Praying the Psalms

Psalm 87

Psalm 87

Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. A song.

¹ He has founded his city on the holy mountain.
² The Lord loves the gates of Zion
    more than all the other dwellings of Jacob.

³ Glorious things are said of you,
    city of God:^[a]
4 “I will record Rahab^[b] and Babylon
    among those who acknowledge me—
Philistia too, and Tyre, along with Cush^[c]—
    and will say, ‘This one was born in Zion.’”^[d]
5 Indeed, of Zion it will be said,
    “This one and that one were born in her,
    and the Most High himself will establish her.”
⁶ The Lord will write in the register of the peoples:
    “This one was born in Zion.”

⁷ As they make music they will sing,
    “All my fountains are in you.”

Questions to ponder:

How does this Psalm shine light on our longing to glorify God with praise and worship (gather)?

As we are all “citizens of the city founded by the Lord,” how can we more boldly invite others to join us (go)?

Praying for you as you read, study, and apply God’s Word.

Psalm 83

Psalm 83

A song. A psalm of Asaph.

¹ O God, do not remain silent;
    do not turn a deaf ear,
    do not stand aloof, O God.
² See how your enemies growl,
    how your foes rear their heads.
³ With cunning they conspire against your people;
    they plot against those you cherish.
⁴ “Come,” they say, “let us destroy them as a nation,
    so that Israel’s name is remembered no more.”

⁵ With one mind they plot together;
    they form an alliance against you—
⁶ the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites,
    of Moab and the Hagrites,
⁷ Byblos, Ammon and Amalek,
    Philistia, with the people of Tyre.
⁸ Even Assyria has joined them
    to reinforce Lot’s descendants.^[b]

⁹ Do to them as you did to Midian,
    as you did to Sisera and Jabin at the river Kishon,
¹⁰ who perished at Endor
    and became like dung on the ground.
¹¹ Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb,
    all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
¹² who said, “Let us take possession
    of the pasturelands of God.”

¹³ Make them like tumbleweed, my God,
    like chaff before the wind.
¹⁴ As fire consumes the forest
    or a flame sets the mountains ablaze,
¹⁵ so pursue them with your tempest
    and terrify them with your storm.
¹⁶ Cover their faces with shame, Lord,
    so that they will seek your name.

¹⁷ May they ever be ashamed and dismayed;
    may they perish in disgrace.
¹⁸ Let them know that you, whose name is the Lord—
    that you alone are the Most High over all the earth.

Questions to ponder:

As a general appeal for the destruction of God’s enemies, what does this Psalm say about our need to unite as a church body against those same enemies (gather)?

How do verses 1 and 18 relate to our charge to spread the message/truth of Christ (go)?

Praying for you as you read, study, and apply God’s Word.