Play It Again, Sam
Opening Prayer
You are the King of glory. I set my heart on You and live my life to bring You honor. May I continually bless Your heart.
Read Psalm 108:1-13
[1] A song. A psalm of David. My heart, O God, is steadfast; I will sing and make music with all my soul. [2] Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. [3] I will praise you, LORD, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. [4] For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. [5] Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth. [6] Save us and help us with your right hand, that those you love may be delivered. [7] God has spoken from his sanctuary: “In triumph I will parcel out Shechem and measure off the Valley of Sukkoth. [8] Gilead is mine, Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet, Judah is my scepter. [9] Moab is my washbasin, on Edom I toss my sandal; over Philistia I shout in triumph.” [10] Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom? [11] Is it not you, God, you who have rejected us and no longer go out with our armies? [12] Give us aid against the enemy, for human help is worthless. [13] With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Do you have favorite psalms to express yourself in prayer?This psalm is something of a “greatest hits” medley in that it’s actually excerpts from two other psalms! Verses 1 to 5 are from Psalm 57:7-11, and verses 6-13 are from Psalm 60:5-12. Previously the verses were linked to specific events. Psalm 57 was associated with the time David hid in a cave from King Saul, and Psalm 60 was probably written after some key battle defeats for Israel. But, in removing them from their original setting and putting them together like this, they made a whole new song, with a whole new meaning. And, by transforming the words from historical laments into liturgy (for use in a worship service), they are opened up to an everyday application. At the center of the psalm is the glory of God (5). That glory is established in our hearts by a determination to worship (1-4), and made real as we carry him into difficult situations and ask for his help (6-13). So remember, if you feel lost when trying to pray, and you don’t have the words … you can always recycle old ones.
Apply
Express your love to our faithful God though your own words as well as through the words of the Psalms and other songs.
Closing prayer
Lord, Your love is higher than the heavens and Your faithfulness stretches to the skies. You are altogether lovely!
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