.
We will sing of your great love forever. Both today and for future generations. We will never cease to tell of your greatness, of your wonder, of your splendor. We marvel at your creation! No one is as loving and faithful as you are!
Thank you that your promises are true and just. Thank you for assuring the people of Israel that one of David’s sons will always occupy the throne in The Land. Thank you for choosing David to shepherd the people of Israel. His stories of humble beginnings, faithful service, and the ways you delivered him and sustained him are always encouraging to us. We echo his decrees: You are our Rock! We find shelter and safety in you, our Savior!”
There is none like you, oh God. You rule over the winds and the oceans, the heavens and the earth. After your love for your children, we thank you that righteousness and justice and love and truth are the things you value most. Blessed are your children who proclaim your praises. We are happy and filled with great joy. Your power sustains us, makes us strong and vibrant!
Thank you for being steadfast, our foundation. We cannot be moved when our roots are firmly planted deep in you. Somedays, we think you are silent. We look for you but cannot find you. Yet, we know that you are always with us. Even when you are quiet. You are in the creation all around us. We are reminded that you speak through your Word, which is always present. You have spoken since the Beginning. Your word remains active for Eternity.
So, we praise you’re your name. Forever!
Through Jesus!
Amen.
(c) 2021. Rich Ronald.
RichRonald.com 