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Wisdom Prayer

Those Who Have Confidence!

Those Who Have Confidence!

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who have confidence. In Jesus’ name, amen.

David’s brothers were fighting in Saul’s army. David was tasked by Jesse, his father, with taking his brothers grain and ten loaves. He was also to take ten cheeses to the commander of their thousand. He was also to check on his brothers and to bring back some token from them.

David showed up as the battle lines were being drawn, and he hears Goliath challenging a man of Israel to fight him.

1 Samuel 17:26 (ESV)

“And David said to the men who stood by him, ‘What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?’”

Saul sends for David, and in 1 Samuel 17:31-37 (ESV) we learn of their interaction.

“When the words that David spoke were heard, they repeated them before Saul, and he sent for him. And David said to Saul, ‘Let no man’s heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.’ And Saul said to David, ‘You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.’ But David said to Saul, ‘Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.’ And David said, ‘The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.’ And Saul said to David, ‘Go, and the Lord be with you!’”

So David is about to go out to face the giant with Saul’s blessing. David is confident.

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Categories
Wisdom Prayer

God Bears Us Up?

God Bears Us Up?

Dear Lord, I pay for wisdom for those who realize it is the Lord who daily bears us up. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Jesus says in Matthew 11:28 (ESV), “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

The notes in the English Standard Version explains that the word “us” in Psalm 68:19-20 (ESV) refers to Israel. “Salvation” in the verse refers to protection from enemies, which means military victories over them:

“Blessed be the Lord,
who daily bears us up;
God is our salvation. Selah
Our God is a God of salvation,
and to God, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.”

Although the context of this verse may be Ancient Israel, the ideas of blessed be the Lord and God providing salvation—even if it is a military victory—gives us hope. The psalmist knows God is involved in the daily lives of God’s people.

When enemies swarm against you, won’t you ask God to bear you up? Praise him for his deliverance from death via the cross.

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