Praying the Psalms

Psalm 45

Psalm 45

For the director of music. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil.^[b] A wedding song.

¹ My heart is stirred by a noble theme
    as I recite my verses for the king;
    my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.

² You are the most excellent of men
    and your lips have been anointed with grace,
    since God has blessed you forever.

³ Gird your sword on your side, you mighty one;
    clothe yourself with splendor and majesty.
⁴ In your majesty ride forth victoriously
    in the cause of truth, humility and justice;
    let your right hand achieve awesome deeds.
⁵ Let your sharp arrows pierce the hearts of the king’s enemies;
    let the nations fall beneath your feet.
⁶ Your throne, O God,^[c] will last for ever and ever;
    a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.
⁷ You love righteousness and hate wickedness;
    therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
    by anointing you with the oil of joy.
⁸ All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia;
    from palaces adorned with ivory
    the music of the strings makes you glad.
⁹ Daughters of kings are among your honored women;
    at your right hand is the royal bride in gold of Ophir.

¹⁰ Listen, daughter, and pay careful attention:
    Forget your people and your father’s house.
¹¹ Let the king be enthralled by your beauty;
    honor him, for he is your lord.
¹² The city of Tyre will come with a gift,^[d]
    people of wealth will seek your favor.
¹³ All glorious is the princess within her chamber;
    her gown is interwoven with gold.
¹⁴ In embroidered garments she is led to the king;
    her virgin companions follow her—
    those brought to be with her.
¹⁵ Led in with joy and gladness,
    they enter the palace of the king.

¹⁶ Your sons will take the place of your fathers;
    you will make them princes throughout the land.

¹⁷ I will perpetuate your memory through all generations;
    therefore the nations will praise you for ever and ever.

Questions to ponder:

This Psalm reminds us of God’s kingship and the majesty of his glory and his loving commitment to His bride, the church. How does the Lord’s permanent reign as King of Kings spur you on to respond with worship and devotion to Him?

What is the evidence in your life that you have been anointed with the oil of joy?

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

Psalm 42

Psalm 41

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

¹ Blessed are those who have regard for the weak;
    the Lord delivers them in times of trouble.
² The Lord protects and preserves them—
    they are counted among the blessed in the land—
    he does not give them over to the desire of their foes.
³ The Lord sustains them on their sickbed
    and restores them from their bed of illness.

⁴ I said, “Have mercy on me, Lord;
    heal me, for I have sinned against you.”
⁵ My enemies say of me in malice,
    “When will he die and his name perish?”
⁶ When one of them comes to see me,
    he speaks falsely, while his heart gathers slander;
    then he goes out and spreads it around.

⁷ All my enemies whisper together against me;
    they imagine the worst for me, saying,
⁸ “A vile disease has afflicted him;
    he will never get up from the place where he lies.”
⁹ Even my close friend,
    someone I trusted,
one who shared my bread,
    has turned^[b] against me.

¹⁰ But may you have mercy on me, Lord;
    raise me up, that I may repay them.
¹¹ I know that you are pleased with me,
    for my enemy does not triumph over me.
¹² Because of my integrity you uphold me
    and set me in your presence forever.

¹³ Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
    from everlasting to everlasting.
Amen and Amen.

Questions to ponder:

What are some practical ways we can, as a church, love, and care for the weak, sick, and oppressed, and marginalized among us?

What does it mean to live with integrity?

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