Praying the Psalms - December, 2008

I decided several months ago in preparing a pastoral prayer for Morning Worship to pray through the psalm for the day with its text spread out in front of me while praying. It was a moving experience to merge the psalm with the theme chosen from all the texts for that day, and to do so spontaneously in light of what the people and I were bringing to worship that week or facing the next.

In light of that experience, and the many comments from others on how helpful it had been to them, I have decided to adopt this practice as a weekly discipline for my own benefit—both to let the Psalms shape my praying and to offer up, in that context, what I and those to whom I minister are facing and feeling week by week.In doing so,

I am fully aware that I am only entering in on a historic practice, followed by God’s people in every age. My hope is simply to learn myself from the discipline how to better enter into God’s sovereign presence and be filled with his Spirit.

Week of December 7 (Second of Advent) – Psalm 85: 1-2, 8-13

Dear Lord, what a comfort it is in our disjointed world to be reminded that “steadfast love and faithfulness will meet,” and that “righteousness and peace will kiss each other” (v 10). Is that what you want to stir up in us on this “Stir Up” Sunday, and through this week? That “faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky”?

Give us again fresh faith to believe all that, dear God, to hope for it and work for it, in the power of your Spirit. Let us, with the psalmist, “hear what the Lord will speak … to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts.” And help us, Lord, to follow your footprints wherever they lead so that in you we make “make a path” for others to follow in your steps.

“Will you not revive us again, so that your people may rejoice in you? Show us your steadfast love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation.” Amen.

Week of December 14 (Third of Advent) – Psalm 128

So near and yet so far, Lord, eternity is. So near in heart, yet seemingly far in space at times. We feel it by faith as we share the psalmist’s vision of the happiness that goes with fearing the Lord and walking in his ways: You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be happy, and it shall go well with you.”

Yet for many, not least in troubled economic times, faith’s vision is dimmed by circumstances that make faith’s hope seem like a vain dream. Loss of job, family tensions, worries over personal security and safety—not to mention the stress of exponential social change all around—threaten hope and leave many anxious.

Only you can restore those tempted and needy, Lord, by coming alongside. Only you can bless us under Zion and restore the prosperity of Jerusalem. And only you can offer the true peace we need, no matter our circumstance. Teach us this week to look beyond our prosperity to you as the Giver. And help us to look beyond our need to you as our Savior. Amen.

Week of December 21 (Fourth of Advent) – Psalm 89: 1-4, 19-26

Scripture has taught us that “hope that is seen is not hope.” But it also reminds us that we need to pray for eyes to see and ears to hear, less we miss the glory of your coming—whenever and wherever. Help us to look upon and hear deep within this week the covenant promise you have made with your chosen one, which you have also sworn to your servant David: “I will establish your descendants forever.”

Even more, Lord, help us to dwell in our hearts and minds of those thoughts on you that alone can confirm all we hope for and cannot yet see. Your might, your faithfulness, your steadfast love—these alone, no matter our circumstance, are the only true basis of lasting hope.

Those who cry out to you never do so in vain. So I cry out, with the psalmist: “You are my father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation.” I believe that, Lord. Only in darker moments, which do come, help my unbelief. Amen.

Week of December 27 (First after Christmas) – Psalm 148

The psalm reminds me, Lord, of a hymn: “How Can I Keep from Singing?” To know you is to be full of praise—whether by lauding your works, declaring your mighty acts, meditating on your awesome deeds, or celebrating your abundant goodness. The recital of all you have done and are doing and will yet do generates praise. Without sacred memory, who can proceed?

So help us this week to kneel before the heart of it all—like wise men and shepherds, led by a star to where your beloved lies in a manger, making room for all to come who still in ignorance make little room for him. Let our praises flow from all we see there, even if its full meaning remains a mystery until the fullness of all time.

Only as we kneel before Christmas, Lord, can we return to life, as we should, singing glory to you for all that we have heard and seen. Thank you for the promise that you will be near to all who call on you and watch over all who have learned, at your invitation, to love you. Amen