LHC Midday Word: PSALM Eighty Six

A prayer of David.

Hear me, Lord, and answer me,

for I am poor and needy.

Guard my life, for I am faithful to you;

save your servant who trusts in you.

You are my God;

have mercy on me, Lord,

for I call to you all day long.

Bring joy to your servant, Lord,

for I put my trust in you.

You, Lord, are forgiving and good,

abounding in love to all who call to you.

Hear my prayer, Lord;

listen to my cry for mercy.

When I am in distress, I call to you,

because you answer me.

Among the gods there is none like you, Lord;

no deeds can compare with yours.

All the nations you have made

will come and worship before you, Lord;

they will bring glory to your name.

For you are great and do marvellous deeds;

you alone are God.

Teach me your way, Lord,

that I may rely on your faithfulness;

give me an undivided heart,

that I may fear your name.

I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;

I will glorify your name for ever.

For great is your love towards me;

you have delivered me from the depths,

from the realm of the dead.

Arrogant foes are attacking me, O God;

ruthless people are trying to kill me –

they have no regard for you.

But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,

slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.

Turn to me and have mercy on me;

show your strength on behalf of your servant;

save me, because I serve you

just as my mother did.

Give me a sign of your goodness,

that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,

for you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.

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Word by Word Meditations

by Fred Ursell

Psalm 86: “undivided” (v.11)

Lots of people have a ‘heart’ problem, and don’t even realise it. The psalmist was all too conscious of his own frailty, and expressed the prayer, “give me an undivided heart” (v.11).

It is a common failing. Our commitment to the Lord is partial, not total. There is an obvious snag in being so honest and self-aware – in qualifying and quantifying the measure of our loving loyalty.

When our head deduces that our heart’s devotion is defective, we will react in one of two ways: either despair or learn to depend more fully.

Don’t let your reservations about yourself defeat you. Pray this prayer unreservedly!

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READINGS

PSALM 86

Read by Sir David Suchet