Tag: wisdom

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Wisdom Prayer

Do Valiantly?

Do Valiantly?

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who know with God we shall do valiantly. In Jesus’ name, amen.

David wrote Psalm 108. He knew God gave the decedents of Abraham the Promised Land after wandering in the desert. David appeals to god to help him against his opponents. The notes in the English Standard Version explains that in Psalm 60 there is a “campaign” that lead to Edom. In verse Psalm 108:10 Edom is a foe of God’s people.

By the end of Psalm 108:7-13 (ESV) we see that David is confident that with God it will be possible to tread down the foes.

“God has promised in his holiness:
‘‘With exultation I will divide up Shechem
and portion out the Valley of Succoth.
Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine;
Ephraim is my helmet,
Judah my scepter.
Moab is my washbasin;
upon Edom I cast my shoe;
over Philistia I shout in triumph.’

Who will bring me to the fortified city?
Who will lead me to Edom?
Have you not rejected us, O God?
You do not go out, O God, with our armies.
Oh grant us help against the foe,
for vain is the salvation of man!
With God we shall do valiantly;
it is he who will tread down our foes.”

Even if the odds seem stacked against victory, God is still in control. By the end of Psalm 108, David seems sure his foes would be defeated. Are you confident that God can fight and win your battles? Pray. Even if there are setbacks, God ultimately “will tread down our foes.”

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Wisdom Prayer

A Steadfast Heart?

A Steadfast Heart?

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those whose heart is steadfast. In Jesus’ name, amen.

David’s psalm is very much like a prayer.

His words are filled with emotion as he says he will sing, make melody, add musical instruments, and praise God among the nations.

Psalm 108:1-6 involves vivid description that takes us into God’s presence.

“My heart is steadfast, O God!
I will sing and make melody with all my being!
Awake, O harp and lyre!
I will awake the dawn!
I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to you among the nations.
For your steadfast love is great above the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
Let your glory be over all the earth!
That your beloved ones may be delivered,
give salvation by your right hand and answer me!”

David’s heart is unwavering. How is your heart? Is there a song of praise or thanksgiving that comes to mind?

Exalt God. Consider the first words of “Come Let Us Worship and Bow Down.”

“Come, let us worship and bow down And kneel before the Lord, our Maker”

Give God all the glory.

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Wisdom Prayer

Whoever Is Wise?

Whoever Is Wise?

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who attend to the message of Scripture and consider the steadfast love of the Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Some might argue that wisdom is in short supply. Yet, Scripture often refers to the wise.

Psalm 107 is a lesson in history. The Israelites faced many trials and tribulations.

In Psalm 107:43 (ESV) we are told those who are wise will attend to the content of the psalm and consider God’s steadfast love.

“Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things;
let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord.”

Become familiar with God’s holy and inspired word. Experience the Lord’s steadfast love through prayer and meditation.

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Wisdom Prayer

Cried to the Lord?

Cried to the Lord?

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for anyone who has cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.

Verses 6, 13, 19, and 28 of Psalm 107 (ESV) are the same:

“Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.”

Turn on the nightly news, and it seems everywhere there is trouble. How comforting to know the Lord delivers from distress. Are you experiencing trouble? Ask God to walk with you through the trial.

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Wisdom Prayer

Been Forgiven?

Been Forgiven?

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who have sinned and been forgiven. In Jesus’ name, amen.

In Psalm 106 there is a long recitation of how the descendants of Abraham sinned against God. It includes reference to the golden calf, how the people intermarried with the people of Canaan, and worshipped idols.

Psalm 106:47-48 (ESV) ends with an appeal to Almighty God. In effect, it is a renunciation of the past sins. It has the effect of drawing people closer to the Lord.

“Save us, O Lord our God,
and gather us from among the nations,
that we may give thanks to your holy name
and glory in your praise.

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting!
And let all the people say, “Amen!”
Praise the Lord!”

Have you sinned but hesitated to confess? It is not too late to turn away from evil. Perhaps, in contrast, you have already confessed, and God has forgiven you. Stop. If you need to confess, take action now. Join with those who have been forgiven. Rejoice and praise the Lord!

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Wisdom Prayer

Sacrificed Their Sons and Daughters?

Sacrificed Their Sons and Daughters?

Dear Lord, I pray for the wisdom for those who never want to make the mistake of serving idols. In Jesus’ name, amen.

King Ahaz was Hezekiah’s father.

2 Kings 16:2-3 (ESV) says,
“Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And he did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord his God, as his father David had done, but he walked in the way of the kings of Israel. He even burned his son as an offering, according to the despicable practices of the nations whom the Lord drove out before the people of Israel.” (See 2 Chronicles 28:1-4 for a similar account.)

Hezekiah’s bother was one of those sacrificed.

In Psalm 106:34-38 reminds of the horrors of human sacrifice.

“They did not destroy the peoples,
as the Lord commanded them,
but they mixed with the nations
and learned to do as they did.
They served their idols,
which became a snare to them.
They sacrificed their sons
and their daughters to the demons;
they poured out innocent blood,
the blood of their sons and daughters,
whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan,
and the land was polluted with blood.”

Scripture is full of stories of kings who served foreign gods. God’s word tells the truth about those who disobeyed him. Let this be instructive. If you or someone you know is worshiping idols, tell them how knowing God personally can give them new life.

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