Soulfood

The Psalms of the Day for the 5th day of each month are 5, 35, 65, 95, and 125.

As we pray Psalm 5 with and for one another, we ask God to hear our prayers and that we would have patience to wait on Him. We pray that we would be kept free from foolishness, iniquity, falsehood, and violence by the work of the Spirit in our hearts. We pray that those who are corrupt and deceitful would be thwarted, and that the rebellious would be overthrown. We ask YHWH to bless us as we trust in Him, rejoicing in His triumph and seeking refuge in Him. Knowing that He is our shield, we encourage one another not to be anxious or fearful about the struggles we face, knowing we have favor with God because of Jesus.

Psalm 35 encourages us to bring those struggles – especially those caused by relational conflict – to YHWH and trust Him to fight for us. We pray that all those who seek to ruin or destroy us will be kept from accomplishing their aims. But we pray too that we would be free from resentment and bitterness against them, and that by our kindness to them we would be vindicated and they would be put to shame. So we ask for the Spirit of Christ to work kindness in us towards those who scorn us, giving thanks to the Father for judging us according to the righteousness of Jesus. And we pray with one another gladly and joyfully, giving thanks for those who encourage us to follow Jesus with rejoicing and praise.

In Psalm 65 we find language to praise the God of our salvation, the God Who cares for His creation with tender mercy. It is a prayer abounding in thanksgiving for all that God has done, is doing, and will do for His people – so let us give thanks!

Psalm 95 is a prayer of praise rich in the language of creation and exodus. We pray for each other that we would remember what our Creator God, Who made us and all things, has done for us both in giving us life and in delivering us from bondage. We pray for ourselves and for one another that we would not harden our hearts and give God cause to chasten us, but also that we would humble ourselves when we are chastened so that we will remember His ways and do right in our hearts. And we pray that God, in His mercy to us in Jesus, will give us to enter into His rest!

And Psalm 125 is a prayer of exhortation whereby we encourage one another to trust in YHWH and seek to be those who are good and true in our hearts. We ask that He would keep us from wickedness for the sake of peace, and that we would be turned aside from crooked ways by looking to Mount Zion where our God dwells in righteousness! May it be so!