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Praying the Psalms, Part 4
One of the remarkable things about the Psalms – and David’s writing in particular – is the intimacy being expressed. The use of “I” and “You” represent two concepts previously unexplored in ancient literature: the personal voice and the intimate God. This is the same kind of deep intimacy we encounter in the prayers of Jesus.
As we wind down our time in the Psalms and our study of prayer in genera, this prayer by David from Psalm 86 seems to sum up many of the touch points in prayer we’ve visited.
Hear, O LORD, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.2 Guard my life, for I am devoted to you.
You are my God; save your servant
who trusts in you.3 Have mercy on me, O Lord,
for I call to you all day long.4 Bring joy to your servant,
for to you, O Lord,
I lift up my soul.5 You are forgiving and good, O Lord,
abounding in love to all who call to you.6 Hear my prayer, O LORD;
listen to my cry for mercy.7 In the day of my trouble I will call to you,
for you will answer me.8 Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord;
no deeds can compare with yours.9 All the nations you have made
will come and worship before you, O Lord;
they will bring glory to your name.10 For you are great and do marvelous deeds;
you alone are God.11 Teach me your way, O LORD,
and I will walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.12 I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart;
I will glorify your name forever.13 For great is your love toward me;
you have delivered me from the depths of the grave.14 The arrogant are attacking me, O God;
a band of ruthless men seeks my life—
men without regard for you.15 But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.16 Turn to me and have mercy on me;
grant your strength to your servant
and save the son of your maidservant.17 Give me a sign of your goodness,
that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,
for you, O LORD, have helped me and comforted me.Prayer Exercise
Much like the Lord’s prayer, this covers a wide range of human concerns. Take some time to pray through this Psalm much like we practiced with the Lord’s prayer, using it as a kind of outline. This is much longer than the Lord’s prayer, so you may want to select four or five verses that seem particularly striking to you and use those. If it helps, you could print it out double-spaced, and then write in the margins your own similar prayers alongside David’s.