Tag: Psalms

Links for today’s readings:

Feb 3  Read: Job 36 Listen: (3:04) Read: Psalms 20-21 Listen: (2:37)

Reflection: Boldly Asked and Answered Prayers

By John Tillman

Psalm 20 and 21 mirror each other. The poetic pairing includes the people’s intercessory prayer for the king going out to battle and the king’s prayer of praise to God when returning from battle. 

The requests in Psalm 20 are answered and celebrated in Psalm 21. We hear proclamations of faith in Psalm 20 and hear testimonies of God’s faithful provision in Psalm 21.

The people ask the Lord to answer, giving the king what he desires. (Ps 20.1, 4) The king praises God for granting his desire and hearing the prayer of his lips. (Ps 21.2)

The people proclaim that the Lord will give his anointed victory. (Ps 20.6, 9) The king joyfully praises the victory given by God. (Ps 21.1, 5)

The people proclaim that they trust in the Lord for victory, not in the king’s chariots or horses. (Ps 20.7) The king rejoices that victory came, not through his strength or armaments, but through the Lord’s strength. (Ps 21.1, 8-9)

These boldly asked and answered requests can inspire our prayers, but there is a difference between boldness and brashness. There are several keys to these bold prayers.

These prayers focus on God’s nature. God is our savior, provider, and the one who fights all the battles that matter. We can boldly appeal to God’s nature.

These prayers recall God’s promises. God’s promises to his children are sure, and we can boldly pursue them in prayer.

These prayers request God’s power for God’s purposes. These are not self-focused trivialities but God-focused priorities. We can boldly ask God to grant his power to accomplish the purposes he calls us to.

These prayers embrace confession and humility. The king does not ride out to war in pride or self-righteousness. He rides out smelling of sacrifices and burnt offerings after confessing his and the nation’s sins and throwing his hopes on God’s mercy. We do not pray boldly based on our merit, but on the merit of Jesus.

Kings and priests were anointed with oil, symbolically pointing forward to Jesus, the ultimate anointed one. The gospel is the announcement of Jesus’ victory, which is for us and all who respond to the gospel. We are Jesus’ “anointed ones,” and he anoints us with the Holy Spirit.

Let us pray boldly, confessing our sins and our nation’s sins, sacrificing self-sufficiency, calling on God’s promises, and raising up a banner to call all people to join us in repentance and victory.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Greeting

I put my trust in your mercy; my heart is joyful because of your saving help. — Psalm 13.5

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Horses of Flesh or Spirit

What crises send you looking for an Egypt to save you? What principles have you sacrificed to practicality?

Horses of Flesh or Spirit

Read more: Praying for Rain

Elijah and James encourage us to keep planting seeds of truth in a drought and pray for rain.  Watch for clouds…that show that God’s Spirit is moving

Praying for Rain

Links for today’s readings:

Jan 30  Read: Job 32 Listen: (2:12) Read: Psalms 15-16 Listen: (2:03)

Links for this weekend’s readings:

Jan 31  Read: Job 33 Listen (3:00) Read: Psalm 17 Listen: (1:58)
Feb 1  Read: Job 34 Listen: (3:26) Read: Psalm 18 Listen: (5:47)

Scripture Focus: Psalm 16.9-11

Reflection: Mortality and the Path of Life

By John Tillman

The “Colbert Questionert” is a recurring segment on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Some questions are light and some weighty. One weightier question is “What do you think happens when we die?”

Guest’s answers are a mismatched pastiche of mostly vague scientific, philosophical, or theological takes. Ryan Gosling answered, “We wake up.” Keanu Reeves said, “The ones who love us will miss us.”

Modern westerners might be the most death-avoidant culture in the world. If we aren’t fully in denial about dying, we employ endless tactics to delay discussing, thinking about, or preparing for it. But death is an undeniable reality of our existence. We need more than a quick questionnaire. We need meditation and lament.

If you pull verse six out of psalm 16, it sounds like a simple praise for happy, peaceful blessings. “The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.” (v. 6) But the opening line and the closing section of the psalm make clear that the psalmist has suffering, danger, and death on the brain. It’s a lament disguised in the clothes of praise.

Praise in the midst of suffering, persecution, or death is often found in lament. Federico Villanueva, in the Asia Bible Commentary Series says, “Confidence or trust in God arises out of lament,” and “It is in the context of lament that the opportunity to trust in God best presents itself.”

Meditating on mortality is not morbid. It brings wisdom, inspiration, and energy for today. Remember, we will die. Remember also, that in Christ, we will live again and evermore.

While considering death, the psalmist’s lament provides an opportunity to trust God and praise him. Taking the “Colbert Questionert,” the psalmist might say, “God will keep me safe. He will not abandon me to death’s decay. A path of life is open for me and on that path I will find joy and pleasures for eternity in God’s presence.” (v. 9-11)

There is only one path to life and Jesus is its pioneer. (Hebrews 2.9-11; 12.1-3) He makes it known to us and asks us to make it known to others. Many paths may lead to Jesus, but no path leads to life unless it first comes through him. (John 14.6-12) Ask others to join you on this path. Share with them the delightful inheritance we have by adoption into the family of Jesus. Their path of life could start today.

Divine Hours Prayer: A Reading

Jesus taught them saying: “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me! Let anyone who believes in me, come and drink! As scripture says, ‘From his heart shall flow streams of living water.’” He was speaking of the Spirit which those who believed in him were to receive; for there was no Spirit as yet because Jesus had not yet been glorified. — John 7.38-39

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Our Delightful Inheritance

With headlines that remind us of all that we lack, do we see God as our all?

Our Delightful Inheritance

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Links for today’s readings:

Jan 29  Read: Job 31 Listen:(4:16) Read: Psalms 13-14 Listen: (1:43)

Scripture Focus: Psalm 14.2-3

Reflection: We Need Renewal — Worldwide Prayer

By John Tillman

In Psalm 14 we see a picture of a searching God. He is searching, looking, hoping to see someone, anyone who is searching and looking for him. No one is. All have turned away to something else.

Sometimes when we read in the scriptures that there is no one who does good, we fool ourselves by thinking we are the exception. But God is clear. We are all corrupted and broken.  

The scripture says we do not seek God, but instead have turned away to corruption. That corruption is the reason there is no one who does good—even the good we do is corrupted. 

Each one of us desperately needs the renewal and redemption entreated by both the above Psalm and the prayer below.

A prayer for renewal from the USA:

Father, 

We praise you for your Son who broke into history and through his life, crucifixion, and resurrection enables us to break out of our fallenness. We rejoice in the gift of His Spirit who leads us into abundant and eternal life.

Please forgive our failures in thought, speech, and action, those we omit as well as those we commit. We ask that you bring refreshment, revival, and renewal to your Church. Please visit the world again and again with awakenings by your Spirit that will sweep humanity into your Kingdom and bring greater justice and mercy into our homes, communities, and nations.

May our worship, witness, and work be prompted and empowered by the Spirit of Jesus. Grant that our assemblies and quiet moments be avenues of praise to the Triune God and guidance and power to God’s people in this our day of opportunity. We draw near to you and listen for the words of comfort and challenge that you know we need.

Source: Prayer from Hallowed be Your Name: A collection of prayers from around the world, Dr. Tony Cupit, Editor.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. — Matthew 5.6

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Ache for Renewal

It is good for us to work…grow…or upgrade…But there is a danger of enacting a secular (and selfish) ritual of self-improvement.

Ache for Renewal

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Links for today’s readings:

Dec 31   Read: 2 Chronicles 36 Listen: (4:26) Read: Psalms 149-150 Listen: (1:36)

Jan 1  Read: Job 1 Listen: (3:38) Read: John 1 Listen: (6:18)

Scripture Focus: Psalm 150

1 Praise the Lord.

Praise God in his sanctuary;
    praise him in his mighty heavens.
2 Praise him for his acts of power;
    praise him for his surpassing greatness.
3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
    praise him with the harp and lyre,
4 praise him with timbrel and dancing,
    praise him with the strings and pipe,
5 praise him with the clash of cymbals,
    praise him with resounding cymbals.

6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord.

Reflection: Reflection on a Year Gone By

By Erin Newton

In many places on New Year’s Day (or Eve), we sing “Auld Lang Syne,” a Scottish song that celebrates the practice of remembering those who have been in our lives for a long time.  

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne?

And who has been in our lives as long as God? Like the changing of seasons, this last day of the year allows us time to reflect, meditate, and continue the Advent practice of remembering what God has done—not only the birth of Christ but his daily caring of our lives.  

As we gather in our homes or with friends and family, we celebrate milestones. We look back at the accomplishments and hardships we’ve overcome. We remember the difficult times and those we have lost. We grieve the plans that did not turn out the way we wanted. We thank God for the plans that did.

Reflection can be a spiritual practice. The Bible instructs his people to tell of the great deeds of history to each generation. The whole concept of the gospel is telling good news to others. You remember. You relive. You root yourself in what God had done.

Just as the book of Psalms ends with a call to praise God, we too should note how he has carried us through this year, enabled our perseverance, granted us blessings, answered prayers, and steadied our doubting hearts.

Unlike the end of a book, we are simply turning the page to a new chapter. God will continue to be with us in the next challenges and the next victories. Not much of the future can be foretold with certainty but one thing is: God is with us. And that is worthy of praise.

Along with making goals and affirmations for the new year, let us reflect on…

   – A time this year that God brought you joy.
   – A time this year that God gave you peace.
   – A time this year that God calmed your sorrows.
   – A time that solidified what you believe.
   – A time when God helped you endure.
   – A verse that steadied your heart.
   – A hymn that brought you comfort.
   – A truth that changed you.
   – A person you prayed for.

May we begin the new year with hope in our Lord who has, and will be, a firm foundation.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer

I will call upon God, and the Lord will deliver me.

In the evening, in the morning, and at noonday, I will complain and lament, and he will hear my voice.

He will bring me safely back…God who is enthroned of old, will hear me. — Psalm 55.17

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.

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