Praying the Psalms: Thu, 06 Sep – Psalm 59 ~ deliver us

Praying the Psalms

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.
__________

Morning Reading: Psalm 59 (NLT)

Rescue me from my enemies, O God. Protect me from those who have come to destroy me. Rescue me from these criminals; save me from these murderers. They have set an ambush for me. Fierce enemies are out there waiting, Lord, though I have not sinned or offended them. I have done nothing wrong, yet they prepare to attack me. Wake up! See what is happening and help me! O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, wake up and punish those hostile nations. Show no mercy to wicked traitors. Interlude

They come out at night, snarling like vicious dogs as they prowl the streets. Listen to the filth that comes from their mouths; their words cut like swords. “After all, who can hear us?” they sneer. But Lord, you laugh at them. You scoff at all the hostile nations. You are my strength; I wait for you to rescue me, for you, O God, are my fortress. In his unfailing love, my God will stand with me. He will let me look down in triumph on all my enemies.

Don’t kill them, for my people soon forget such lessons; stagger them with your power, and bring them to their knees, O Lord our shield. Because of the sinful things they say, because of the evil that is on their lips, let them be captured by their pride, their curses, and their lies. Destroy them in your anger! Wipe them out completely! Then the whole world will know that God reigns in Israel. Interlude

My enemies come out at night, snarling like vicious dogs as they prowl the streets. They scavenge for food but go to sleep unsatisfied.

But as for me, I will sing about your power. Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love. For you have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress. O my Strength, to you I sing praises, for you, O God, are my refuge, the God who shows me unfailing love.
__________

Morning Prayer

O Lord our God: Deliver us from evil and the wiles and deceit of evil people. Civil discourse and debate has broken down and wicked people seek to destroy our duly elected president –

+ they hate him with a deadly hatred…
+ they hate him because he was elected…
+ they hate him with a furious rage…
+ they hate him with malignant slander…
+ they hate him with relentless effort…
+ they hate him with deceit and cunning…

O Lord our God: Raise up people of faith and goodwill who can move us forward as a nation and help us become one people under God –

+ restore our civil and moral order…
+ reconcile us in Christ, to you and one another…

O Lord our God: Your sovereign hand has brought us to “such a time as this.” Work your will through the chaos and wickedness of these times. And bring our nation to a place where “every knee shall bow and tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,” all to your glory. Amen.
__________

“Psalm 59” (Deliver Me) – Bob Carlisle

Deliver me Deliver me | Oh God, from my enemies
Deliver me Deliver me | Oh God, from my enemies

They lie in wait for my life
The mighty are gathered against me
Prowling the night just like dogs
All through the streets of the city
I am not guilty of sin
Lord, Look down from on high
And come to my defense

Deliver me Deliver me | Oh God, from my enemies
Deliver me Deliver me | Oh God, from my enemies

They speak with curses and lies
Plotting their evil against me
Let them be caught in their pride
In anger consume them completely
Lord, I am so overwhelmed
Bring them down to their knees
Arise to my help

Deliver me Deliver me | Oh God, from my enemies
Deliver me Deliver me | Oh God, from my enemies
__________

Blessing – (Northumbrian Community)

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, and protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
__________

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Praying the Psalms: Wed, 05 Sep – Psalm 58 ~ Justice—do you rulers know the meaning of the word?

Praying the Psalms

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening – (Northumbria Community)

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.
__________

Morning Reading: Psalm 58 (NLT)

Justice—do you rulers know the meaning of the word? Do you judge the people fairly? No! You plot injustice in your hearts. You spread violence throughout the land. These wicked people are born sinners; even from birth they have lied and gone their own way. They spit venom like deadly snakes; they are like cobras that refuse to listen, ignoring the tunes of the snake charmers, no matter how skillfully they play.

Break off their fangs, O God! Smash the jaws of these lions, O Lord! May they disappear like water into thirsty ground. Make their weapons useless in their hands. May they be like snails that dissolve into slime, like a stillborn child who will never see the sun. God will sweep them away, both young and old, faster than a pot heats over burning thorns.

The godly will rejoice when they see injustice avenged. They will wash their feet in the blood of the wicked. Then at last everyone will say, “There truly is a reward for those who live for God; surely there is a God who judges justly here on earth.”
__________

Morning Prayer

O Lord our God: The world watches as our rulers pervert justice and defame the character of a good man –

+ in their zeal for power, they have increased the evils of our society…
+ in their zeal for power, they have sowed confusion and wickedness throughout the land…
+ in their zeal for power, they have ignored the guilt of their friends and relentlessly persecuted their enemies…
+ in their zeal for power, they have hardened their hearts against all reason and rebuke…
+ in their zeal for power, they have exposed their own wickedness and the corruption of their own hearts…

O Lord our God: The world watches as our rulers pervert justice and defame the character of a good man –

+ for the good of our country, restrain these evil-doers and revoke their power to do injury…
+ for the sake of fairness, judge these evil-doers with righteousness in accordance with your perfect will…
+ for the sake of truth, expose the lies and deceit of these evil-doers and put them to public shame…

O Lord our God: You are the righteous Judge over all the earth. Insert yourself in the deliberations of our rulers concerning the confirmation of a good man as the next Supreme Court Justice. May good triumph over evil, may truth triumph over falsehood, and may justice be restored as intended in the founding documents of our country. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
__________

“Psalm 58” (Psalm 58) – Richard Bruxvoort Colligan

__________

Blessing – (Northumbrian Community)

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Praying the Psalms: Tue, 04 Sep – Psalm 57 ~ my heart is confident in you, O God

Praying the Psalms

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening – (Northumbria Community)

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.
__________

Morning Reading: Psalm 57 (NLT)

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy! I look to you for protection. I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings until the danger passes by. I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill his purpose for me. He will send help from heaven to rescue me, disgracing those who hound me.

My God will send forth his unfailing love and faithfulness.

I am surrounded by fierce lions who greedily devour human prey— whose teeth pierce like spears and arrows, and whose tongues cut like swords.

Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens! May your glory shine over all the earth.

My enemies have set a trap for me. I am weary from distress. They have dug a deep pit in my path, but they themselves have fallen into it.

My heart is confident in you, O God; my heart is confident. No wonder I can sing your praises! Wake up, my heart! Wake up, O lyre and harp! I will wake the dawn with my song. I will thank you, Lord, among all the people. I will sing your praises among the nations. For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens. May your glory shine over all the earth.
__________

Morning Prayer

O Lord our God: you are our shelter in times of danger, the One who rescues us in times of trouble.

Hear the cries of your people who fear for their lives –

+ wicked people use lies and deceit to destroy them…
+ peril and calamity press in from every side…
+ ways of escape have been cut off…
+ apart from you, they are helpless…

Hear the confidence of your people who fear for their lives –

+ they trust in your deliverance…
+ they seek your mercy and truth…
+ they cling to your promises…
+ they rely on your strength…

O Lord our God: our hearts burn within us for you are our God, our Savior. Receive our worship and praise, and display your glory over the whole earth. Use our afflictions to bring honor to your name, that all may acknowledge your Son, Jesus Christ, as Lord to your everlasting glory. Amen.
__________

“Psalm 57” (My heart is steadfast) – Melody and Truth

__________

Blessing – (Northumbrian Community)

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Praying the Psalms: Mon, 03 Sep – Psalm 56 ~ God have mercy on me

Praying the Psalms

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening – (Northumbria Community)

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.
__________

Morning Reading: Psalm 56 (NLT)

O God, have mercy on me, for people are hounding me. My foes attack me all day long. I am constantly hounded by those who slander me, and many are boldly attacking me. But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?

They are always twisting what I say; they spend their days plotting to harm me. They come together to spy on me—watching my every step, eager to kill me. Don’t let them get away with their wickedness; in your anger, O God, bring them down.

You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.

My enemies will retreat when I call to you for help. This I know: God is on my side! I praise God for what he has promised; yes, I praise the Lord for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?

I will fulfill my vows to you, O God, and will offer a sacrifice of thanks for your help. For you have rescued me from death; you have kept my feet from slipping. So now I can walk in your presence, O God, in your life-giving light.
__________

Morning Prayer

O Lord our God: Have mercy on us in our times trouble, fear, and anxiety –

+ Grant us a new awareness of your Loving-kindness…
+ Strengthen us in the power of your Holy Spirit…
+ Renew us by the transforming agency of your Truth…
+ Free us to love and serve you in the darkest of times…

O Lord our God: You are our ever-present help in times of trouble –

+ You fill us with faith over fear…
+ You fill us with peace and hope…
+ You fill us with courage to face our foes…
+ You fill us with resolve and perseverance…

O Lord our God: We thank you for the good work you have begun in us through faith in your Son, Jesus Christ. Use our present trials and tribulations to perfect our trust in him and to complete your good work in us. We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
__________

“Psalm 56” – Jason Coghill

__________

Blessing – (Northumbrian Community)

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Praying the Psalms: Sat, 01 Sep – Psalm 55 ~ Oh, that I had wings

Praying the Psalms

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening – (Northumbria Community)

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.
__________

Morning Reading: Psalm 55 (NLT)

Listen to my prayer, O God. Do not ignore my cry for help! Please listen and answer me, for I am overwhelmed by my troubles. My enemies shout at me, making loud and wicked threats. They bring trouble on me and angrily hunt me down.

My heart pounds in my chest. The terror of death assaults me. Fear and trembling overwhelm me, and I can’t stop shaking. Oh, that I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest! I would fly far away to the quiet of the wilderness.

How quickly I would escape—far from this wild storm of hatred.

Confuse them, Lord, and frustrate their plans, for I see violence and conflict in the city. Its walls are patrolled day and night against invaders, but the real danger is wickedness within the city. Everything is falling apart; threats and cheating are rampant in the streets.

It is not an enemy who taunts me—I could bear that. It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me—I could have hidden from them. Instead, it is you—my equal, my companion and close friend. What good fellowship we once enjoyed as we walked together to the house of God.

Let death stalk my enemies; let the grave swallow them alive, for evil makes its home within them.

But I will call on God, and the Lord will rescue me. Morning, noon, and night I cry out in my distress, and the Lord hears my voice. He ransoms me and keeps me safe from the battle waged against me, though many still oppose me. God, who has ruled forever, will hear me and humble them.

For my enemies refuse to change their ways; they do not fear God.

As for my companion, he betrayed his friends; he broke his promises. His words are as smooth as butter, but in his heart is war. His words are as soothing as lotion, but underneath are daggers!

Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.

But you, O God, will send the wicked down to the pit of destruction. Murderers and liars will die young, but I am trusting you to save me.
__________

Morning Prayer

O Lord our God: you have appointed a time and place and assigned responsibilities to each one of us – both great and small. Lighten our loads and lift our burdens, especially –

+ For those of us suffering great persecution and hardship…. Lord, have mercy.
+ For those of us experiencing division and disaffection…. Lord, have mercy.
+ For those of us experiencing private sorrows and pain…. Lord, have mercy.
+ For those of us experiencing betrayal and disappointment…. Lord, have mercy.

O Lord our God: we would escape into your loving arms if we could, but our times are in your hands. Hear our prayers and grant us the respite we require that we might trust completely in your loving-kindness and serve you whole-heartedly – we ask in Jesus’ name.
__________

“Psalm 55” – Lindsey James VanCleve