Day 164

Hear Our Prayer, O Lord

Read: Psalms 1-7

Although Job has taught us that we must not deal with this truth simplistically, the first psalm once again reminds us that God blesses godliness and punishes evil. The godly person loves God’s Word, and as a result avoids getting involved in evil.

The second psalm is one of a number of psalms called messianic; that is, it deals with prophecies which are fulfilled by Christ. He will break down the proud resistance of those who rebel against him.

Psalm 3 tells of David’s faith in God as he endures the trial produced by the rebellion of Absalom. The fourth psalm is an evening prayer, setting us a good example, that we may place ourselves in the hands of God each night before we go to sleep.

The fifth psalm is a morning prayer. Let us begin each day with God, putting our trust in him to help us with all the problems we face that day. Psalm 6 is one of the psalms called penitential, in which the psalmist realizes he deserves the wrath of God, but pleads for his mercy instead. David had many enemies who were always threatening him, so in Psalm 7 and in many other psalms, he prays for protection from their attacks. We all have a great enemy, the devil. Let us constantly ask for God’s protection against him. As Jesus taught us to pray, “Deliver us from evil [or the evil one].”

PRAYER
Father, help us to develop the same prayerful spirit expressed by the psalmist. In Jesus’ name. Amen.