God Speaks
For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by an eight-stringed instrument.
1 O Lord, don’t rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me in your rage.
2 Have compassion on me, Lord, for I am weak.
Heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony.
3 I am sick at heart.
How long, O Lord, until you restore me?
4 Return, O Lord, and rescue me.
Save me because of your unfailing love.
5 For the dead do not remember you.
Who can praise you from the grave?
6 I am worn out from sobbing.
All night I flood my bed with weeping,
drenching it with my tears.
7 My vision is blurred by grief;
my eyes are worn out because of all my enemies.
8 Go away, all you who do evil,
for the Lord has heard my weeping.
9 The Lord has heard my plea;
the Lord will answer my prayer.
10 May all my enemies be disgraced and terrified.
May they suddenly turn back in shame.
Source: New Living Translation: BibleGateway.com
We Respond
Reflection: This psalm could be taken literally as referring to actual pain and suffering the psalmist (or reader) is facing personally. It could be used to intercede for another individual. It could be prayed on behalf of a group of people who are suffering from some kind of affliction. It could also be used in intercession for all three.
Prayer: Dear LORD God, Creator of the universe, thank You for being a good father who cares about whatever it is that Your children are facing. At times fathers need to take action to discipline or to advocate for their children. When I have done wrong, O Lord, don’t be super-angry with me or punish me harshly. Holy Spirit, help me to be open and confess, bringing my problem to the Father. Father, please try to understand what I am thinking and feeling. There are things beyond my capabilities. Heal my hurts, pains, and lack of strength (including strength of character). I am so sorry. Please restore me to Your good graces quickly. Come to me and rescue me. When I fail, reassure me of Your unfailing love. I won’t be able to praise You if I’m separated from You. I can’t sleep because my situation keeps playing over and over in my mind. I can’t see through my tears. Ah, I know that You heard me. I receive Your help and forgiveness. I feel the relief. I say to whatever was bothering me, “Get out of here.” Now, it’s my enemies that are disgraced, terrified, and shamed, because my father, the God of the universe, loves and has rescued me. I love You, Father God. 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 pray the prayer above on behalf of myself and record the results.
- I will pray the prayer above on behalf of someone else and record the results.
- I will name a specific situation and apply this psalm or prayer.
- I will show this psalm and prayer to someone who is suffering because they have sinned or been sinned against.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.