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Psalm 46 - A Prayer for Ukraine

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  God, as I read the words of this psalm and as I listen to this song, I can’t help but think again of our brothers and sisters in Ukraine. I can’t imagine the trauma that they face daily. I can’t imagine the fear. I can’t imagine the tears and the despair as they face the destruction of all they’ve known - buildings destroyed, cars burned, children kidnapped, women raped, lives taken. So, I pray Psalm 46 for and with them. God, as their mountains crumble and their waters foam and as their earth gives way, be their refuge; be present as their help; be their strength (v. 1-3). God, remind the Ukrainian believers that you are seated on your throne and that while Putin rages, the earth can and will melt with a simple utterance of your voice (v. 6). God, just say the word. God, destroy the destroyer. You are the one who makes wars cease - you break the bow, and you burn the chariots (or tanks) with fire (v. 8-9). I pray that in their turmoil, you will still the hearts of the Ukrainians -
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Psalm 45 - the meek husband

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  God, as I meditate on this psalm and pick up my pen to write, I don't feel like the author of this psalm feels. His heart was overflowing with joy, and his tongue was like a scribe's pen ready to write (v. 1). Why? Because this is a wedding psalm. It's a time for celebration, speeches, dancing, love, and emotions. Who doesn't love a good wedding? But God, my heart isn't there this morning. Instead of playing a major key, my heart is playing in a minor key. I'm still grieving the loss of my mom from 3 weeks ago. I still feel a heaviness, and I still feel tired. So, as I still have the vivid picture in my mind of my dad holding my mom for the last time after holding her for 61 years of marriage, it's hard for me to enter into the joy of new love, life, and celebration. But Jesus, I thank you that there is hope in this psalm, even for the weary. Ultimately, Jesus, this psalm is about you. You are the King. You are the bridegroom. You are the one whose garmen
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Psalm 44 - Given over to death

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  (Written on March 6, 2023) God, what a week it has been. I arrived at my parent's house one week ago because my mom's health was weakening. We started getting word that she maybe had a few weeks. Those few weeks turned into only a few days. God, as I grieve, this psalm hits all too close to home. When I arrived Monday evening, my mom was literally "being given over to death all day long" and "was covered with the shadow of death" (v. 19). Her breathing was labored. She wasn't eating. And she was frail. God, the last hour was brutal. Trying to get her ready for bed that evening, any strength that she had kept giving out. My dad and I struggled as she fell to the floor multiple times. Life was leaving her, and her body was literally "clinging to the ground," and her "soul was bowed down to the dust" (v. 25). Her breaths slowed, and then the struggling stilled. I sat on the floor, holding her on my lap as I faced the painful reality t
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Psalm 42-43 - why am I so distraught?

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  (Because of the repeated refrains and the lack of heading in Psalm 43, I agree with many commentators, that these two psalms were originally one psalm. Therefore, my prayer will be for both psalms). God, it is obvious that the author of Psalms 42 and 43 is in great distress. The agony of his soul is on full display with words like mourning, turmoil, fears, and cast down. In his despair, he even has to plead with his soul to find hope in God (42:5, 11, 43: 5). God, many of us have been there - the discouragement, the mourning, the anguish, the tears. We can relate. But what I can’t relate to is why he feels all of this. These two psalms paint a picture of a man who finds himself removed from the place of worship. And his longing for you leads to the question, “When shall I come and appear before God?” 42:2). And, in 43:3-4, he finds hope that he will once again find joy in being in your presence. God, the sad reality is that I could often go through my days or weeks and be content wi
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Psalm 41 - A deathbed psalm

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  God, this psalm concludes book 1 of the Psalter. And, even though we will have other Davidic Psalms scattered throughout the rest of the book, this psalm seems to be intentionally placed here as a conclusion to David's life. God, his life has been one marked by struggle. And this psalm appears to be a deathbed psalm. As David is on his bed sick, struggling for life, the struggle of his life continues. Even in his weakest moment, his enemies (even his friends - v. 9) turn against him. God, David can't catch a break, even on his deathbed. And God, this is what makes David a man after your own heart. Again and again, his life has so paralleled your son's suffering. Because of this, I would say that in David's suffering, he knew Jesus better before his earthly existence than I do after his life, death, and resurrection. I know about him, but David truly knew him, walking the same path a thousand years before his savior would ever be born. And now, even in his death, the
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Psalm 39 - The heavy hand of discipline

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  God, sometimes it feels like your hand is too heavy upon us. David surely knew what this felt like. It took everything in him to hold his tongue in the presence of his enemies so he wouldn't give them another opportunity to mock him and you. And while he remained silent, his frustration and anger toward you reached a boiling point (v. 3). Then, it all came out. As it came out, he fumed, "God, you have stripped me of everything, and I have been brought to the point where I see my life as but a breath. I have no more strength in and of myself. My life is but a shadow that quickly disappears. I know I only have you. I have learned my lesson - so would you let up a bit? I've had all that I can take. Turn away from me so that I can again find happiness" (v. 10-13). God, it's a bold prayer. Throughout David's prayers so far, he wanted to see your face. Your face meant your pleasure. But now, like a child who can't look his parents in the eye after they catch
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Psalm 38 - A broken heart

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  God, I hate the feeling. I’ve been there too many times to count. The pain. The shame. The despair. The discouragement. The anguish. The Anger. And God, it’s good that I’m not alone. As David is feeling the weight of his sin, he says in v. 8, “I am feeble (numb with pain) and crushed (broken), I groan because of the tumult of my heart.” The word “tumult” is only used in one other place in the Hebrew Scriptures. Isaiah 5:30 uses it in reference to the churning of waves. God, David’s heart was like a tumultuous sea. Sin and its devastating effects had so ravaged his heart, as Isaiah says, like a prowling lion. God, I don’t like to feel this. And so, I try to deny or dismiss my sin. I hide behind self-righteousness. I lie to myself and others. Teresa of Avila said, “We need to sit amongst our weeds.” God, I don’t like seeing my weeds, much less sitting in them. But God, you were taking David, and you’re taking me on a journey. As Dallas Willard says, you are taking us “on a journey to
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