I WILL BLESS THE LORD AT ALL TIMES!
KING DAVID, SONG WRITER, MUSICIAN,
SINGER, AUTHOR OF PSALMS
INTRODUCTION
The book of the Psalms is not a single book but a collection of many poems and other similar works composed mostly by King David but include many other authors such as Moses and Solomon. In the Psalms, joy, suffering, the desire and fear of death are all interwoven and expressed.
Psalms were the most common prayer of Jesus in the New Testament who loved singing them with his disciples. As they left the Last Supper they sang psalms on their way to Gethsemane. “Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.” Matthew 26:30
On the cross Jesus prayed from Psalm 22, “My God, my God why have you forsaken me” (Matthew 27:46) “Into thine hands I commend my spirit.” Psalm 31:5 (Luke 23:46)
God is the true author of the Bible including the Psalms. Since Psalms are the Word of God, the pray-er who prays the Psalms speaks to God with the very words that God has given to us. Psalms are a school of prayer. When I pray the words of the Psalms, I don’t just think about how this is my prayer, I think about how it is the prayer of Jesus Christ. It is his prayer for his church and for the world. Excerpts of Psalms are copied below.
PSALM 118
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his mercy endures forever… In danger I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free. The LORD is with me; I am not afraid; what can mortals do against me?
The LORD is with me as my helper…Better to take refuge in the LORD than to put one’s trust in mortals. Better to take refuge in the LORD than to put one’s trust in princes. Let Israel say: his mercy endures forever… Let those who fear the LORD say, his mercy endures forever.
The LORD, my strength and might has become my savior…This is the day the LORD has made; Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD…. You are my God, I give you thanks; my God, I offer you praise. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
REFLECTION
We are filled with gratefulness for the mercy of God which provides us refuge from the storms of life, and slavery to sin here on earth. Embrace an attitude of gratitude! Give thanks always for God’s providential care. Give thanks to the Lord for He is good.
PSALM 124
Let Israel say, Had not the LORD been with us, when people rose against us, Then they would have swallowed us alive, for their fury blazed against us. Then the waters would have engulfed us, the torrent overwhelmed us then seething water would have drowned us.
Blessed is the LORD, who did not leave us to be torn by their teeth. We escaped with our lives like a bird from the fowler’s snare; the snare was broken, and we escaped. Our help is in the name of the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth
REFLECTION
God is our refuge, more powerful than any other god we may be serving. We are truly blessed that our God is all powerful, Almighty. Our help is in the name of the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth.
God loves us and will rescue us from any threat to our bodies or souls. With God all things are possible!
PSALM 130
Out of the depth I call to you, LORD; Lord, hear my cry! May your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. .If you, LORD, keep account of sins, Lord, who can stand? But with you is forgiveness…I wait for the LORD, my soul waits and I hope for his word. My soul looks for the Lord more than sentinels for daybreak… let Israel hope in the LORD, For with the LORD is mercy, with him is plenteous redemption. And he will redeem Israel from all its sins.
REFLECTION
The Lord not only freed Israel from physical slavery but more importantly freedom from slavery of sin.
People, captivated by habitual sin cry out of the depths of their hearts for relief. The Lord hears those cries. with him is plenteous redemption God wills the salvation of all. Stay the course!
PSALM 139
LORD, you have probed me, you know me: you know when I sit and stand; you understand my thoughts from afar. You sift through my travels and my rest; with all my ways you are familiar. Even before a word is on my tongue, LORD, you know it all. Behind and before you encircle me and rest your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, far too lofty for me to reach.
Where can I go from your spirit? From your presence, where can I flee? If I ascend to the heavens, you are there; I lie down in Sheol, there you are. If I take the wings of dawn* and dwell beyond the sea. ,Even there your hand guides me, your right hand holds me fast. If I say, “Surely darkness shall hide me, and night shall be my light”*Darkness is not dark for you, and night shines as the day. Darkness and light are but one.
You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb I praise you, because I am wonderfully made; wonderful are your works! My very self you know. My bones are not hidden from you, When I was being made in secret, fashioned in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw me unformed; in your book all are written down my days were shaped, before one came to be. How precious to me are your designs, O God….
REFLECTION
Oh my God, continue to probe me, prod me, turn me around in the right direction. Let me realize in the deepest part of my heart that I was made by you with a specific design in mind, a share in your divine life.
Let me begin to share in this divine life here on earth through the Sacraments, corporal and spiritual works of mercy, and adherence to the Gospel. Lead me home to the fullness of my being with you forever and ever!
JESUS PRAYING THE PSALMS