Before we begin to pray this encouraging Psalm, let's take a few minutes to look at some heart-swelling truths to focus our minds on Christ during trouble. In verse 1 in the NKJV, David pens, "May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble; May the name of the God of Jacob defend you;" If you read this passage and see the phrase "day of trouble," you may think that it is referring to one great big, terrible day, like a natural disaster. But, in the original language, this word day can mean a time period, which could even be a year, or a long period of time. You may be walking through a difficult trial without end in sight. During this wilderness, the promises in Psalm 20 about the character of God and his heart towards his people apply to you through your entire difficult journey. The NASB does a vivid job translating verse one in this way, "May the name of the God of Jacob set you securely on high." The Hebrew literally means that the believer is, "elevated so unassailably safe, beyond the reach of attackers; (figuratively) to enjoy maximum safety and security because inaccessible, i.e. removed from danger when the approach is (literally) too steep o climb; unassailable stronghold, lofty refuge." (Discovery Bible Software.)
Praying the Psalms~ Psalm 11
If the foundations are destroyed, what are the righteous to do? Here is a verse from Psalm 11 that is famously quoted over and over of late. This Psalm seems to speak to a time and a people who feel like their society is falling apart. There is no apparent place to go, except, "Run …
Praying the Psalms~ Psalm 9 Approaching Our Mighty and Personal God!
When we pray, what are we doing? Are we performing a religious activity? Are we doing something for ourselves to clear our minds and work things out? Is it like meditation? Is it chanting? When we pray, we are talking with, listening to and receiving from our very personal God, the creator of the universe. …
Continue reading "Praying the Psalms~ Psalm 9 Approaching Our Mighty and Personal God!"
Praying the Psalms~ Psalm 8 Praise!
Whew! When praying through the Psalms, I find them coming a little too close to home. Often we think of going to the Psalms for an uplifting read in God's Word, but many of them are gut-wrenching reminders about our frail human condition and our need for constant prayer without ceasing. However, we get a …