God’s Saving Word: Prayer
Introduction
Psalm 71: Today’s reading is a prayer of an elderly person who asks to be rescued from wicked people. The writer cries out to God for protection and recounts his trust in the Lord since he was young. The psalm concludes with the writer singing God’s praises and speaking of God’s faithfulness and righteousness.
Scripture Reading
The Prayer of an Elderly Person
71 Lord, I have come to you for protection;
never let me be defeated!
2 Because you are righteous, help me and rescue me.
Listen to me and save me!
3 Be my secure shelter
and a strong fortress to protect me;
you are my refuge and defense.
4 My God, rescue me from wicked people,
from the power of cruel and evil people.
5 Sovereign Lord, I put my hope in you;
I have trusted in you since I was young.
6 I have relied on you all my life;
you have protected me since the day I was born.
I will always praise you.
7 My life has been an example to many,
because you have been my strong defender.
8 All day long I praise you
and proclaim your glory.
9 Do not reject me now that I am old;
do not abandon me now that I am feeble.
10 My enemies want to kill me;
they talk and plot against me.
11 They say, “God has abandoned him;
let’s go after him and catch him;
there is no one to rescue him.”
12 Don’t stay so far away, O God;
my God, hurry to my aid!
13 May those who attack me
be defeated and destroyed.
May those who try to hurt me
be shamed and disgraced.
14 I will always put my hope in you;
I will praise you more and more.
15 I will tell of your goodness;
all day long I will speak of your salvation,
though it is more than I can understand.
16 I will go in the strength of the Lord God;
I will proclaim your goodness, yours alone.
17 You have taught me ever since I was young,
and I still tell of your wonderful acts.
18 Now that I am old and my hair is gray,
do not abandon me, O God!
Be with me while I proclaim your power and might
to all generations to come.
19 Your righteousness, God, reaches the skies.
You have done great things;
there is no one like you.
20 You have sent troubles and suffering on me,
but you will restore my strength;
you will keep me from the grave.
21 You will make me greater than ever;
you will comfort me again.
22 I will indeed praise you with the harp;
I will praise your faithfulness, my God.
On my harp I will play hymns to you,
the Holy One of Israel.
23 I will shout for joy as I play for you;
with my whole being I will sing
because you have saved me.
24 I will speak of your righteousness all day long,
because those who tried to harm me
have been defeated and disgraced.
Today’s Key Verse: Psalm 71:16
I will go in the strength of the LORD God; I will proclaim your goodness, yours alone.
Reflect
How is the life of the psalm writer described? What verses indicate that the writer may be feeling abandoned by God? What verses indicate the writer’s trust in God? How does the writer describe God in verse 3? Have you ever thought of God in these terms? How will you proclaim God’s goodness, faithfulness, and righteousness today?
Pray
Sovereign God, you are my secure shelter, strong fortress, my refuge and defense. Each day I turn to you, trusting that you are always near and ready to come to my aid. Daily will I praise you and proclaim your goodness, righteousness, power, and might. Amen.
And now, join us in celebrating the first Vili Bible in Congo. Lord, God, we praise you that, after fifteen years of dedicated work, the Bible Society of Congo launched the Vili New Testament. This brings the life-changing message of Scripture to the thousands of Vili speakers who live in Congo and Gabon. Thank you that the community enthusiastically accepted the portions of Scripture that were released throughout the translation process, and that the Bible Society was able to set up literacy classes in rural areas where literacy rates were low. Lord God, please bless the Bible-A-Month Club donors whose generosity helped provide the Vili people with your Word in their heart language. Amen.
Tomorrow’s Reading
Psalm 75: God is a righteous judge.