Psalm 75 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Psalm 75.

Meditate on verse 1.

We give thanks to You, O God,

we give thanks,

 for Your name is near;

 men declare Your wondrous works.

Therefore the LORD Himself will give you a sign:

Behold a virgin will be with child and bear a son,

and she will call His name Immanuel,

 which translated means, “God with us.”

—Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23

Not only is the name of the LORD near to you; the LORD Himself is actually with you if you are in Christ Jesus.  Hear what He says to you in Psalm 75; the LORD is speaking in verses 2-5.

When I select an appointed time,
it is I who judge with equity.
The earth and all who dwell in it melt;
it is I who have firmly set its pillars.
 I said to the boastful, “Do not boast,”
and to the wicked, “Do not lift up the horn;
do not lift up your horn on high;
do not speak with insolent pride.”

The Babe you worship this Christmas day is the coming Judge before whom all the world will be held accountable.  Those who do not know Him as Savior and LORD will be made to drink from the cup of God’s anger which is in His hand (Psalm 75:8; Revelation 14:10).  The psalmist made a contrast between himself and the wicked who will drink that wine of wrath.  Can you say the words of the psalmist?  If so, pray Psalm 75:9-10 as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).  If you cannot, ask Christ Jesus to be your Immanuel.

“LORD, as for me, I will declare it forever;

 I will sing praises to You, God of Jacob.

Cut off all the horns of the wicked,

but lift up the horns of the righteous.

Make ________ and me righteous.

Because of Your name, Jesus~”

Psalm 74 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Psalm 74.

Meditate on verses 1 and 12.

O God, why have You rejected us forever?

Why does Your anger smoke against the sheep of Your pasture?

Yet God is my king from of old,

Who works deeds of deliverance in the midst of the earth.

Asaph and the Israelites felt rejected by God.  The enemy had damaged everything within the sanctuary of the LORD (Psalm 74:3).  Asaph used words like smashed, burned, and defiled to describe what the adversary had done.

Asaph did two things in the midst of his depressing situation.  He remembered God’s faithfulness in the past, and He asked God to remember what the enemy did to His people (Psalm 74:12-18).

Based on recent messages I have received, there are many in the midst of grievous circumstances this Christmas.  You or someone you love may feel smashed by the enemy.  Please recall the blessings and faithfulness of God.  You may want to start with one of Asaph’s recollections: “You have made summer and winter” (Psalm 74:17).  Then cry to God for deliverance.

Pray Psalm 74:18-23 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“Remember this, O LORD, that the enemy has reviled,

 and a foolish people has spurned Your name.

 Do not deliver the soul of Your turtledove, __________, and me to the wild beast;

do not forget the life of Your afflicted forever.

Consider the covenant,

for the dark places of the land are full of the habitations of violence. 

Let not the oppressed return dishonored;

 let the afflicted and needy praise Your name. 

Arise, O God, and plead Your own cause;

 remember how the foolish man reproaches You all day long.

 Do not forget the voice of Your adversaries,

the uproar of those who rise against You which ascends continually.

For the sake of Your name, Jesus~”

Psalm 73 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Psalm 73.

Meditate on verses 16 and 17.

When I pondered to understand this, it was troublesome in my sight;

 until I came into the sanctuary of God, then I perceived their end.

The psalmist, Asaph, described a troubling situation in Psalm 73.  He observed the prosperity of the wicked and envied the arrogant (v. 3).  The wicked seemed to always be at ease while he was stricken all day long, even though he had kept his heart pure and his hands innocent (vs. 12-14).  Nothing made sense until Asaph came into the sanctuary of the LORD, then he understood these truths about the wicked (v.17):

            *God set them in slippery places (v. 18).

            *God cast them down to destruction (v. 18).

            *They are destroyed in a moment (v. 19).

            *They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors (v. 19).

            *The LORD will despise their form (v. 20).

Prior to gaining God’s perspective, Asaph was embittered and senseless; he was like a beast before the LORD (Psalm 73:21-22).  Being in God’s presence gave Asaph insight and understanding into what was going on around him.

Does the news and what is going on around you make you crazy?  Are there people and things in your life that make no sense?  You need time-out with your LORD.  Reading the Bible and talking to God will give you His perspective on the situation and bring you peace.

Pray Psalm 73:23-28 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, thank You that ________ and I are continually with You!

Take hold of our right hands. 

Guide us with Your counsel,

and afterward receive us to glory.

Whom have we in heaven but You?

And besides You, we desire nothing on earth.

Our flesh and our hearts may fail,

but God, be the strength of our hearts and our portion forever.

Do not let _________ be far from You; do not let them be unfaithful to You.

The nearness of You is our good; LORD God, we make You our refuge.

Let us tell of Your works.

For the sake of Your name, Jesus~”

Psalm 72 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Psalm 72.

Meditate on verse 17.

May his name endure forever;

may his name increase as long as the sun shines,

 and let men bless themselves by him;

 let all nations call him blessed.

Psalm 72 is a prayer King David prayed for his son, King Solomon.  It is also a Messianic Psalm.  Reread it and capitalize the h of he.  Do you read words that make you think of Jesus?

May He judge Your people with righteousness

 and Your afflicted with justice.

May He vindicate the afflicted of the people,

save the children, and crush the oppressor.

Let them fear You while the sun endures,

 and as long as the moon, throughout all generations. 

May He come down like rain upon the mown grass,

 like showers that water the earth. 

In His days, may the righteous flourish

 and abundance of peace till the moon is no more. 

May He also rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. 

Let the nomads of the desert bow before Him

 and His enemies lick the dust.

 And let all kings bow down before Him, all nations serve Him.

May His name endure forever;

 may His name increase as long as the sun shines,

and let men bless themselves by Him.

 Let all nations call Him blessed. 

—Psalm 72:2-9, 11, 17

When Messiah came, He brought righteousness and peace to all who receive Him.  When He comes again, righteousness and peace will reign to the ends of the earth. “Come quickly, LORD Jesus!”

Pray the words of Psalm 72 for Christ to return to earth soon.  Pray Psalm 72:18-20 and ask God to work wonders in your life and in the lives of those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

Blessed be You, the LORD God, the God of Israel,

Who alone works wonders—

LORD, work wonders for ________ and me.

And blessed be Your glorious name forever;

and may the whole earth be filled with Your glory.

Amen and Amen.

Psalm 71 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read and pray Psalm 71.  The entire psalm is a prayer.

Meditate on verses 5 and 6.

For You are my hope;

O LORD God, You are my confidence from my youth.

 By You, I have been sustained from my birth;

You are He who took me from my mother’s womb;

my praise is continually of You.

Psalm 71 was part of my Bible reading the day our granddaughter was born; I wrote a note about it in my Bible.  God preplanned a reading from Psalm 71 to be written into the devotional book I use months before He started weaving my granddaughter together inside her mama.  He knew the date of her birth, and He knew I would be following that devotional plan.  The LORD was pleased that I noticed His involvement in our lives.

The LORD is constantly involved like that in your life; He has been even before He took you from your mother’s womb (Psalm 71:6).  He wants you to notice and pay attention to Him.  The psalmist recognized what God had done and was doing in his life.  Because of that knowledge, he hoped in the LORD continually and praised Him more and more, even in the midst of troubling and distressful times (Psalm 71:14, 20).

Reread Psalm 71 and pray it specifically over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).  Here are verses 1 and 2 to get you started:

“In You, O LORD, ________ and I have taken refuge;

 let us never be ashamed.

 In Your righteousness deliver us and rescue us.

  Incline Your ear to us and save us…

In Your name, Jesus~”

Psalm 70 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Psalm 70.

Meditate on verse 4.

Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You,

and let those who love Your salvation say continually,

 “Let God be magnified.”

David came to God with a list of needs in Psalm 70:

1.     Hurry and deliver me (v. 1).

2.     Hurry and help me (v. 1).

3.     Let those be ashamed and humiliated who seek my life (v. 2).

4.     Let those be turned back and dishonored who delight in my hurt (v. 2).

5.     Let those be turned back because of their shame who say, “Aha, aha!”

(v. 3).

Let David’s honesty with the LORD encourage you as you make your requests known to God. 

David also made a list of behaviors indicative of a person who seeks God and loves His salvation:

1.     They rejoice (v. 4).

2.     They are glad (v. 4).

3.     They say continually, “Let God be magnified” (v. 4).

When David wrote this Psalm, he was not glad and rejoicing; he was afflicted and needy.  He sought the God of his salvation to be his deliverer and helper (Psalm 70:5).

Even though you seek and love the LORD, there will still be days, months, and perhaps years when you need the LORD to not delay in delivering you from what is threatening to devour you.  You can be honest with Him about what you need.

Pray Psalm 70:5 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, ________ and I are afflicted and needy;

hasten to us, O God!

You are our help and our deliverer;

O LORD, do not delay!

For the sake of Your name, Jesus~”

 

Psalm 69 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Psalm 69.

Meditate on verses 1-3.

Save me, O God, for the waters have threatened my life.

  I have sunk in deep mire, and there is no foothold;

 I have come into deep waters, and a flood overflows me.

 I am weary with my crying; my throat is parched;

 my eyes fail while I wait for my God.

David was in a low, depressed place when he wrote this psalm.  If you or someone you love are in a similar state, Psalm 69 can help express difficult thoughts and feelings. 

David was transparent and real with the LORD.  People might have accused him of being overly dramatic, but God listened and did not despise him when he said things like: “those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head” (Psalm 69:4, 33). 

It is reassuring to know that even David, the giant slayer and the man after God’s own heart, had times of depression and despair.  It is also important to know he had an intimately honest relationship with his Savior who never deserted him at any time in his life.

Cry out to the LORD like David did on behalf of yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).  Pray Psalm 69:13-17.

“My prayer for ________ and me is to You, O LORD.

O God, in the greatness of Your lovingkindness,

 answer us with Your saving truth.

Deliver us from the mire and do not let us sink.

May we be delivered from our foes and from the deep waters.

May the flood of water not overflow us nor the deep swallow us up,

 nor the pit shut its mouth on us. 

Answer us, O LORD, for Your lovingkindness is good.

According to the greatness of Your compassion, turn to us,

and do not hide Your face from your servants,

 for we are in distress; answer us quickly.

In Your name, Jesus~”