I WILL BLESS THE LORD AT ALL TIMES!
KING DAVID, SONG WRITER, MUSICIAN,
SINGER, AUTHOR OF PSALMS
PRAYING THE 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)
The Psalms are given to us as the inspired word of God. Though God used human instruments, God is the true author of the Bible and Psalms of course. 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. They 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 before the throne of God. It is his prayer for his church and for the world.
PSALM 16
Keep me safe, O God; in you I take refuge. I say to the LORD, you are my Lord, you are my only good…..
LORD, my allotted portion and my cup, you have made my destiny secure. Pleasant places were measured out for me; fair to me indeed is my inheritance.
I bless the LORD who counsels me; even at night my heart exhorts me. I keep the LORD always before me; with him at my right hand, I shall never be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, my soul rejoices; my body also dwells secure…You will show me the path to life, abounding joy in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever.
REFLECTION
In you I take refuge… Seek our refuge, our safe space always in God. He will not disappoint. We will never be alone in our affliction. God was present to His Son on the cross in His promise of Jesus’ glorious resurrection. He will be present in our crosses. Some He will remove, others He helps us carry. I keep the Lord always before me!
PSALM 25
To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul. My God, in you I trust; do not let me be disgraced do not let my enemies gloat over me. No one is disgraced who waits for you. Make known to me your ways, LORD; teach me your paths. Guide me by your fidelity and teach me, for you are God my savior, for you I wait all the day long.
Remember your compassion and your mercy, O LORD… Remember no more the sins of my youth remember me according to your mercy, because of your goodness, LORD. Good and upright is the LORD, therefore he shows sinners the way, He guides the humble in righteousness, and teaches the humble his way.
LORD, pardon my guilt, though it is great. Who is the one who fears the LORD? God shows him the way he should choose…Look upon me, have pity on me, for I am alone and afflicted. Relieve the troubles of my heart; bring me out of my distress…Preserve my soul and rescue me; do not let me be disgraced, for in you I seek refuge… I wait for you, O LORD.
REFLECTION
Make known to me your ways, LORD; teach me your paths…Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. God has given His only begotten Son to show us the path. Jesus remains with us in the Eucharist, not only providing presence, a share in divine life of the Trinity, but also the graces to support us on our journey home.
PSALM 51
Have mercy on me, God, in accord with your merciful love. In your abundant compassion blot out my transgressions. Thoroughly wash away my guilt; and from my sin cleanse me. For I know my transgressions; my sin is always before me. Against you, you alone have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your eyes
So that you are just in your word, and without reproach in your judgment. Behold, I was born in guilt, in sin my mother conceived me….
Turn away your face from my sins; blot out all my iniquities. A clean heart create for me, God; renew within me a steadfast spirit. Do not drive me from before your face, nor take from me your holy spirit. Restore to me the gladness of your salvation; uphold me with a willing spirit. I will teach the wicked your ways so that sinners may return to you…. For you do not desire sacrifice or I would give it; a burnt offering you would not accept. My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a contrite, humbled heart, O God, you will not scorn.
REFLECTION
For I know my transgressions; my sin is always before me….A clean heart create for me, God….Help me God to have true sorrow and repentance for my sins. Help me to confess my sins with true candor for they have offended you who is all good and unworthy of my disobedience. My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a contrite, humbled heart.
PSALM 103
Bless the LORD, my soul; all my being, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, my soul; and do not forget all his gifts, who pardons all your sins, and heals all your ills, who redeems your life from the pit, and crowns you with mercy and compassion, Who fills your days with good things,
Merciful and gracious is the LORD, slow to anger, abounding in mercy. He will not always accuse, and nurses no lasting anger; He has not dealt with us as our sins merit, nor requited us as our wrongs deserve. so his mercy towers over those who fear him…..
As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him. For he knows how we are formed, remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like the grass; he blossoms like a flower in the field. A wind sweeps over it and it is gone. Bless the LORD, my soul!
REFLECTION
Bless the LORD, my soul; all my being, bless his holy name! I bless your Holy Name. You alone do I serve. Where else would I go? You are God over all. My very breath is given to me by you, Lord of heaven and earth. From dust I came, to dust I will return. Bless the LORD, my soul! I ask you, plead with you, beg you that I too, like your Son will be resurrected on the last day and united forever with the Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Merciful and gracious is the LORD, slow to anger, abounding in mercy.
JESUS PRAYING THE PSALMS TO HIS FATHER
Thank you