Psalm 103; Psalm 108-110; Psalm 122; Psalm 124
Psalm 103 is a psalm of praise for God’s mercy and compassion, which we have experienced through Jesus Christ!
Psalm 103:11-12 (WEB) “For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his loving kindness toward those who fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”
Psalm 108 recognizes God’s majesty and care, and calls on Him for help and victory over enemies.
Psalm 108:3-4 (WEB) “I will give thanks to you, Yahweh, among the nations. I will sing praises to you among the peoples. For your loving kindness is great above the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.”
Psalm 109 is a psalm of vengeance. It calls on God to destroy those who are unjustly attacking the Psalmist. While there may be times when such a prayer does reflect the condition of our hearts, and perhaps rightfully so if we are being mercilessly and unjustly attacked, we would do well to remember that we shouldn’t stay in that mindset.
Matthew 5:43-48 (WEB) “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
Psalm 110 is a royal psalm purportedly about David, but really about Jesus Christ!
Matthew 22:44-45 (WEB) “The Lord said to my Lord, sit on my right hand, until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet’? If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?”
Acts 2:34-35 (WEB) “For David didn’t ascend into the heavens, but he says himself, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit by my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”'”
Hebrews 1:13 (WEB) “But which of the angels has he told at any time, ‘Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet?’”
Psalm 122 reminds us of the joy of coming together to praise God, and we should have that joy when gather for corporate worship! What do we do with the prayer for Jerusalem? Should we pray that prayer? Many do, but it should also prompt us to pray for our local church, where we gather for worship and praise and come together to meet God.
Hebrews 10:24-25 (WEB) “Let’s consider how to provoke one another to love and good works, not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Here is an interpretation of Psalm 124 for prayer. Feel free to insert any personal incident in your own life!
“O God, if you had not been on my side, what would have happened to me? My sin threatened to overwhelm me. I was drowning! I could have been dragged down to the depths of hell, but you saved me! Because Jesus Christ died for me, I escaped the jaws of death and am freed from the trap of the grave. Thank you! You are to be praised, because you are my creator, savior, and helper!”
For reflection: Your Love, Oh Lord by Third Day