Psalm 50 Prayer

Mighty One, God, the Lord, speak and summon your people, your Church to a place of consecration.  You will not be silent; a fire is around you; a tempest rages.  The heavens proclaim your righteousness, for you are a God of justice.  May your Church confess its sins and sacrifice her worldly comforts in order to be your hands and feet in the world.  May your people confess their sins and purify their hearts so they can be more faithful and fruitful in their local ministry settings.  Help us to fulfill our vows to you and to call on you in the day of trouble, for you will deliver us.   To the evil in our culture - in government, in business, in education, in media, in arts & entertainment, in the family, and in the Church - we call Light to expose the deception, corruption, wickedness, and darkness of those places.  We pray that men and women who are not aligned with the God of the Universe would be convicted of their sins and turn from their evil ways so they do not promote darkness and evil.  We pray that the Light of Christ would shine into formerly dark hearts, minds, and spirits, so that our culture can be turned toward God.  May we be blameless so you can show your salvation.  In the strong name of Christ we pray, Amen. 

Psalm 50

1 The Mighty One, God, the Lord,

    speaks and summons the earth

    from the rising of the sun to where it sets.

2 From Zion, perfect in beauty,

    God shines forth.

3 Our God comes

    and will not be silent;

a fire devours before him,

    and around him a tempest rages.

4 He summons the heavens above,

    and the earth, that he may judge his people:

5 “Gather to me this consecrated people,

    who made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”

6 And the heavens proclaim his righteousness,

    for he is a God of justice.

 

7 “Listen, my people, and I will speak;

    I will testify against you, Israel:

    I am God, your God.

8 I bring no charges against you concerning your sacrifices

    or concerning your burnt offerings, which are ever before me.

9 I have no need of a bull from your stall

    or of goats from your pens,

10 for every animal of the forest is mine,

    and the cattle on a thousand hills.

11 I know every bird in the mountains,

    and the insects in the fields are mine.

12 If I were hungry I would not tell you,

    for the world is mine, and all that is in it.

13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls

    or drink the blood of goats?

 

14 “Sacrifice thank offerings to God,

    fulfill your vows to the Most High,

15 and call on me in the day of trouble;

    I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”

 

16 But to the wicked person, God says:

 

“What right have you to recite my laws

    or take my covenant on your lips?

17 You hate my instruction

    and cast my words behind you.

18 When you see a thief, you join with him;

    you throw in your lot with adulterers.

19 You use your mouth for evil

    and harness your tongue to deceit.

20 You sit and testify against your brother

    and slander your own mother’s son.

21 When you did these things and I kept silent,

    you thought I was exactly like you.

But I now arraign you

    and set my accusations before you.

 

22 “Consider this, you who forget God,

    or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you:

23 Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me,

    and to the blameless I will show my salvation.”