Psalm 1 - Praying God's Word

                                                 Summer of Psalms

It was 2005. Ron received orders to Iraq; he would be gone for many months, including most of summer. I dreaded the thought of him being away for so long. Prior to his departure, many of my days were filled with heart pounding, paralyzing anxiety. Thankfully, the LORD gave me Psalm 73:26: “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Every time I started to have a panic attack, I said that verse over and over and over ... miraculously, my heart rate would return to normal, and I could breathe again.

When the day came for Ron to get on the plane to leave, I had the peace from God that surpasses comprehension (Philippians 4:7). And I had a plan for how to thrive (not merely survive) the days while he was gone. My countdown chain for Ron’s return was to read one psalm a day. In my Bible, each psalm is dated with those days he was gone. It is a precious reminder of the LORD’s faithfulness and how He used His Word to turn dreaded days into a savory season with Him.

For the next 100 days of summer, you will read 100 psalms. Summer can be a time for refreshing. It can be used for relaxation and vacation, a carefree departure from the normal. Let these daily doses of prayers and praises from Psalms keep you focused on God. We hope that as you read and pray Psalms, this will be a summer to savor with your Savior.

Please read Psalm 1.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/psa/1/1/s_479001

Meditate on verses 4a and 6b.

The wicked are not so; the way of the wicked will perish.

In Psalm 1, the way of the righteous person is contrasted with the way of the wicked person. The wicked are hostile toward God. They have a path they want others to walk with them, and they have a seat where they sit and scoff at God (v.1). A righteous person refuses to partake in their evil ways or listen to their counsel; instead, they delight in and meditate on God’s Word all the time. The result is a person who thrives and lives a prosperous and fruitful life, knowing and being known by the LORD (vs. 2-3, 6). Extermination and destruction are the result of the wicked person’s choice to rebel against God and His Word (v. 6).

Who do you choose to be? Pray Psalm 1 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, I want my family to be blessed by You.

Please do not let _______ and me walk in the counsel of the wicked,

nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers.

Let us delight in Your Law, LORD, and meditate on it day and night.

Let us be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water which yields its fruit in its season and whose leaf does not whither.  Let us prosper in whatever we do. 

Do not let us be wicked.  We do not want to be like chaff which the wind drives away. 

We want to stand in the judgment and be in the assembly of the righteous.

 LORD, You know the way of the righteous.  Make us Your righteous people. 

Do not let us perish.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, Volume 2 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Zechariah 14 - Praying God's Word

Please read Zechariah 14.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/zec/14/1/s_925001

Meditate on verse 9.

And the LORD will be king over all the earth;

 in that day the LORD will be the only one, and His name the only one.

Zechariah 14 describes the time when Christ returns with His holy ones, Christians, to rule the earth. It gives added details to the events recorded in Revelation 19-20:1-6. It is exciting to know that a day is coming when “Jerusalem will dwell in security” (v. 11). It is also sobering to know a day is coming when the enemies of God will experience their flesh “rot while they stand on their feet, and their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongue will rot in their mouth” (v. 12).

Now that you have read Zechariah, you know what God has declared will happen. This is not a fictional scene from a movie; this is not man’s imagination. This is the Word of God, and this is the Truth (Psalm 119:160). Whom will you tell before it is too late?

Pray Zechariah 14:9 and 11 as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, ________ and I look forward to the day that You are king over all the earth,

 the day when You, LORD, are the only one and Your name the only one. 

We look forward to the day when people will live in Jerusalem,

 and there will no longer be a curse, for Jerusalem will dwell in security.”

Because of Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL 2 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Zechariah 13 - Praying God's Word

Please read Zechariah 13.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/zec/13/1/s_924001

Meditate on verse 1.

In that day a fountain will be opened for the house of David

 and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for impurity.

In that day is an important repeated phrase in Zechariah. It is used 16 times in the last three chapters of this book you are praying, and it describes the time when God focuses His attention on Israel for their salvation. The LORD declares that one third of the Jews left in the land will say the LORD is their God, and He will declare them His people (vs. 8-9). It is exciting to know how the story ends!

As a child of God, you called on the name of the LORD to be saved (Romans 10:13). The fountain of salvation, the blood of Christ, was opened to cleanse you of all sin and impurity (Hebrews 9:14). Let the LORD of hosts remove any remaining idols and false prophets in your life (v. 2). Ask Him to keep you and those you love away from unclean spirits (v. 2). And pray for the salvation of Israel and those you love who need the Shepherd (v. 7).

Pray Zechariah 13:1-2 and 9 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, let Your fountain be opened for Israel and for _________,

 for removing sin and impurity.

Cut off the names of the idols from __________ and me;

let them no longer be remembered.

 Remove the false prophets and the unclean spirits from the land.

Refine us as silver is refined.  Test us as gold is tested. 

We call on Your name; answer us.

 Let us hear You say, ‘You are My people.’

We say, ‘LORD, You are our God.’

Because of Your name, LORD Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL 2 ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Zechariah 12 - Praying God's Word

Please read Zechariah 12.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/zec/12/1/s_923001

Meditate on verse 1.

The burden of the Word of the LORD concerning Israel.

Thus declares the LORD who stretches out the heavens,

 lays the foundation of the earth,

and forms the spirit of man within him.

Before the LORD told Zechariah amazing end time prophecies concerning Israel, He reminded him about who He is. The LORD, who miraculously stretched out the heavens, laid the earth’s foundation, and forms the spirit of every human will save and defend Jerusalem and Judah. He will destroy all the nations that come against her. In that day, the LORD will pour out His Spirit of grace on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and they will see and recognize the LORD Jesus, whom they pierced (v. 10).

Know with certainty the LORD has not rejected Israel; His miraculous plans for her will stand. Do not doubt God’s Word or attempt to change it to fit false teaching. The LORD God made the heavens and the earth by His great power and outstretched arm; nothing is too difficult for Him (Jeremiah 32:17)!

As you wait for the LORD to fulfill His Word for Israel, pray for Him to do the same for you and those you love. Pray Zechariah 12:10 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, pour out Your Spirit of grace and supplication on _________ and me.

 Let us always look on You, Jesus, who was pierced because of us.

Thank You, LORD Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL 2 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Zechariah 11 - Praying God's Word

Please read Zechariah 11.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/zec/11/1/s_922001

Meditate on verse 4.

Thus says the LORD my God,

 “Pasture the flock doomed to slaughter.”

The LORD was angry with the shepherds whose job was to care for His people. The people perished for lack of Godly leadership. The LORD told Zechariah to shepherd this pathetic flock. As he pastured, Zechariah became a sermon illustration and a prophecy. Zechariah broke his staff named Favor. Those watching knew it was the Word of the LORD; they no longer had His favor. When Zechariah asked to be paid for shepherding, he was given a measly 30 pieces of silver. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, was betrayed for the same amount. And unlike the worthless shepherds, Jesus laid down His life for the sheep that were doomed to death and annihilation without Him (v. 9; Matthew 26:15; John 10:11).

Who does the LORD expect you to shepherd? If you are a Christian, there is at least one person in your realm of influence you can pasture to Christlikeness. Shepherd well the flock God has given you, and heed His warning:

Woe to the worthless shepherd who leaves the flock!

A sword will be on his arm and on his right eye!

His arm will be totally withered and his right eye will be blind.

— Zechariah 11:17

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

“LORD, help _______ and me pasture the flock doomed to slaughter apart from You, hence the afflicted of the flock.  Help us pasture with Favor and Union.

In Your name, Great Shepherd, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL 2 ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Zechariah 10 - Praying God's Word

Please read Zechariah 10.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/zec/10/1/s_921001

Meditate on verse 11a and 12.

“And they will pass through the sea of distress,

and I will strengthen them in the LORD,

and in His name they will walk,” declares the LORD.

Zechariah 10 is full of promises from the LORD for His flock, the house of Judah (vs. 5-8):

·      He will be with them.

·      He will strengthen them.

·      He will save them.

·      He will bring them back.

·      He has compassion on them.

·      They will be as though He had not rejected them.

·      He will answer them.

·      Their heart will rejoice in the LORD.

·      He will gather them, for He has redeemed them.

The LORD has not forgotten His flock of Israel, and if you are a follower of Christ, He has not forgotten you, either; for you are part of His flock.

I have other sheep, which are not of this fold;

 I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice;

and they will become one flock with one shepherd.

—John 10:16

Pray Zechariah 10:11a and 12 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, when _______ and I pass through the sea of distress, strengthen us.

Let us walk in Your name, LORD Jesus.”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL 2 ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Zechariah 9 - Praying God's Word

Please read Zechariah 9.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/zec/9/1/s_920001

Meditate on verse 9.

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!

Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem!

Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation;

humble and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

You may recognize the meditation verse as a prophecy about Jesus, which He fulfilled the week of His crucifixion when He rode into Jerusalem on a young donkey (Luke 19:30-40). The thousands of Jews in Jerusalem that week had this Word from the LORD for 500 years prior to seeing it actually happen. Yet, most of them rejected Jesus as their king, and by the end of the week, they were crying out, “Crucify, crucify Him!” (Luke 23:21). They rejected the Word of the LORD and gave into mob mentality.

As you hold God’s Word in your hand, commit to keeping God’s truths. Do not be tempted to give into mob mentality that wants to change the Word of the LORD to accommodate the sins of society. Be encouraged by Zechariah 9. The LORD is destroying His enemies and saving those who are in a covenant relationship with Him. Let Him defend you!

Pray Zechariah 9:11-12 and 15a over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, because of the blood of Your covenant with _________ and me,

set us free from the waterless pit. 

We have the hope, so we return to You, our stronghold.

Restore double to us.  LORD of hosts, defend us.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL 2 ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Zechariah 8 - Praying God's Word

Please read Zechariah 8.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/zec/8/1/s_919001

Meditate on verses 17 and 19b.

“Also let none of you devise evil in your heart against another,

 and do not love perjury; for all these are what I hate,” declares the LORD.

 “Love truth and peace.”

Zechariah 8 contains exciting end-time prophecies.  The day will come when Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth.  The LORD will bring His people there to “be their God in truth and righteousness” (v. 8).  He will save a remnant of Judah and Israel to be a blessing.

This chapter also contains a list of four things God says you should do (vs. 16-17):

1.     Speak truth to one another.

2.     Judge with truth to bring peace.

3.     Do not devise evil in your heart against another.

4.     Do not love perjury.

The LORD hates evil and lies; He loves peace and truth.  Do you hate the same things the LORD hates?  Do you love what He loves?  The world wants you to love what God hates.  Ask the LORD to give you His heart and desire to obey His Word.

Pray Zechariah 8:16-17, 19, and 21 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, may _______ and I speak the truth to one another. 

Let us judge with truth for peace in our gates.

 Do not let us devise evil in our hearts against another. 

Let us not love perjury; for all these are what You hate.

 Let us love truth and peace.

 I entreat Your favor, LORD, and I seek You, LORD of hosts.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL 2 ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Zechariah 7 - Praying God's Word

Please read Zechariah 7.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/zec/7/1/s_918001

Meditate on verse 12.

They made their hearts like flint so that they could not hear the law and the words which the LORD of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets;

 therefore,  great wrath came from the LORD of hosts.

When the temple of the LORD was in its final two years of rebuilding, some men from Bethel came to Jerusalem to ask the priests and the prophets about seeking the favor of the LORD. The LORD told Zechariah to ask them their real motivation behind fasting for God’s favor. Were they seeking God or were they seeking what God could give them? The LORD knew their selfish desires, so He reminded them of past admonishments to practice kindness and compassion instead of oppression and evil when fasting (vs.9-10; Isaiah 58). The people “refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears from hearing” (v. 11). The LORD refused to listen to them because they refused to listen to Him.

Do you have a tender heart towards the LORD, desiring to know Him and His Word? Or do you have a hard heart that refuses to hear God and only seeks Him when you need something?

Pray to be the opposite of Zechariah 7:12 for yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, do not let ________ and me make our hearts like flint.

Let us hear Your Law and the Words

which You have sent by Your Spirit through the prophets

 so that we do not experience Your wrath.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL 2 ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

  

Zechariah 6 - Praying God's Word

Please read Zechariah 6.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/zec/6/1/s_917001

Meditate on verse 12.

Then say to him, “Thus says the LORD of hosts,

 ‘Behold, a man whose name is Branch,

for He will branch out from where He is;

and He will build the temple of the LORD.’”

Zechariah wasn’t the only prophet who preached about Branch. Isaiah said Branch would be “beautiful and glorious” (Isaiah 4:2). Jeremiah declared Branch would “reign as king and be called the LORD our righteousness” (Jeremiah 23:5-6). Branch is Jesus; He is the builder of the temple of the LORD, and He sits on His throne as king and priest (vs. 12-13). Joshua, the high priest, and those who worked on and in the temple needed a reminder that they were not ruling over the temple; it was under the reign of the LORD (vs. 11-14).

If you are a follower of the Branch, the LORD Jesus Christ, you are His temple and under His reign and authority (1 Corinthians 6:19). Ask Him to branch out and take over every part of you (v. 12). Let Him build your life.

 Pray Zechariah 6:12-13 and 15 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, Branch out in _______ and me.

Build us into Your temple, LORD.

Bear the honor and sit and rule on Your throne.

Be priest on Your throne and counsel peace in us.

Let us completely obey You, LORD our God.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL 2 ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Zechariah 5 - Praying God's Word

Please read Zechariah 5.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/zec/5/1/s_916001

Meditate on verse 8a.

Then he said, “This is Wickedness!”

Zechariah preached a sermon to the builders of the temple emphasizing God’s Word. He had a vision of a scroll, 30 feet by 15 feet in size, which contained in writing God’s law and the curse for not obeying. As the builders concerned themselves with the exact measurements for building the temple structure, the LORD wanted them to focus on His Word.

God then gave Zechariah a vision of evil personified: a woman sitting in a bushel basket with a lead weight on top of her; her name was Wickedness. God’s Word clearly defines sin and the punishment that results from it. Sin is wickedness, and every human will be held accountable to the LORD and His Word.

What projects are you and your church doing? Is your focus on teaching and learning God’s Word? The world describes behavior contrary to the Bible as a “personal choice.” God calls it “wickedness.” Ask the LORD to give you His courage to speak His Truth.

Pray Zechariah 5:4 and 8 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, You will make Your Word go forth into every house to consume it.

May ________ and I take Your Word to every house before it is too late.

Keep us from Wickedness!

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL 2 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Zechariah 4 - Praying God's Word

Please read Zechariah 4.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/zec/4/1/s_915001

Meditate on verse 6.

Then he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel saying,

‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts.”

Zerubbabel, Judah’s governor, started rebuilding the temple then stopped for 14 years because of threats and executive decrees (Ezra 3:8; 4:4, 21- 24). The LORD sent the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to encourage Zerubbabel and the other builders to press on in God’s work and not fear men (Ezra 5:1-2). The LORD wanted Zerubbabel to know the temple would be rebuilt by the power of His Spirit, not by Zerubbabel’s power or the might of his building crew (v. 6). This mountain of a project would become a plain by God’s grace (v. 7). Zerubbabel laid the foundation of the temple, and by the Spirit’s strength, he would lay its capstone 22 years later (Zechariah 4:7, 9; Ezra 6:14-16).

What mountain are you facing that seems insurmountable? Bring it to the LORD and seek His power and grace. Nothing is too difficult for Him (Jeremiah 32:17).

Pray Zechariah 4:6 over a difficult situation in your life and the life of those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“Not by might nor by power,

but by Your Spirit, LORD,

work in ____________.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL 2 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Zechariah 3 - Praying God's Word

Please read Zechariah 3.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/zec/3/1/s_914001

Meditate on verses 3-4.

Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments and standing before the angel.

 He spoke and said to those who were standing before him, saying,

“Remove the filthy garments from him.” 

Again he said to him, “See, I have taken your iniquity away from you

 and will clothe you with festal robes.”

Joshua was the high priest working with Zerubbabel to rebuild the temple at Jerusalem (Haggai 2:2-4; Ezra 5:1-2). Before Joshua could do the LORD’s work, God had to remove his filthy, sinful garments and give him clean, festive robes.

This vision of Joshua’s wardrobe change is the picture of what it means to become a Christian. Before Christ, you wore foul, polluted rags representing the sin that consumed your life. “But the LORD caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him” (Isaiah 53:6). God put your disgusting garment of sin on Jesus and gave you His garment of salvation and righteousness (Isaiah 61:10). Amazing!

Are you trying to do the LORD’s work by your own righteousness? God says we are all “unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment” (Isaiah 64:6). Unless you are wearing the saving righteousness of Jesus Christ, your work is vain. “LORD, take away my iniquity and clothe me with festal robes” (v. 4).

When you are dressed in the righteousness of Christ, you have confidence in Him to complete the tasks He calls you to do.

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

“LORD, help ________ and me to walk in Your ways and perform Your service.

Let us govern and have charge in Your house and courts.

Grant us free access among those standing here.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL 2 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Zechariah 2 - Praying God's Word

Please read Zechariah 1:7-2:13, asking the LORD to give you insight with understanding as you read the visions the LORD gave Zechariah.

www.blueletterbible.org/tools/MultiVerse.cfm?s=0010Cj

Meditate on Zechariah 2:8.

For thus says the LORD of hosts, “After glory, He has sent Me

 against the nations which plunder you,

for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye.”

The temple rebuilders needed encouragement to finish building (Ezra 5:1-2). God sent Zechariah to tell the people, “Thus says the LORD, ‘I will return to Jerusalem with compassion; My house will be built in it’” (Zechariah 1:16). God’s people were the apple of His eye, so they could build with confidence because the eye of their God was on them (Zechariah 2:8; Ezra 5:5).

If the LORD Jesus is your Savior, you, too, are precious to God. You are the apple of His eye, and He does not take His eye off of you.

Wondrously show Your lovingkindness, O Savior of those who take refuge

at Your right hand from those who rise up against them. 

Keep me as the apple of the eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings.

—Psalm 17:7-8

“I will counsel you with My eye upon you.”

—Psalm 32:8b

Ponder these truths in awe-filled silence before the LORD (Zechariah 2:13).  Then pray Zechariah 2:5 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, be a wall of fire around ________ and me,

and be the glory in our midst.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL 2 ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Zechariah 1 - Praying God's Word

Please read Zechariah 1.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/zec/1/1/s_912001

Meditate on verse 4.

“Do not be like your fathers,

 to whom the former prophets proclaimed, saying,

 ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts,

 “Return now from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.”’

 But they did not listen or give heed to Me,” declares the LORD.

Zechariah was another prophet sent by the LORD to preach to the Israelites and encourage them in the task of rebuilding His temple (Ezra 5:1-2). Zechariah’s first sermon was simple; the LORD wanted this remnant of Jews to return to Him and not be like their fathers who refused to return to the LORD and continued in their evil ways and deeds. The LORD was very angry with these fathers who refused to repent until they were overtaken by God’s Words and dealt with by God.

Listen and give heed to Zechariah’s message. Refusing God’s gracious offer to return to Him will meet with His wrath.

But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart

you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath.

—Romans 2:5a

Pray Zechariah 1:3-4 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, let ________ and me be obedient to return to You,

 that You may return to us.

Let us listen and give heed to Your command

to return now from our evil ways and from our evil deeds.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL 2 ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell