Psalm 51 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Psalm 51.

Meditate on verse 17.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit:

 a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.

Psalm 51 is David’s prayer of confession for committing adultery with Bathsheba and plotting the death of her husband, Uriah, in a vain effort to cover his sins (2 Samuel 11-12:23).  The only thing that covers sins is the blood of Jesus Christ.  His blood also cleanses your conscience, so you can serve Him, the living God (Hebrews 9:13).

God hates sin.  It is grievous to the LORD and should be to you as well.  Are you quick to confess your sins, or do you ignore and downplay them?  If you are not confessing the sins in your life, God says you are lying by saying you have not sinned.

If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.

 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins

 and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar,

 and His Word is not in us.

—1 John 1:8-10

Meditate on these truths from the Word of God today.  Pray Psalm 51:1-17 over yourself, so you can be a faithful, prayerful watchman for others (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness;

 according to the greatness of Your compassion, blot out my transgressions.

 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. 

Against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight.

 So that You are justified when You speak and blameless when You judge. 

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.

 Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being,

 and in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.

  Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;

 wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

 Make me to hear joy and gladness;

 let the bones which You have broken rejoice.

  Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities.

 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

  Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit.

 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will be converted to You.  Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation;

 then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness.

 O LORD, open my lips that my mouth may declare Your praise. 

For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it;

You are not pleased with burnt offering.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;

 a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.

Because of Your sacrifice, LORD Jesus Christ~’

Psalm 50 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Psalm 50.

Meditate on verses 22-23.

Now consider this, you who forget God,

 or I will tear you in pieces, and there will be none to deliver. 

He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me;

 and to him who orders his way aright, I shall show the salvation of God.

The LORD God, the Mighty One, is speaking in Psalm 50 (v. 1).  Hear and heed His Words!

God addresses every human that will ever live in this Psalm.  He first speaks to those who are His people in verses 1-15.  He gives them a command, an invitation, and a promise in verses 14-15:

Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving and pay your vows to the Most High;

call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me.

The LORD then admonishes the wicked in verses 16-22.  The contrast is obvious.  Notice how God describes wicked people:

            *You hate discipline (v.17).

            *You cast My words behind you (v.17).

            *You see a thief and are pleased with him (v. 18).

            *You associate with adulterers (v. 18).

            *You let your mouth loose in evil (v. 19).

            *Your tongue frames deceit (v. 19).

            *You sit and speak against your brother (v. 20).

            *You slander your own mother’s son (v. 20).

Who are you in the Psalm?  Are there areas of your life that you need to humble before the LORD, confessing and asking for God’s forgiveness?  Repent then offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to your God and Savior Jesus Christ. 

Pray Psalm 50:14-15 and 23 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“God, _________ and I offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to You.

We pay our vows to You, the Most High.

We call upon You in the day of trouble.  Please rescue us, and we will honor You.

LORD, teach us how to offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving that honors You.

Help us order our way aright. God, show us Your salvation!

In Your name, Jesus~”

Psalm 49 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Psalm 49.

Meditate on verses 5-9.

Why should I fear in days of adversity,

when the iniquity of my foes surrounds me,

even those who trust in their wealth

and boast in the abundance of their riches? 

No man can by any means redeem his brother

or give to God a ransom for him—

for the redemption of his soul is costly,

and he should cease trying forever—

that he should live on eternally,

 that he should not undergo decay.

The Psalmist wanted every person on earth to hear Psalm 49: “Hear this, all peoples: give ear, all inhabitants of the world” (v. 1). 

His message has eternal significance.  God wants you to pay attention to it, also, because it is a message from the LORD. 

There is really only one thing that matters in this life, and that is the eternal destiny of the human soul.  Just like today, the Psalmist was surrounded by sin and adversity, poverty and wealth.  Death will put an end to all those things, but it will not put an end to a person’s soul.  The soul of every human ever born will live forever, either with God or separated from God.  The cost to redeem a soul to be able to live eternally with God was expensive; it cost God His life.  Every human must know and believe the story of redemption to be forever with God.  If you are a Christian, God has entrusted you with the story to tell.

Do not let Satan distract you with his evil.  Do not be consumed by the news of the day; be consumed by the love of your Savior who died, so you can live.  That is the news that must be told.  Ask your LORD to remove your worries and fears and help you tell others the story of Jesus Christ.

Pray Psalm 49:3 and 15 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, let _______ and my mouth speak wisdom

 and the meditation of our hearts be understanding. 

God, redeem the soul of __________ from the power of Sheol (hell).

Let them choose You, so You will receive them.

In Your name, Jesus~”

Psalm 48 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Psalm 48.

Meditate on verse 1.

Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised,

in the city of our God, His holy mountain.

Observe Mount Zion as described in Psalm 48.  It is:

            *God’s holy mountain (v. 1)

*Beautiful in elevation (v. 2)

*The joy of the whole earth (v. 2)

*The city of the great King (v. 2)

Observe how the kings of the earth responded to Zion.  They:

            *Were amazed and terrified (v. 5)

            *Fled in alarm (v. 5)

            *Were seized with panic and anguish (v. 6)

Observe how the people of God responded to Him and His city.  They:

            *Know God will establish His city forever (v. 8)

            *Think about the LORD’s lovingkindness in the midst of His temple (v. 9)

            *Know God’s right hand is full of righteousness (v. 10)

*Consider the LORD and His city, so they can tell it to the next generation (v.13)

If you are in Christ Jesus, then “you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem…”(Hebrews 12:22).  And, you can pray Psalm 48:3, 8b-10, and 14 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“God, make Yourself known as a stronghold to _______ and me.

God, establish us forever. 

Let us think on Your lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of Your temple. 

As is Your name, O God, so is Your praise to the ends of the earth;

Your right hand is full of righteousness.

 For such are You, God.  You are our God forever and ever.

 Guide us until death. 

For the sake of Your name, Jesus~”

Psalm 47 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Psalm 47.

Meditate on verses 6 and 7a.

Sing praises to God, sing praises;

sing praises to our King, sing praises.

For God is the King of all the earth…

God alone is worthy of all praise.  Paul wisely quoted from Jeremiah, “Let him who boasts, boast in the LORD” (1 Corinthians 1:31; Jeremiah 9:23-24). 

Paul, like the psalmist, bragged about the LORD. Other bragging is haughty and prideful, but glorying in Christ is not arrogant.  In fact singing the praises of God and His ways all day long is the appropriate thing to do.

Pray Psalm 47 as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, _________ and I clap our hands for You. 

We shout to Your with the voice of joy!

 For You, LORD Most High, are to be feared. 

You are the great King over all the earth.

 LORD, subdue peoples under us

and nations under our feet. 

Choose our inheritance for us. 

God, You have ascended with a shout,

O LORD, with the sound of a trumpet.

 We sing praises to You, God! 

We sing praises to You, our King!

For God, You are the King of all the earth. 

We sing praises to You with a skillful psalm.

 God, You reign over the nations. 

You sit on Your holy throne. 

We assemble as Your people. 

The shields of the earth belong to You, God. 

You are highly exalted, King Jesus, in whose name we praise~”

Psalm 46 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Psalm 46.

Meditate on verse 1.

God is our refuge and strength,

 a very present help in trouble.

Observe all of the tumultuous words and phrases in Psalm 46. 

*The earth should change (v. 2)

*The mountains slip into the heart of the sea (v. 2)

*Waters roar and foam (v. 3)

*The mountains quake (v. 3)

*The nations made an uproar (v. 6)

*The kingdoms tottered (v. 6)

*The earth melted (v. 6)

In the midst of apparent chaos, “the LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.  He makes wars to cease…He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariots with fire” (Psalm 46:7, 9).   No wonder the LORD gives the command to be still and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10).  The LORD is in control; the appropriate response is to relinquish your control, relax, and trust in Him.

Pray Psalm 46:10-11 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, help _______ and me to cease striving

 and know that You are God.

You will be exalted among the nations;

You will be exalted in the earth.

LORD of hosts, be with us;

 God of Jacob, be our stronghold.

In Your name, Jesus~”

  

Psalm 45 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Psalm 45.

Meditate on verse 1.

My heart overflows with a good theme;

I address my verses to the King;

my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

Reading Psalm 45 is like eavesdropping on an intimate conversation.  An enthralled psalmist was speaking adoring words to his King.

You are fairer than the sons of men;

grace is poured upon Your lips;

therefore, God has blessed you forever.

—Psalm 45:2

He goes on to call the King, “Mighty One” and “God” (Psalm 45:3, 6).  He speaks of His splendor and righteousness, and he describes His kingdom’s scepter as “a scepter of uprightness” (Psalm 45:3, 6).

Psalm 45 was written at least 1000 years before the birth of Christ.  Reading it 2000 years after the coming of Messiah, it is obvious the psalmist’s verses were addressed to King Jesus.  He made sure the King’s name would be remembered in all generations, so people would give Him thanks forever and ever (v. 17).

Use the words of the Psalmist to begin to adore your King; then continue to address your adoration and praise to Him for eternity.  Pray Psalm 45:3-4, 11, and 17 as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“Gird Your sword on Your thigh, O Mighty One,

 in Your splendor and Your majesty! 

And in Your majesty ride on victoriously,

for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness;

 let Your right hand teach _______ and me awesome things. 

We bow down to You because You are our LORD. 

We want to cause Your name to be remembered in all generations.

 May we and all peoples give You thanks forever and ever, King Jesus~”

Psalm 44 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Psalm 44.

Meditate on verse 8.

In God we have boasted all day long,

and we will give thanks to Your name forever.

The Psalmist was going through a difficult time when he wrote Psalm 44.  He felt rejected by God.  Observe this Psalm carefully; it can be helpful for seasons in your life when times are tough.

Psalm 44:1-8 recalls God’s faithfulness in the past and expresses confidence in God’s faithfulness in the future.  Verses 9-16 describe the Psalmist’s present situation as one of dishonor, reproach, scoffing, and derision. Notice his honesty with the LORD as he tells God what is happening to him.  The Psalm ends with the declaration of one who refuses to forget God or deviate from His way.  The Psalmist appeals to the lovingkindness of the LORD and cries out to Him for help.

Pray Psalm 44:17-20 and 23-26 over a difficult situation in the life of yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, all of this has come upon ________ and me,

but we have not forgotten You,

 and we have not dealt falsely with Your covenant.

 Our heart has not turned back,

 and our steps have not deviated from Your way.

Yet You have crushed us in a place of jackals

 and covered us with the shadow of death.

LORD, we have not forgotten Your name

or extended our hands to a strange god.

Arouse Yourself; do not sleep, O LORD!

Awake; do not reject us forever!

Do not hide Your face and forget our affliction and our oppression!

Our soul has sunk down into the dust;
our body cleaves to the earth.

Rise up; be our help,

and redeem us for the sake of Your lovingkindness,

LORD Jesus, in whose name we pray~”

Psalm 43 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Psalm 43.

Meditate on verse 2.

For You are the God of my strength; why have You rejected me?

Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

The Psalmist was still in despair when he penned the words of Psalm 43.  In the midst of being oppressed by the enemy, he remembered the truth about God.  God was his strength and his exceeding joy (vs. 2, 4).  His soul was disturbed, yet he chose to hope in the LORD.

Are you oppressed and disturbed by the enemy?  God uses times of despair to solidify in you who He really is.  Cry out like the Psalmist, “You are the God of my strength; You are God, my exceeding joy!” (Psalm 43:2, 4).  Say it hundreds of times today; then say it hundreds of times again tomorrow.  The enemy cannot stand to be in the hearing of that truth.

Pray Psalm 43 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“Vindicate _______ and me, O God,

 and plead our case against the ungodly.

Deliver us from the deceitful and unjust man!

You are the God of our strength; do not reject us!

LORD, let us stop mourning because of the oppression of the enemy.

O send out Your light and Your truth; let them lead us;

 let them bring us to Your holy hill and to Your dwelling places.

We will go to Your altar, God. 

God, You are our exceeding joy!

Upon the lyre, we shall praise You, O God, our God!

LORD, let our souls no longer be in despair and disturbed within us.

We hope in You, God, for we shall again praise You.

You are the help of our countenance and our God.

You are Jesus Christ in whose name we pray~”

Psalm 42 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Psalm 42.

Meditate on verse 5.

Why are you in despair, O my soul?

And why have you become disturbed within me?

Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him,

 for the help of His presence.

When the Psalmist wrote Psalm 42, he was desperate.  He was in despair, mourning and crying day and night (vs. 3, 5-6, 11).  God brought him to the place of what seemed like hopelessness, so he could only be brought out of his despair and satisfied by his LORD. 

Just as the refreshing water of a stream is necessary to satisfy a parched and panting deer, the Psalmist realized only the living God could quench his desperate thirst (Psalm 42:1-2).  He chose to remember God and put his hope in Him (Psalm 42:6, 11).

What situation threatens to roll over you and those you love like an ocean wave?  Are you crying in despair day and night?  Has the LORD allowed this situation so your only hope is to hope in Him?

Pray Psalm 42:1-2, 5-6, 8, and 11 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“As the dear pants for the water brooks,

 so ________ and my soul pants for You, O God.

 Our souls thirst for God, for You, the living God;

we come and appear before You.

Our souls are in despair; they are disturbed within us, LORD.

We hope in You, God, for we shall again praise You

for the help of Your presence.

O my God, our souls are in despair within us; therefore, we remember You!

LORD, command Your lovingkindness in the daytime!

 Let Your song be with us in the night.

 This is our prayer to You, the God of our lives!

 LORD, our souls are in despair and disturbed within us!

 We choose to hope in You, God, for we will yet praise You. 

You are the help of our countenance and our God.

You are Jesus in whose name we pray~”

Psalm 41 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Psalm 41.

Meditate on verses 1 and 11.

How blessed is he who considers the helpless;

 the LORD will deliver him in a day of trouble. 

By this I know that You are pleased with me

because my enemy does not shout in triumph over me.

Psalm 41 gives you insight into the life of David.   He had problems with enemies: they spoke evil against him; they wanted him dead, and they poured out wickedness upon him (vs. 5, 8).  In the midst of such wicked opposition, David still considered others less fortunate than himself (v. 1).  He gave the list of benefits to one who cares for the helpless:

1.     The LORD will deliver him in a day of trouble (v. 1).

2.     The LORD will protect him (v. 2).

3.     The LORD will keep him alive (v. 2).

4.     He will be called blessed upon the earth (v. 2).

5.     The LORD will not give him over to the desire of his enemies (v. 2).

6.     The LORD will sustain him upon his sickbed (v.3).

7.     In illness, the LORD will restore him to health (v. 3).

What an amazing protection plan David had with the LORD!  He could have easily felt sorry for himself and been the helpless one; instead he considered those around him and helped others.  The result was God’s deliverance of David from the hands of his enemies.

Are you in the midst of a difficult situation?  Care for the needs of others.  As you do, God will miraculously take care of you.

Pray Psalm 41:1 and 11-13 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, bless _______ and me as we consider the helpless.

Deliver us in the day of trouble.

Make us pleasing to You, LORD;

do not let our enemy shout in triumph over us. 

Uphold us in our integrity and set us in Your presence forever. 

We will bless You, LORD, the God of Israel,

 from everlasting to everlasting.

Amen and Amen.”

Psalm 40 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Psalm 40.

Meditate on verses 8 and 14.

I delight to do Your will, O God;

Your Law is within my heart.

Let those be ashamed and humiliated together

 who seek my life to destroy it;

 let those be turned back

and dishonored who delight in my hurt.

Observe the word “delight” in Psalm 40.  David desired and delighted to do the will of God.  There were people in David’s life that took pleasure and delighted in him being hurt.  Can you relate to David?  Are you or someone you love in a situation where mean people delight in injuring, even destroying others?  Observe Psalm 40 to see how David handled this kind of evil.

1.     David waited patiently for the LORD (v. 1).

2.     David asked the LORD to deliver and help him (v. 13).

3.     The LORD heard David’s cry for help (v. 1).

4.     The LORD brought David out of the pit of destruction and set his feet firmly on a rock (v. 2).

5.     God put a song of praise in David’s mouth (v. 3).

6.     David sang that new song from the LORD.  Because he spoke of God’s righteousness, faithfulness, lovingkindness, and truth, many feared and trusted in the LORD (vs. 3, 10).

As David waited for the salvation of the LORD, he was not disappointed.  Reread Psalm 40 and find the treasures God wants to show you for handling your life situations.

Pray Psalm 40:11, 13, and 16-17 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 “O LORD, do not withhold Your compassion from ________ and me.

Let Your lovingkindness and Your truth continually preserve us.

Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver us; make haste, O LORD, to help us.

As we seek You, let us rejoice and be glad in You. 

We love Your salvation!  Let us continually say, ‘The LORD be magnified!’

Since we are afflicted and needy, LORD, be mindful of us;

 You are our help and our deliverer. 

Do not delay, O our God.

For the sake of Your name, LORD Jesus~”

Psalm 39 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Psalm 39.

Meditate on verses 1 and 2.

I said, “I will guard my ways that I may not sin with my tongue;

 I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle while the wicked are in my presence.”

 I was mute and silent; I refrained even from good, and my sorrow grew worse.

Have you ever been in a situation where the conversation was ungodly and lies were spoken as if they were truths, and you said not a word?  David was in that situation in Psalm 39.  He was with some wicked people, and he determined not to sin with his tongue, so he didn’t say anything, not even anything good; he was miserable!  David eventually spoke, and when he did, he talked to his LORD.  He realized how short life was for himself and every human.  What was he waiting for?  David confessed his sins, put his hope in the LORD, and asked God not to make him the reproach of the foolish (vs. 7-8).

What do you fear, the reproach of people or the reproach of the LORD?  Are you more concerned about pleasing others when you speak, or do you want the words of your mouth to be pleasing to your Redeemer, Jesus Christ (Psalm 19:14)?  A lifetime is nothing in the sight of God (Psalm 39:5).  Commit to use yours to speak the truth of God’s Word to everyone around you.

Pray Psalm 39:4, 7-8, and 12a over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, make _______ and me to know our end

 and what is the extent of our days;

let us know how transient we are.

 And now, LORD, for what do we wait?

 Our hope is in You.

 Deliver us from all our transgressions;

make us not the reproach of the foolish.

 Hear our prayer, O LORD, and give ear to our cry. 

Do not be silent at our tears…

For Your name’s sake, Jesus~”