God’s Saving Word: Prayer
Introduction
Psalm 55: Today’s reading is an individual lament in which the psalm writer calls upon God, expressing fear because of enemy threats, and anguish over being betrayed by a friend. Even when enemies seem to be in control, the writer trusts in God, who has ruled from eternity.
Scripture Reading
The Prayer of Someone Betrayed by a Friend
55 Hear my prayer, O God;
don’t turn away from my plea!
2 Listen to me and answer me;
I am worn out by my worries.
3 I am terrified by the threats of my enemies,
crushed by the oppression of the wicked.
They bring trouble on me;
they are angry with me and hate me.
4 I am terrified,
and the terrors of death crush me.
5 I am gripped by fear and trembling;
I am overcome with horror.
6 I wish I had wings like a dove.
I would fly away and find rest.
7 I would fly far away
and make my home in the desert.
8 I would hurry and find myself a shelter
from the raging wind and the storm.
9 Confuse the speech of my enemies, O Lord!
I see violence and riots in the city,
10 surrounding it day and night,
filling it with crime and trouble.
11 There is destruction everywhere;
the streets are full of oppression and fraud.
12 If it were an enemy making fun of me,
I could endure it;
if it were an opponent boasting over me,
I could hide myself from him.
13 But it is you, my companion,
my colleague and close friend.
14 We had intimate talks with each other
and worshiped together in the Temple.
15 May my enemies die before their time;
may they go down alive into the world of the dead!
Evil is in their homes and in their hearts.
16 But I call to the Lord God for help,
and he will save me.
17 Morning, noon, and night
my complaints and groans go up to him,
and he will hear my voice.
18 He will bring me safely back
from the battles that I fight
against so many enemies.
19 God, who has ruled from eternity,
will hear me and defeat them;
for they refuse to change,
and they do not fear him.
20 My former companion attacked his friends;
he broke his promises.
21 His words were smoother than cream,
but there was hatred in his heart;
his words were as soothing as oil,
but they cut like sharp swords.
22 Leave your troubles with the Lord,
and he will defend you;
he never lets honest people be defeated.
23 But you, O God, will bring those murderers and liars to their graves
before half their life is over.
As for me, I will trust in you.
Today’s Key Verse: Psalm 55:22
Leave your troubles with the LORD, and he will defend you; he never lets honest people be defeated.
Reflect
Reread verses 4-15. Describe what the writer is feeling. Have you ever felt betrayed by someone you trusted? If so, how did you handle the situation?
Pray
Hear my prayer, Almighty God. I turn my worries and anxieties over to you, trusting in your love and mercy. Whenever I call upon you for help, I know you listen and hear my prayers. You, Lord God, have ruled from eternity and watch over all your faithful people. Amen.
And now, join us in praising God that the Okun language Bible translation was completed in record time. Sovereign God, by your grace the Bible Society of Nigeria set a world record for the fastest completion of a Bible translation. Thank you for the small translation crew that started the Okun language translation project in 2016. With your constant help, the team finished the Okun New Testament translation within five years and was able to hold a dedication ceremony last year. We praise you, Lord God, that your Word is spreading throughout Nigeria in the heart language of the people; and thanks to the support of Bible Society partners, recipients of this New Testament will come to know Jesus and experience love, joy, peace, and hope. Amen.
Tomorrow’s Reading
Psalm 56: A prayer of trust in God.