Thoughts for the Day

Prayer for Deliverance from Persecution. To the leader: according to Lilies*. Of David.

Save me, O God,
for the waters have come up to my neck.
I sink in deep mire,
where there is no foothold;
I have come into deep waters,
and the flood sweeps over me.
I am weary with my crying;
my throat is parched.
My eyes grow dim
with waiting for my God.

More in number than the hairs of my head
are those who hate me without cause;
many are those who would destroy me,
my enemies who accuse me falsely.
What I did not steal
must I now restore?
O God, you know my folly;
the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you.

Do not let those who hope in you be put to shame because of me,
O Lord God of hosts;
do not let those who seek you be dishonoured because of me,
O God of Israel.
It is for your sake that I have borne reproach,
that shame has covered my face.
I have become a stranger to my kindred,
an alien to my mother’s children.

It is zeal for your house that has consumed me;
the insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.
When I humbled my soul with fasting,
they insulted me for doing so.
When I made sackcloth my clothing,
I became a byword to them.
I am the subject of gossip for those who sit in the gate,
and the drunkards make songs about me.

But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord.
At an acceptable time, O God,
in the abundance of your steadfast love, answer me.
With your faithful help rescue me
from sinking in the mire;
let me be delivered from my enemies
and from the deep waters.
Do not let the flood sweep over me,
or the deep swallow me up,
or the Pit close its mouth over me.

Answer me, O Lord, for your steadfast love is good;
according to your abundant mercy, turn to me.
Do not hide your face from your servant,
for I am in distress—make haste to answer me.
Draw near to me, redeem me,
set me free because of my enemies....

You know the insults I receive,
and my shame and dishonour;
my foes are all known to you.
Insults have broken my heart,
so that I am in despair.
I looked for pity, but there was none;
and for comforters, but I found none.
They gave me poison for food,
and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink....

But I am lowly and in pain;
let your salvation, O God, protect me.

I will praise the name of God with a song;
I will magnify him with thanksgiving.
This will please the Lord more than an ox
or a bull with horns and hoofs.
Let the oppressed see it and be glad;
you who seek God, let your hearts revive.
For the Lord hears the needy,
and does not despise his own that are in bonds.

Let heaven and earth praise him,
the seas and everything that moves in them.

* 'Lilies' is likely the names of a tune.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

One of the reasons I love the Psalms is the way we can identify with the little man who suddenly finds himself surrounded by the 'hordes of Midian', as it were. There is no-one able to protect him but God. You might not identify with the 'hordes of Midian', but many of us have got out of our depth in some way. Perhaps literally in the sea, or we've seen people on tv who have been caught in thick mud in estuaries or rivers. There is nowhere else in our Bible where again and again an individual can do nothing but plead with God to rescue them.

↠ Perhaps we can use a moment of our time today to pray for those known or unknown who are struggling to keep their head literally or metaphorically above water.

The lyrics for Handel's 'Messiah' were produced by Charles Jennens who took them from the Bible. Part 1 comes from the Prophets and the nativity scenes from Luke and Matthew, but Part 2 has words from the Psalms: “Why do the nations so furiously rage together" (Psalm 2); “All they that see him laugh him to scorn" (Psalm 22); "Lift up your heads O ye gates" (Psalm 24); and “Thy rebuke hath broken his heart; he is full of heaviness. He looked for some to have pity on him, but there was no man, neither found he any to comfort him” (Psalm 69). The last one is from Psalm 69 (above), from a modern translation!. Handel uses these words as prophecy concerning Jesus' death, and the last line in bold links the psalm to the giving of sour vinegar to Jesus just before he dies (John 19.28-29).

I have not included all of Psalm 69 (it's long!), but there is a difference between David who wrote the Psalm and Jesus who quotes it. David curses those who torment him, while Jesus asks God to forgive them.

Heavenly Father,
we pray today for ........ (add any names),
and for all who feel desperation.
Especially we pray for those in danger;
for those nearing the end of their life;
for those who have been injured in an accident;
for those in mental distress;
and for all who urgently need help this day.
May Your loving arms surround all
for whom we have prayed.
Amen.