It seems to me that during tragedies Psalm 7 is a good text to pray through.
During these times of national and personal calamities we experience a plethora of emotions. We feel scared for our safety. We feel anger toward those who committed the evil. We feel vulnerable. We want justice. We want answers. We ask: “Why?”
Today, like so many other days, none of us have answers to satisfy our aching hearts. But we can pray. Please pray with me today this prayer adapted from Psalm 7. I think this psalm covers a wide range of our emotions today.
Pray:
Lord, God we seek protection from you,
keep us safe from violent people.
Rescue us. Rescue Boston. Rescue our country.
Lord, this was evil and we’re scared.
But we’re also angry that this happened.
We know that evil acts also anger you
because you love justice.
Please let justice come swiftly,
and peace return to the injured,
the families of the dead,
the city of Boston,
and our country.
Be our shield and protection.
Everything you do is right.
Search me, search us
and transform us into upright people in Jesus Christ.
We turn away from our selfishness,
and turn our hearts, minds and souls to you.
Bring your justice quick.
Let those who seek to do evil,
be undone by their own schemes.
Thank you Lord.
Fill us with the hope that even though it doesn’t seem like it
in Jesus,
every wrong will be made right.
Amen.
Psalm 7
A Shiggaion of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning the words of Cush, a Benjaminite.
Yahweh my God, I seek refuge in You;
save me from all my pursuers
and rescue me
or they will tear me like a lion,
ripping me apart with no one to rescue me.
Yahweh my God, if I have done this,
if there is injustice on my hands,
if I have done harm to one at peace
with me
or have plundered my adversary
without cause,
may an enemy pursue
and overtake me;
may he trample me to the ground
and leave my honor in the dust. Selah
Rise up, Lord, in Your anger;
lift Yourself up against the fury
of my adversaries;
awake for me;
You have ordained a judgment.
Let the assembly of peoples gather around You;
take Your seat on high over it.
The Lord judges the peoples;
vindicate me, Lord,
according to my righteousness
and my integrity.
Let the evil of the wicked come
to an end,
but establish the righteous.
The One who examines the thoughts
and emotions is a righteous God.
My shield is with God,
who saves the upright in heart.
God is a righteous judge
and a God who shows His wrath
every day.
If anyone does not repent,
God will sharpen His sword;
He has strung His bow
and made it ready.
He has prepared His deadly weapons;
He tips His arrows with fire.
See, the wicked one is pregnant with evil,
conceives trouble, and gives birth
to deceit.
He dug a pit and hollowed it out
but fell into the hole he had made.
His trouble comes back
on his own head,
and his violence falls on the top
of his head.
I will thank the Lord for His righteousness;
I will sing about the name of Yahweh
the Most High.
During these times of national and personal calamities we experience a plethora of emotions. We feel scared for our safety. We feel anger toward those who committed the evil. We feel vulnerable. We want justice. We want answers. We ask: “Why?”
Today, like so many other days, none of us have answers to satisfy our aching hearts. But we can pray. Please pray with me today this prayer adapted from Psalm 7. I think this psalm covers a wide range of our emotions today.
Pray:
Lord, God we seek protection from you,
keep us safe from violent people.
Rescue us. Rescue Boston. Rescue our country.
Lord, this was evil and we’re scared.
But we’re also angry that this happened.
We know that evil acts also anger you
because you love justice.
Please let justice come swiftly,
and peace return to the injured,
the families of the dead,
the city of Boston,
and our country.
Be our shield and protection.
Everything you do is right.
Search me, search us
and transform us into upright people in Jesus Christ.
We turn away from our selfishness,
and turn our hearts, minds and souls to you.
Bring your justice quick.
Let those who seek to do evil,
be undone by their own schemes.
Thank you Lord.
Fill us with the hope that even though it doesn’t seem like it
in Jesus,
every wrong will be made right.
Amen.
Psalm 7
A Shiggaion of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning the words of Cush, a Benjaminite.
Yahweh my God, I seek refuge in You;
save me from all my pursuers
and rescue me
or they will tear me like a lion,
ripping me apart with no one to rescue me.
Yahweh my God, if I have done this,
if there is injustice on my hands,
if I have done harm to one at peace
with me
or have plundered my adversary
without cause,
may an enemy pursue
and overtake me;
may he trample me to the ground
and leave my honor in the dust. Selah
Rise up, Lord, in Your anger;
lift Yourself up against the fury
of my adversaries;
awake for me;
You have ordained a judgment.
Let the assembly of peoples gather around You;
take Your seat on high over it.
The Lord judges the peoples;
vindicate me, Lord,
according to my righteousness
and my integrity.
Let the evil of the wicked come
to an end,
but establish the righteous.
The One who examines the thoughts
and emotions is a righteous God.
My shield is with God,
who saves the upright in heart.
God is a righteous judge
and a God who shows His wrath
every day.
If anyone does not repent,
God will sharpen His sword;
He has strung His bow
and made it ready.
He has prepared His deadly weapons;
He tips His arrows with fire.
See, the wicked one is pregnant with evil,
conceives trouble, and gives birth
to deceit.
He dug a pit and hollowed it out
but fell into the hole he had made.
His trouble comes back
on his own head,
and his violence falls on the top
of his head.
I will thank the Lord for His righteousness;
I will sing about the name of Yahweh
the Most High.
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