Central Truth

You may be saying, "Come on, Bill; is that the best you can do in picking this psalm's key verse?" Well, yes, though my favorite verse is 7, this title verse is crucial. The choirmaster has apparently asked David to write a psalm about how the congregation could pray for him.

---

Reflections

Some leaders are strong, independent types. Others are great organizers. But whatever gifts a leader might have, the best leaders know the reality of help coming from the God who is really there because of the prayers of God's people.

Israel's King David believed that truth so much that he wrote out this prayer to be prayed for him in the sanctuary so that his leadership would be a blessing to the people he led. I'm sure Pastor Rod would love for us to be praying like this for him. Some particulars out of this psalm would include:

1. Praying for God to answer his prayers during times of trouble (v.1);
2. That he would be protected by the name of God, Yahweh, "I AM THAT I AM", the only God who is really there (v.1);
3. That he would always be encouraged by our "sanctuary" services, and even receive help from others in our city (v.2);
4. That God would favor him because of his focus on the cross of Christ (v.3);
5. That God would grant him his heart's desires and fulfill all his plans because they are rooted in Christ (v.4);
6. That we, as a congregation, would be able to shout for joy and celebrate God's deliverance, victories, and answers to prayer (v.5).

Recently, God delivered me out of a very difficult situation, and in a way that I'm discovering, was way beyond anything I could have expected. So I really like the words of David's testimony in verses 6 and 7: "Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving might of His right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we will trust in the name of the Lord, our God." What I discovered is that God's deliverance is far greater than my own desperation!

---

Discussion Questions

1. If someone were to ask you to write down how they could be praying for you, what would you put on your list?

2. What are your reasons for believing that God would answer those prayers?

3. In what sense do you think David is using the terms "salvation", "saving", and "save" in this psalm?

---