Psalm 39 Prayer

All-Wise God,

Thank you for watching over your people, your Church, and this nation.  Thank you for protecting the remnant of people who are following hard after you.  Thank you for calling us to a deeper prayer and understanding of you and challenging us to grow in our faith.  Thank you for the renewal and revival you are causing in our hearts and churches.  Pour out your Spirit, Lord, so your Word, your Truth, and your Power goes forth to make a difference in this world.  Help us to watch our ways and keep our tongues from sin.  Sometimes it seems the whole world is against us; help us to hope in you and to trust you for our deliverance.  Help us to number our days so that we use them wisely to further your Kingdom.  Hear our prayers, Lord, and help us to enjoy this Abundant Life you have placed before us.  For your glory and honor we pray, Amen. 

 Psalm 39

1 

I said, “I will watch my ways

    and keep my tongue from sin;

I will put a muzzle on my mouth

    while in the presence of the wicked.”

2 

So I remained utterly silent,

    not even saying anything good.

But my anguish increased;

3 

    my heart grew hot within me.

While I meditated, the fire burned;

    then I spoke with my tongue:

4 

“Show me, Lord, my life’s end

    and the number of my days;

    let me know how fleeting my life is.

5 

You have made my days a mere handbreadth;

    the span of my years is as nothing before you.

Everyone is but a breath,

    even those who seem secure.

6 

“Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom;

    in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth

    without knowing whose it will finally be.

7 

“But now, Lord, what do I look for?

    My hope is in you.

8 

Save me from all my transgressions;

    do not make me the scorn of fools.

9 

I was silent; I would not open my mouth,

    for you are the one who has done this.

10 

Remove your scourge from me;

    I am overcome by the blow of your hand.

11 

When you rebuke and discipline anyone for their sin,

    you consume their wealth like a moth—

    surely everyone is but a breath.

12 

“Hear my prayer, Lord,

    listen to my cry for help;

    do not be deaf to my weeping.

I dwell with you as a foreigner,

    a stranger, as all my ancestors were.

13 

Look away from me, that I may enjoy life again

    before I depart and am no more.”

Psalm 38 Prayer

 Holy God, 

Again, we come today mindful of the ways in which we your Church and we as a nation have sinned against you.  We confess that we have exploited First Peoples and African slaves and other people groups.  We have not stewarded your Creation as you call us to do.  We have sought out money, power, influence, and economic gain on the world stage without considering the humanity and needs of other peoples.  We have allowed abortion, pedophilia, sex trafficking, and the hiding of these sins against innocents to go unchecked.  We have allowed people of power to corrupt systems of government, education, media, arts & entertainment, business, families, and even your Church as we've stayed apathetic in our hopelessness.  Your Church has appropriated the corruptive influences of the wider culture so that we no longer have influence over that culture.  Do not rebuke us in your anger or discipline us in your wrath. Our guilt is a burden that is heavy to bear, yet we wait for you to hear our confession and forgive us.  We wait to hear you say, "Your sins are forgiven," and to rejoice that our sin is no longer upon us.  There are many who seek to destroy your Church and this nation in order to have power in this world.  Those who repay our good with evil are many; do not forsake us or be far from us.  Rescue your Church and this nation from forces of apathy, hopelessness, fear, socialism, anarchy, destruction, hate, corruption, division, and marxism.  Purify our hearts - purify your Church and her people - to be able to stand boldly against the forces that want to destroy.  Instead, come quickly to help us, our Lord and Savior.  In Jesus's name we pray, Amen. 

Psalm 38

A psalm of David. A petition.

1 

Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger

    or discipline me in your wrath.

2 

Your arrows have pierced me,

    and your hand has come down on me.

3 

Because of your wrath there is no health in my body;

    there is no soundness in my bones because of my sin.

4 

My guilt has overwhelmed me

    like a burden too heavy to bear.

5 

My wounds fester and are loathsome

    because of my sinful folly.

6 

I am bowed down and brought very low;

    all day long I go about mourning.

7 

My back is filled with searing pain;

    there is no health in my body.

8 

I am feeble and utterly crushed;

    I groan in anguish of heart.

9 

All my longings lie open before you, Lord;

    my sighing is not hidden from you.

10 

My heart pounds, my strength fails me;

    even the light has gone from my eyes.

11 

My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds;

    my neighbors stay far away.

12 

Those who want to kill me set their traps,

    those who would harm me talk of my ruin;

    all day long they scheme and lie.

13 

I am like the deaf, who cannot hear,

    like the mute, who cannot speak;

14 

I have become like one who does not hear,

    whose mouth can offer no reply.

15 

Lord, I wait for you;

    you will answer, Lord my God.

16 

For I said, “Do not let them gloat

    or exalt themselves over me when my feet slip.”

17 

For I am about to fall,

    and my pain is ever with me.

18 

I confess my iniquity;

    I am troubled by my sin.

19 

Many have become my enemies without cause;

    those who hate me without reason are numerous.

20 

Those who repay my good with evil

    lodge accusations against me,

    though I seek only to do what is good.

21 

Lord, do not forsake me;

    do not be far from me, my God.

22 

Come quickly to help me,

    my Lord and my Savior.

Psalm 37 Prayer

Protecting God,

Your Word says that the salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; You are their stronghold in time of trouble. Thank you for being our stronghold in this world.  When chaos comes against us or the darkness seems pervasive, thank you for offering refuge and salvation through Jesus Christ.  Thank you for your promise that those who do evil will be destroyed, their power broken, but we who hope in you will inherit the goodness and blessing you offer.  Help us to trust you as we wait for your deliverance.  Help us to take delight in you, to commit our ways to you, and to trust you as we wait for your righteous reward and vindication. Help us to be still and not fret as we watch wicked people carry out their schemes.  Break the swords and bows of wickedness that exist in our government, media, arts & entertainment, education, business, church, and families.  Break these weapons of war against your people and Church and replace them with weapons of peace.  Help us to remember that you will not forsake the righteous, but will uphold those who love you and not let us fall.  Help us to be blameless, upright, and peace-seekers.  In Jesus's name we pray, Amen!

Psalm 37

1 

Do not fret because of those who are evil

    or be envious of those who do wrong;

2 

for like the grass they will soon wither,

    like green plants they will soon die away.

3 

Trust in the Lord and do good;

    dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

4 

Take delight in the Lord,

    and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 

Commit your way to the Lord;

    trust in him and he will do this:

6 

He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,

    your vindication like the noonday sun.

7 

Be still before the Lord

    and wait patiently for him;

do not fret when people succeed in their ways,

    when they carry out their wicked schemes.

8 

Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;

    do not fret—it leads only to evil.

9 

For those who are evil will be destroyed,

    but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.

10 

A little while, and the wicked will be no more;

    though you look for them, they will not be found.

11 

But the meek will inherit the land

    and enjoy peace and prosperity.

12 

The wicked plot against the righteous

    and gnash their teeth at them;

13 

but the Lord laughs at the wicked,

    for he knows their day is coming.

14 

The wicked draw the sword

    and bend the bow

to bring down the poor and needy,

    to slay those whose ways are upright.

15 

But their swords will pierce their own hearts,

    and their bows will be broken.

16 

Better the little that the righteous have

    than the wealth of many wicked;

17 

for the power of the wicked will be broken,

    but the Lord upholds the righteous.

18 

The blameless spend their days under the Lord’s care,

    and their inheritance will endure forever.

19 

In times of disaster they will not wither;

    in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

20 

But the wicked will perish:

    Though the Lord’s enemies are like the flowers of the field,

    they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke.

21 

The wicked borrow and do not repay,

    but the righteous give generously;

22 

those the Lord blesses will inherit the land,

    but those he curses will be destroyed.

23 

The Lord makes firm the steps

    of the one who delights in him;

24 

though he may stumble, he will not fall,

    for the Lord upholds him with his hand.

25 

I was young and now I am old,

    yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken

    or their children begging bread.

26 

They are always generous and lend freely;

    their children will be a blessing.

27 

Turn from evil and do good;

    then you will dwell in the land forever.

28 

For the Lord loves the just

    and will not forsake his faithful ones.

Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed;

    the offspring of the wicked will perish.

29 

The righteous will inherit the land

    and dwell in it forever.

30 

The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom,

    and their tongues speak what is just.

31 

The law of their God is in their hearts;

    their feet do not slip.

32 

The wicked lie in wait for the righteous,

    intent on putting them to death;

33 

but the Lord will not leave them in the power of the wicked

    or let them be condemned when brought to trial.

34 

Hope in the Lord

    and keep his way.

He will exalt you to inherit the land;

    when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it.

35 

I have seen a wicked and ruthless man

    flourishing like a luxuriant native tree,

36 

but he soon passed away and was no more;

    though I looked for him, he could not be found.

37 

Consider the blameless, observe the upright;

    a future awaits those who seek peace.

38 

But all sinners will be destroyed;

    there will be no future for the wicked.

39 

The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord;

    he is their stronghold in time of trouble.

40 

The Lord helps them and delivers them;

    he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,

    because they take refuge in him.

Psalm 36 Prayer

Victorious and Merciful God,

Your Love reaches to the heavens and your faithfulness to the skies.  Your righteousness is like the highest mountains and your justice like the great deep.  How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!  People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.  With you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.  But, truly, there are many who only know darkness in this world. In places of government, media, education, arts and entertainment, business, family, and church we pray you would bring into your Light the darkness, evil, corruption, and deception of the enemy of our souls. It seems this present darkness has no fear of God and its followers commit themselves to a sinful course, not rejecting what is wrong.  But we know you have the ultimate victory in this battle of Light vs. dark and we pray you will hasten the conclusion of the battle so we may know your deep peace - your shalom -  in this world.  May the proud not come against your people and your Church, nor the hand of the wicked pull them away from You.  May the evildoers lie fallen and your Word and Spirit go forth on this earth.  For your glory, honor and praise we pray, Amen!

Psalm 36

1 

I have a message from God in my heart

    concerning the sinfulness of the wicked:

There is no fear of God

    before their eyes.

2 

In their own eyes they flatter themselves

    too much to detect or hate their sin.

3 

The words of their mouths are wicked and deceitful;

    they fail to act wisely or do good.

4 

Even on their beds they plot evil;

    they commit themselves to a sinful course

    and do not reject what is wrong.

5 

Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,

    your faithfulness to the skies.

6 

Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,

    your justice like the great deep.

    You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.

7 

How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!

    People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

8 

They feast on the abundance of your house;

    you give them drink from your river of delights.

9 

For with you is the fountain of life;

    in your light we see light.

10 

Continue your love to those who know you,

    your righteousness to the upright in heart.

11 

May the foot of the proud not come against me,

    nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.

12 

See how the evildoers lie fallen—

    thrown down, not able to rise!

Psalm 35 Prayer

Contend, Lord, with those who contend with your Church and this nation; fight against those who fight against them.  Arise and come to our aid; may those who plot ruin be turned back in dismay. Then our souls will rejoice and proclaim you as the Lord of our salvation.  You rescue the poor and needy from those who rob them.  Do not let those who gloat over this nation's or your Church's sins go unpunished; and do not let them falsely accuse your people.  Help us to willingly confess sins of commission and commission, but then joyfully claim your forgiveness and forgetfulness. In these dark times, bring into your Light of Truth all things in civil and church government that are evil and corrupt.   May we proclaim your righteousness and your praise all day long.  Alleluia and Amen!

Psalm 35

Of David.

1 

Contend, Lord, with those who contend with me;

    fight against those who fight against me.

2 

Take up shield and armor;

    arise and come to my aid.

3 

Brandish spear and javelin

    against those who pursue me.

Say to me,

    “I am your salvation.”

4 

May those who seek my life

    be disgraced and put to shame;

may those who plot my ruin

    be turned back in dismay.

5 

May they be like chaff before the wind,

    with the angel of the Lord driving them away;

6 

may their path be dark and slippery,

    with the angel of the Lord pursuing them.

7 

Since they hid their net for me without cause

    and without cause dug a pit for me,

8 

may ruin overtake them by surprise—

    may the net they hid entangle them,

    may they fall into the pit, to their ruin.

9 

Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord

    and delight in his salvation.

10 

My whole being will exclaim,

    “Who is like you, Lord?

You rescue the poor from those too strong for them,

    the poor and needy from those who rob them.”

11 

Ruthless witnesses come forward;

    they question me on things I know nothing about.

12 

They repay me evil for good

    and leave me like one bereaved.

13 

Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth

    and humbled myself with fasting.

When my prayers returned to me unanswered,

14 

    I went about mourning

    as though for my friend or brother.

I bowed my head in grief

    as though weeping for my mother.

15 

But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee;

    assailants gathered against me without my knowledge.

    They slandered me without ceasing.

16 

Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked;

    they gnashed their teeth at me.

17 

How long, Lord, will you look on?

    Rescue me from their ravages,

    my precious life from these lions.

18 

I will give you thanks in the great assembly;

    among the throngs I will praise you.

19 

Do not let those gloat over me

    who are my enemies without cause;

do not let those who hate me without reason

    maliciously wink the eye.

20 

They do not speak peaceably,

    but devise false accusations

    against those who live quietly in the land.

21 

They sneer at me and say, “Aha! Aha!

    With our own eyes we have seen it.”

22 

Lord, you have seen this; do not be silent.

    Do not be far from me, Lord.

23 

Awake, and rise to my defense!

    Contend for me, my God and Lord.

24 

Vindicate me in your righteousness, Lord my God;

    do not let them gloat over me.

25 

Do not let them think, “Aha, just what we wanted!”

    or say, “We have swallowed him up.”

26 

May all who gloat over my distress

    be put to shame and confusion;

may all who exalt themselves over me

    be clothed with shame and disgrace.

27 

May those who delight in my vindication

    shout for joy and gladness;

may they always say, “The Lord be exalted,

    who delights in the well-being of his servant.”

28 

My tongue will proclaim your righteousness,

    your praises all day long.

 

Psalm 34 Prayer

God,

We extol and praise you; we glory in you and rejoice that you hear your afflicted ones.  We seek you because we know you answer us and deliver us from our fears.  We know that we who look to you are radiant and never covered with shame. You hear those who are poor in spirit, body or resources and save them; you encamp around those who fear you and you deliver them. We taste and see that you, our Lord, are good and we are blessed as we take refuge in you.  In this world there are many cultural shifts going on at the same time; there is so much upheaval it can seem overwhelming.  But we know that you can use all this for good, for we who love you.  We know you prune your Church and her people for greater fruitfulness.  We know that you call us out of the darkness of this world into your glorious Light.  We honor, respect, and fear you, Lord, and we lack no good thing. You hear our cries and are close to us when we are brokenhearted and crushed in spirit. You deliver us and protect us; you rescue us and condemn our foes.  We pray in the name of Jesus against the spiritual forces of darkness currently trying to overwhelm this world - fear, depression, deception, division, hatred, confusion and chaos - and speak NO MORE to these spirits.  They will NOT have dominion over this world because we plead the Blood of Christ over God's people and Church.  In the name of Jesus we pray that spirits of courage, strength, peace, justice [not "social justice"], Light and Life be poured out in this nation and this world.   May we, your people, be boldly empowered to fight against these dark forces so that this world will be able to taste and see that you are good.  In the strong name of Christ we pray, Amen. 

Psalm 34

1 

I will extol the Lord at all times;

    his praise will always be on my lips.

2 

I will glory in the Lord;

    let the afflicted hear and rejoice.

3 

Glorify the Lord with me;

    let us exalt his name together.

4 

I sought the Lord, and he answered me;

    he delivered me from all my fears.

5 

Those who look to him are radiant;

    their faces are never covered with shame.

6 

This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;

    he saved him out of all his troubles.

7 

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,

    and he delivers them.

8 

Taste and see that the Lord is good;

    blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

9 

Fear the Lord, you his holy people,

    for those who fear him lack nothing.

10 

The lions may grow weak and hungry,

    but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

11 

Come, my children, listen to me;

    I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

12 

Whoever of you loves life

    and desires to see many good days,

13 

keep your tongue from evil

    and your lips from telling lies.

14 

Turn from evil and do good;

    seek peace and pursue it.

15 

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,

    and his ears are attentive to their cry;

16 

but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil,

    to blot out their name from the earth.

17 

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;

    he delivers them from all their troubles.

18 

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted

    and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

19 

The righteous person may have many troubles,

    but the Lord delivers him from them all;

20 

he protects all his bones,

    not one of them will be broken.

21 

Evil will slay the wicked;

    the foes of the righteous will be condemned.

22 

The Lord will rescue his servants;

    no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.