Psalm 21

Psalm 21 (NRSV)
1 In your strength the king rejoices, O Lord,
and in your help how greatly he exults!
2 You have given him his heart’s desire,
and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah
3 For you meet him with rich blessings;
you set a crown of fine gold on his head.
4 He asked you for life; you gave it to him—
length of days forever and ever.
5 His glory is great through your help;
splendor and majesty you bestow on him.
6 You bestow on him blessings forever;
you make him glad with the joy of your presence.
7 For the king trusts in the Lord,
and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved.
[1]

Lord,
Help me.

This psalm (21) rejoices in the victories that you give. “You (Lord) have given him (the king, the poet) his heart’s desire, and have not withheld the request of his lips.”

The next psalm (22) begins, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?”

And Psalm 23 begins, “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.”

Each psalm is ripe with the emotions of the moment. In moments of success, the poet celebrates your faithfulness. In seasons of danger, the poet wonders aloud, where in the world are you? And the next psalm declares, “The Lord is my shepherd.

So, as I pray through the psalms, the invitation seems to be clear. You invite me to offer to you the current truth of my heart and soul. I am invited to say in times of success, “Thank you.” In times of uncertainty and danger, I may say to you “Help.” In times of confusion, I may say, “I really don’t understand” and I may say, “I doubt it.” When the soul is dry, I may say, “Why have you forsaken me?” When illness and death intrude, I am invited to ask for healing and help. And, I may always say, “Praise belongs to you. The heavens and earth belong to you. And though I doubt, still I believe.”

I believe that above all, you invite a living and honest conversation, a relationship grounded in the reality of life. If I am wrong, forgive and correct me.

PERSONAL PRAYERS:
Speak to God the truth of your life now and ask God to give you the grace that you need in this season of life.
Ask God to strip all pretention from your prayers and to help you to see yourself as God sees you.
Name 5 things for which you are grateful and say “thank you” to God.
In Christ’s name,
Amen.



[1] The Holy Bible : New Revised Standard Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989