Bible.com.au: Reading Plan - Reasons to Sing

Reflection:

Some verses in the Psalms repay an out loud reading. These are some of them.

“I will praise you with the harp
    for your faithfulness, my God;
I will sing praise to you with the lyre,
    Holy One of Israel.
My lips will shout for joy
    when I sing praise to you—
    I whom you have delivered.
My tongue will tell of your righteous acts
    all day long,
for those who wanted to harm me
    have been put to shame and confusion.” (Psalm 71:22-24, NIV)

When I read “I whom you have delivered” I feel the weight of it. The main thing that can be said about me is that I have been delivered by God!

How does the Psalmist feel about having been delivered? How do you feel about it?

Prayer:

Thank you, Lord, for bringing us from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of your beloved son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Psalms 71:1-24

A Prayer for God's Protection

1I run to you, Lord,

for protection.

Don't disappoint me.

2You do what is right,

so come to my rescue.

Listen to my prayer

and keep me safe.

3Be my mighty rock, the place

where I can always run

for protection.

Save me by your command!

You are my mighty rock

and my fortress.

4Come and save me, Lord God,

from vicious and cruel

and brutal enemies!

5I depend on you,

and I have trusted you

since I was young.

6I have relied on you

from the day I was born.

You brought me safely

through birth,

and I always praise you.

7Many people think of me

as something evil.

But you are my mighty protector,

8and I praise and honor you

all day long.

9Don't throw me aside

when I am old;

don't desert me

when my strength is gone.

10My enemies are plotting

because they want me dead.

11They say, “Now we'll catch you!

God has deserted you,

and no one can save you.”

12Come closer, God!

Please hurry and help.

13Embarrass and destroy

all who want me dead;

disgrace and confuse

all who want to hurt me.

14I will never give up hope

or stop praising you.

15All day long I will tell

the wonderful things you do

to save your people.

But you have done much more

than I could possibly know.

16I will praise you, Lord God,

for your mighty deeds

and your power to save.

17You have taught me

since I was a child,

and I never stop telling about

your marvelous deeds.

18Don't leave me when I am old

and my hair turns gray.

Let me tell future generations

about your mighty power.

19Your deeds of kindness

are known in the heavens.

No one is like you!

20You made me suffer a lot,

but you will bring me

back from this deep pit

and give me new life.

21You will make me truly great

and take my sorrow away.

22I will praise you, God,

the Holy One of Israel.

You are faithful.

I will play the harp

and sing your praises.

23You have rescued me!

I will celebrate and shout,

singing praises to you

with all my heart.

24All day long I will announce

your power to save.

I will tell how you disgraced

and disappointed those

who wanted to hurt me.

Reasons to Sing

Day 8 of 14

CEV

Psalms 71:23

Days

Psalms 71:1-24