God Speaks
For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be sung to the tune “Death of the Son.”
1 I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart;
I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.
2 I will be filled with joy because of you.
I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.
3 My enemies retreated;
they staggered and died when you appeared.
4 For you have judged in my favor;
from your throne you have judged with fairness.
5 You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked;
you have erased their names forever.
6 The enemy is finished, in endless ruins;
the cities you uprooted are now forgotten.
7 But the Lord reigns forever,
executing judgment from his throne.
8 He will judge the world with justice
and rule the nations with fairness.
9 The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed,
a refuge in times of trouble.
10 Those who know your name trust in you,
for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.
11 Sing praises to the Lord who reigns in Jerusalem.
Tell the world about his unforgettable deeds.
12 For he who avenges murder cares for the helpless.
He does not ignore the cries of those who suffer.
13 Lord, have mercy on me.
See how my enemies torment me.
Snatch me back from the jaws of death.
14 Save me so I can praise you publicly at Jerusalem’s gates,
so I can rejoice that you have rescued me.
15 The nations have fallen into the pit they dug for others.
Their own feet have been caught in the trap they set.
16 The Lord is known for his justice.
The wicked are trapped by their own deeds. Quiet Interlude
17 The wicked will go down to the grave.
This is the fate of all the nations who ignore God.
18 But the needy will not be ignored forever;
the hopes of the poor will not always be crushed.
19 Arise, O Lord!
Do not let mere mortals defy you!
Judge the nations!
20 Make them tremble in fear, O Lord.
Let the nations know they are merely human. Interlude
Source: New Living Translation: BibleGateway.com
We Respond
Reflection: In Hebrew (the original language of the Psalms), Psalm 10 is a continuation of Psalm 9. They were originally one longer poem with each verse beginning with a consecutive letter of the Hebrew alphabet, much like Psalm 119. Some translations (mostly in English) separate the two, while others (mostly in Hebrew) follow the original pattern. The prayers will address the specific verses, while the reflections will be the same or similar.
Prayer: Dear God who is worthy of all praise and glory and honor, I praise You with my whole being, my whole heart, and lips and voice. I declare that You will deal with my enemies with the fairness they have denied to others. You will rebuke the nations and destroy the wicked. You will put an end to their plans and uproot their strongholds. You, LORD, will reign forever, judging the world with justice and fairness for all who are oppressed. You are a refuge in times of trouble for all who know Your name and search for You. People of the world, join me in singing praises to the LORD who reigns in Jerusalem. Let’s recount all His unforgettable deeds. LORD God, You will avenge all the murders. You care about and care for the poor. You defend those who cannot defend themselves. You understand and comfort those who suffer. LORD, have mercy on all the people that belong to You because they call on Your name. When our enemies torment us, snatch us back from the jaws of death. Save us so that we can publicly praise You and rejoice in how You rescued us. Trap the wicked in their own schemes. You are known for Your justice. You will not allow the poor and needy to be ignored or misused forever. You will judge the leaders of the nations and various people groups. You will make them tremble in fear for all the misdeeds they have done. You, O LORD, will be praised forever and ever. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
• I will encourage a believer to share how the LORD God has been a shield or brought about justice in their life.
• I will tell a not-yet believer how the LORD God has been a shield or brought about justice in my life.
• I will pray for those who are working to truly assist the poor and oppressed in the name of the LORD.
• I will write and/or sing a personal praise song regarding the protection and justice of the Lord.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __.