Soulfood

The Psalms of the Day for the eighth day of the month are 8, 38, 68, 98, and 128.

Psalm 8 can be prayed word for word as a prayer of praise. While praying it we can remember God’s faithfulness to us, even though we are nothing outside of Christ! O YHWH, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth!

Psalm 38 is a remembrance of the suffering of Jesus, by which we are encouraged to pray through him to His Father – Who through our union by faith to Christ is now our Father! We confess our sin (v3), iniquity (v4), and foolishness (v5), pleading by Christ’s wounds to be regarded as righteous for Jesus’ sake. Do not forsake us, O YHWH! Make haste to help us, O Lord, our salvation!

By Psalm 68 we pray that God would do as He has promised and defeat all His and our enemies. We pray for the fatherless, the widows, the lonely, and the prisoners (vv5-6) while praying against rebelliousness in our own hearts and in others. We call to mind God’s acts of salvation in history and in our own lives. We bless the Lord who daily bears us up, and pray for liberty for those who are captive to sin and misery. We give praise using the words of vv26-35 together with the saints of all ages. Blessed be God!

Psalm 98 is a prayer of praise to YHWH that we can likewise pray with all the saints through all the ages. Our righteous, sovereign Judge will come to judge with true equity, not the counterfeit equity of the world. Truly we can make a joyful noise in our prayers with and for one another!

Psalm 128 is a prayer to pray for each other at all times in all places. Pray for family and neighbors and friends to be blessed as they fear YHWH and walk in his ways, and for those who don’t fear Him to turn from folly and destruction to life in Christ. May we see our children’s children – peace be upon us!