God Speaks
For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by stringed instruments.
1 Answer me when I call to you,
O God who declares me innocent.
Free me from my troubles.
Have mercy on me and hear my prayer.
2 How long will you people ruin my reputation?
How long will you make groundless accusations?
How long will you continue your lies? Interlude
3 You can be sure of this:
The Lord set apart the godly for himself.
The Lord will answer when I call to him.
4 Don’t sin by letting anger control you.
Think about it overnight and remain silent. Interlude
5 Offer sacrifices in the right spirit,
and trust the Lord.
6 Many people say, “Who will show us better times?”
Let your face smile on us, Lord.
7 You have given me greater joy
than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine.
8 In peace I will lie down and sleep,
for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.
Source: New Living Translation: BibleGateway.com
We Respond
Reflection: The superscript above the text of this psalm states that it is a psalm of David to be delivered to the choir director to be accompanied by stringed instruments. It appears to the writer of this blog that there are three “speakers” in this psalm: the psalm writer, the Lord, and a narrator/instructor. In verse one the psalm writer speaks to God about his declared innocence, his plea for freedom from his troubles, and his need for mercy. Verse two appears to be God calling out His sinning people for ruining His reputation, making groundless accusations, and continually lying. In verse three the narrator/instructor steps up with assurance that the Lord has a special place in His heart for the godly and will answer their prayers. He goes on in verses four and five with instruction as to what the godly should be doing. In verse six the psalm writer (David) asks the Lord for better times and a sense of God’s approval, perhaps for others, “Many people say . . .” In verses seven and eight, the psalmist expresses his joy, thanksgiving, and confidence in the Lord.
Prayer: Dear great and awesome God, thank You for declaring me innocent. This is true not because I have not sinned, but because I believe in my heart that Jesus died to secure my forgiveness. I also plead for freedom from my troubles and my great need of Your mercy. May I heed Your warnings, Lord God, when You call me out for ruining Your reputation, making groundless accusations, or continually lying. Thank You, Holy Spirit for being my instructor and assuring me that the Lord God has a special place in His heart for me when I act in a godly manner. You will answer my prayers in Your time and as You know best. You instruct me as to what I should be doing, with Your help. I ask in Jesus’s name for better times and a sense of Your approval for myself and others. I hereby express my joy, thanksgiving, and complete confidence in You, Lord. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, which one of the suggestions below He wants you to work on or something else more personal that He points out.)
- I will make time to be alone with God to confess that I have been ruining God’s reputation by my sin.
- I will thank the Lord that He has heard my plea for mercy and has set me apart for Himself.
- I will tell someone who doesn’t yet know Him how they can have forgiveness, joy, and confidence in the Lord.
- I will pray with a fellow believer for them to have better times and a sense of the Lord’s approval.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.