1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:08,240 Speaker 1: Life Audio. Hello, and welcome to another prayer through the 2 00:00:08,240 --> 00:00:12,360 Speaker 1: Psalms episode of the Praying Christian Women podcast. I am 3 00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:15,440 Speaker 1: Jamie and today we get to talk about and pray 4 00:00:15,480 --> 00:00:19,960 Speaker 1: through Psalm sixty one. This is confidence in God's protection 5 00:00:20,760 --> 00:00:23,680 Speaker 1: for the choir director on a stringed instrument, a Psalm 6 00:00:23,680 --> 00:00:26,079 Speaker 1: of David. This is back to kind of like what 7 00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:29,240 Speaker 1: I always picture. I picture the stringed instruments because they 8 00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:33,000 Speaker 1: talk about David playing the liar for King Saul. But yeah, 9 00:00:33,120 --> 00:00:37,960 Speaker 1: it's just another confidence in God's protection. Last time we 10 00:00:38,120 --> 00:00:42,400 Speaker 1: talked a little bit about David feeling surrounded and overwhelmed 11 00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:46,919 Speaker 1: and yet trusting in God. This next one is a 12 00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:52,080 Speaker 1: beautiful almost like a relief into just pure confidence. And 13 00:00:52,159 --> 00:00:55,640 Speaker 1: the imagery is beautiful. And if you're needing to be 14 00:00:55,720 --> 00:00:58,560 Speaker 1: reminded of how big God is, this is a good one. 15 00:00:59,080 --> 00:01:06,760 Speaker 1: So before we get started, let's pray. Lord God, you 16 00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:13,440 Speaker 1: are our rock, our stronghold, our protector, and we praise 17 00:01:13,440 --> 00:01:21,000 Speaker 1: you for being mighty and matchless. Just even saying that 18 00:01:21,160 --> 00:01:25,039 Speaker 1: just gives me this feeling of strength and security because 19 00:01:25,080 --> 00:01:28,040 Speaker 1: you are it. There's no yin and yang when it 20 00:01:28,040 --> 00:01:32,679 Speaker 1: comes to good and evil. In the big picture, you 21 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:37,360 Speaker 1: are good, You are love, You are creator, And even 22 00:01:37,360 --> 00:01:41,720 Speaker 1: though Satan and his demons have dominion for a time 23 00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:46,080 Speaker 1: over this earth, they are no match for you. They're 24 00:01:46,080 --> 00:01:48,920 Speaker 1: not your equal and opposite like we sometimes think of 25 00:01:49,680 --> 00:01:51,720 Speaker 1: when we think of the battle between good and evil. 26 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:58,880 Speaker 1: You are already victorious. So we acknowledge you and praise 27 00:01:58,880 --> 00:02:04,080 Speaker 1: you for that, for your pre eminence, for your omnipotence. 28 00:02:05,160 --> 00:02:08,360 Speaker 1: There is no one like you in all of creation. 29 00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:13,880 Speaker 1: And to be your child, to be loved like that, 30 00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:18,919 Speaker 1: to be protected by you, it puts everything else into perspective. 31 00:02:19,760 --> 00:02:22,080 Speaker 1: As we come before you today, we just ask that 32 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:25,399 Speaker 1: you would just continue to be reminding us of who 33 00:02:25,440 --> 00:02:29,640 Speaker 1: you are, so that we can measure everything else against that. 34 00:02:30,440 --> 00:02:34,000 Speaker 1: Instead of trying to to bring you along into our 35 00:02:34,040 --> 00:02:36,919 Speaker 1: troubles or bring you along into our lives, I just 36 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:38,760 Speaker 1: pray that we would be able to see you as 37 00:02:38,919 --> 00:02:44,120 Speaker 1: it you are what it's all about. Let's put you 38 00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:48,840 Speaker 1: in the driver's seat, Let's take you with us. Not 39 00:02:48,960 --> 00:02:51,360 Speaker 1: so we can just bring you along by tucking you 40 00:02:51,400 --> 00:02:55,480 Speaker 1: in our pocket and referencing you so that we feel 41 00:02:55,480 --> 00:02:59,639 Speaker 1: good about ourselves and our decisions, but like a kid 42 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:06,240 Speaker 1: on the place bringing their father who is strong and capable. 43 00:03:07,080 --> 00:03:10,720 Speaker 1: There's nothing to fear. Let us bring you so that 44 00:03:10,760 --> 00:03:17,680 Speaker 1: we can listen for your instruction and your guidance, so 45 00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:21,280 Speaker 1: that we can hear you the voice behind us saying 46 00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:25,440 Speaker 1: this is the way, walk in it. Thank you for 47 00:03:25,480 --> 00:03:30,720 Speaker 1: being that God who can be both all powerful and 48 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:35,280 Speaker 1: matchless in every way, and yet concerned for us, for 49 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:37,320 Speaker 1: each one of us as if each of us was 50 00:03:37,360 --> 00:03:43,640 Speaker 1: the only child in the whole world. We love you, God. 51 00:03:44,400 --> 00:03:46,960 Speaker 1: Help us to continue to see you for who you are. 52 00:03:47,880 --> 00:03:51,080 Speaker 1: Help us to continue to fix our eyes on Jesus 53 00:03:51,880 --> 00:03:55,120 Speaker 1: so that we can live more like him, so that 54 00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:59,280 Speaker 1: we can love more like him. In Jesus' name. Amen. 55 00:04:11,640 --> 00:04:15,400 Speaker 1: All right, let's read through this psalm confidence in God's protection. 56 00:04:16,120 --> 00:04:19,080 Speaker 1: For the choir director on a stringed instrument, a Psalm 57 00:04:19,080 --> 00:04:23,920 Speaker 1: of David very straightforward. Hear my cry, Oh God, give 58 00:04:24,040 --> 00:04:26,839 Speaker 1: heed to my prayer. From the end of the earth. 59 00:04:26,880 --> 00:04:30,240 Speaker 1: I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead 60 00:04:30,320 --> 00:04:33,279 Speaker 1: me to the rock that is higher than I For 61 00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:36,480 Speaker 1: you have been a refuge for me, a tower of 62 00:04:36,520 --> 00:04:40,960 Speaker 1: strength against the enemy. Let me dwell in your tent forever. 63 00:04:41,839 --> 00:04:44,960 Speaker 1: Let me take refuge in the shelter of your wing. Selah, 64 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:49,000 Speaker 1: for you have heard my vows. Oh God, you have 65 00:04:49,040 --> 00:04:51,640 Speaker 1: given me the inheritance of those who fear your name. 66 00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:56,400 Speaker 1: You will prolong the king's life. His years will be 67 00:04:56,520 --> 00:05:00,240 Speaker 1: as many generations. He will abide before God for ever 68 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:05,040 Speaker 1: a point, loving kindness and truth, that they may preserve him. 69 00:05:05,400 --> 00:05:08,719 Speaker 1: So I will sing praise to your name forever, that 70 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:12,920 Speaker 1: I may pay my vows day by day. So I 71 00:05:12,960 --> 00:05:18,200 Speaker 1: love this because it is just one hundred percent. You 72 00:05:18,440 --> 00:05:23,919 Speaker 1: are refuge, you are protector, and it's so comforting for me. 73 00:05:24,520 --> 00:05:27,919 Speaker 1: I love the ones where he starts off lamenting, but 74 00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:31,320 Speaker 1: sometimes I just need this. I just need to be 75 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:35,480 Speaker 1: reminded of how big God is. And so he talks 76 00:05:35,520 --> 00:05:41,360 Speaker 1: about God being a tower of strength, and in military terms, 77 00:05:41,839 --> 00:05:45,960 Speaker 1: a tower or a stronghold or you know, is like 78 00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:51,200 Speaker 1: this place that's high and protected from enemies, that's usually 79 00:05:51,320 --> 00:05:56,720 Speaker 1: encircled so that the arrows can't break through, and it's 80 00:05:57,680 --> 00:06:00,840 Speaker 1: going to take a lot to get to that place, 81 00:06:01,600 --> 00:06:05,800 Speaker 1: and it's very high and protected. And so this idea 82 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:09,760 Speaker 1: of a rock that is higher than myself. We are 83 00:06:09,960 --> 00:06:14,599 Speaker 1: very vulnerable. We can't protect ourselves all the time. But 84 00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:19,880 Speaker 1: God is that refuge and it's anytime we ask, he 85 00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:24,039 Speaker 1: just lifts us up and places us on that high 86 00:06:24,120 --> 00:06:29,200 Speaker 1: place of protection and safeguard. Another interesting thing is that 87 00:06:29,240 --> 00:06:32,599 Speaker 1: this imagery of a rock, that word rock the actual 88 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:36,159 Speaker 1: original Hebrew for that word rock. The first place it's 89 00:06:36,200 --> 00:06:39,240 Speaker 1: mentioned is in Exodus, where he struck the rock and 90 00:06:39,279 --> 00:06:42,640 Speaker 1: the water came out of it, Exodus seventeen, verse six. 91 00:06:43,040 --> 00:06:46,520 Speaker 1: That's from the topical lexicon. It's that word rock appears 92 00:06:46,600 --> 00:06:50,000 Speaker 1: Exodus seventeen, verse six, when Moses strikes the rock at Horeb. 93 00:06:50,839 --> 00:06:54,719 Speaker 1: This imagery is not just of protection and refuge, but 94 00:06:54,839 --> 00:06:59,680 Speaker 1: the word rock it also has imagery of provision, and 95 00:06:59,720 --> 00:07:04,080 Speaker 1: God is shown as living water that flows out of 96 00:07:04,120 --> 00:07:07,800 Speaker 1: the rock. And that goes back to our last psalm 97 00:07:07,800 --> 00:07:11,440 Speaker 1: Psalm sixty, where we were talking about these parched, dry 98 00:07:11,520 --> 00:07:15,680 Speaker 1: desert lands encrusted with salt. When the rain comes, that's 99 00:07:15,760 --> 00:07:18,480 Speaker 1: when all these plants in this life that we didn't 100 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:20,600 Speaker 1: even know was there for most of the year would 101 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:23,440 Speaker 1: start to spring up out of those cracks and crevices 102 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:27,880 Speaker 1: of salt rock. And so that imagery of water, it's 103 00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:33,600 Speaker 1: life giving, it's protector, it's provider. And again that imagery 104 00:07:33,640 --> 00:07:38,080 Speaker 1: is so beautiful, and then it also talks about him 105 00:07:38,440 --> 00:07:43,080 Speaker 1: about let me take refuge in the shelter of your wings, 106 00:07:43,120 --> 00:07:46,760 Speaker 1: and so that imagery it's kind of feminine if you 107 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:49,600 Speaker 1: think about it. I mean, I know, like penguins can 108 00:07:49,720 --> 00:07:53,680 Speaker 1: also like incubate the eggs, and the dads can do 109 00:07:53,760 --> 00:07:56,560 Speaker 1: that too. But most of the time, when you think 110 00:07:56,600 --> 00:08:02,880 Speaker 1: of a bird sheltering her young with her wings, it's 111 00:08:03,120 --> 00:08:06,320 Speaker 1: usually a mother. And I do love that the Bible 112 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:09,760 Speaker 1: brings in this imagery of God as this strong, solid 113 00:08:09,760 --> 00:08:13,720 Speaker 1: protector and very masculine imagery most of the time. But 114 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:17,400 Speaker 1: what I really enjoy is seeing this idea several times 115 00:08:17,440 --> 00:08:23,440 Speaker 1: in scripture where it talks about God as mother, as 116 00:08:23,760 --> 00:08:26,400 Speaker 1: a And I don't want to get into the gender 117 00:08:26,440 --> 00:08:31,680 Speaker 1: of God because obviously, you know, God created man in 118 00:08:31,720 --> 00:08:34,559 Speaker 1: his image, male and female. He created them, which means 119 00:08:34,600 --> 00:08:39,760 Speaker 1: that all aspects of female of the female gender and 120 00:08:39,800 --> 00:08:43,640 Speaker 1: the male gender embody who God is. But we do 121 00:08:43,720 --> 00:08:45,840 Speaker 1: think of him as a father because that's how Jesus 122 00:08:45,880 --> 00:08:49,040 Speaker 1: describes him to us. But actually want to take a moment, 123 00:08:49,520 --> 00:08:55,160 Speaker 1: and I want to read through these different passages where 124 00:08:55,920 --> 00:08:59,640 Speaker 1: God is described as covering us or sheltering us with 125 00:08:59,679 --> 00:09:02,400 Speaker 1: his wis because I just think for a meditation. This 126 00:09:02,679 --> 00:09:06,880 Speaker 1: is really helpful for me because it's very comforting, and 127 00:09:07,200 --> 00:09:09,960 Speaker 1: I just thought it would be nice, so Psalm seventeen eight. 128 00:09:10,400 --> 00:09:14,360 Speaker 1: Hide me under the shadow of your wings, Psalm thirty 129 00:09:14,360 --> 00:09:18,679 Speaker 1: six seven. People take refuge in the shadow of your wings, 130 00:09:19,160 --> 00:09:22,200 Speaker 1: Psalm fifty seven to one. I will take refuge in 131 00:09:22,240 --> 00:09:25,199 Speaker 1: the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. 132 00:09:25,880 --> 00:09:29,000 Speaker 1: Psalm sixty one to four. I will take refuge in 133 00:09:29,080 --> 00:09:33,199 Speaker 1: the shelter of your wings Psalm sixty three to seven. 134 00:09:33,760 --> 00:09:37,199 Speaker 1: In the shadow of your wings, I will sing for joy, 135 00:09:37,320 --> 00:09:42,000 Speaker 1: like this picture of having the bandwidth to sing for 136 00:09:42,120 --> 00:09:46,280 Speaker 1: joy because of being protected. It's a privilege to be 137 00:09:46,320 --> 00:09:48,960 Speaker 1: able to sing for joy right when you're being oppressed, 138 00:09:49,000 --> 00:09:52,839 Speaker 1: when you're being hit on all sides. But because of God, 139 00:09:53,520 --> 00:09:58,640 Speaker 1: in any circumstance, we are given that place of permission 140 00:09:58,920 --> 00:10:04,559 Speaker 1: and privilege to sing for joy because He protects us. Now, 141 00:10:04,600 --> 00:10:06,760 Speaker 1: I don't mean to say that if you're going through 142 00:10:06,760 --> 00:10:10,240 Speaker 1: something unspeakably difficult that you're going to always be in 143 00:10:10,240 --> 00:10:14,600 Speaker 1: that place, But we have that opportunity because of God. 144 00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:21,320 Speaker 1: And when we do find ourselves facing difficulties, it's because 145 00:10:21,360 --> 00:10:24,440 Speaker 1: of Him if we are able to be joyful. That 146 00:10:24,600 --> 00:10:27,679 Speaker 1: is why, and that is the only reason Psalm ninety 147 00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:29,960 Speaker 1: one to four. He will cover you with his feathers, 148 00:10:30,600 --> 00:10:34,760 Speaker 1: and under his wings you will find refuge. So it's 149 00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:38,720 Speaker 1: almost an image of a nesting bird, like you're under 150 00:10:38,760 --> 00:10:42,439 Speaker 1: the feathers and under his wings. And then in Ruth 151 00:10:43,320 --> 00:10:46,920 Speaker 1: Ruth two verse twelve, the Lord under whose wings you 152 00:10:46,960 --> 00:10:50,040 Speaker 1: have come to take refuge. And this was spoken to Ruth, 153 00:10:50,120 --> 00:10:55,240 Speaker 1: who was a foreigner but chose to follow Naomi. She 154 00:10:55,440 --> 00:10:57,880 Speaker 1: chose to follow Naomi. Your God will be my God. 155 00:10:57,920 --> 00:11:01,959 Speaker 1: Your people will be my people, Oh God, welcoming in 156 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:07,120 Speaker 1: the outcast, welcoming in the foreigner into his fold. And 157 00:11:07,160 --> 00:11:11,360 Speaker 1: that was even before Jesus opened up the way. This 158 00:11:11,559 --> 00:11:14,240 Speaker 1: was when the people of Israel were just considered to 159 00:11:14,280 --> 00:11:16,599 Speaker 1: be the people of God. And God said, no, I 160 00:11:16,640 --> 00:11:19,200 Speaker 1: will welcome you in if you choose me, because I've 161 00:11:19,240 --> 00:11:23,480 Speaker 1: already chosen you Deuteronomy thirty two eleven. Like an eagle 162 00:11:23,559 --> 00:11:25,960 Speaker 1: that spread out his wings to catch them. So this 163 00:11:26,080 --> 00:11:29,200 Speaker 1: is not the underside of his wings. This is kind 164 00:11:29,240 --> 00:11:31,680 Speaker 1: of more being on the top, kind of like in 165 00:11:31,760 --> 00:11:34,000 Speaker 1: Isaiah when it talks about He'll raise you up on 166 00:11:34,120 --> 00:11:38,200 Speaker 1: wings like eagles. And then Matthew twenty three thirty seven 167 00:11:38,360 --> 00:11:41,280 Speaker 1: and Luke thirteen thirty four says something about how often 168 00:11:41,280 --> 00:11:44,640 Speaker 1: I've longed to gather your children together. This is Jesus 169 00:11:45,600 --> 00:11:47,960 Speaker 1: saying how often I have longed to gather your children 170 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:51,200 Speaker 1: together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. Again, 171 00:11:51,280 --> 00:11:56,160 Speaker 1: this inclusiveness of Jesus wanting to gather all of God's 172 00:11:56,720 --> 00:12:02,080 Speaker 1: people under his wings. So well, this is beautiful and 173 00:12:02,160 --> 00:12:06,800 Speaker 1: protective language. It's even marriage language. You know, we think 174 00:12:06,800 --> 00:12:09,360 Speaker 1: of it as a child language, but being under someone's 175 00:12:09,360 --> 00:12:15,040 Speaker 1: wings in ancient times and biblical times it had imagery 176 00:12:15,120 --> 00:12:20,320 Speaker 1: of protection, belonging, an even marriage language of being under 177 00:12:20,480 --> 00:12:34,280 Speaker 1: that umbrella of love. So let's pray, Lord God, we 178 00:12:34,400 --> 00:12:39,040 Speaker 1: just thank you so much for loving us, and we 179 00:12:39,120 --> 00:12:41,480 Speaker 1: just pray that no matter what is going on in 180 00:12:41,520 --> 00:12:47,320 Speaker 1: the world, that we can take time like now to 181 00:12:47,400 --> 00:12:52,400 Speaker 1: come into your throne room and just feel protected, be 182 00:12:52,520 --> 00:12:55,640 Speaker 1: reminded of your bigness and your goodness and your protection, 183 00:12:56,800 --> 00:12:59,959 Speaker 1: so that no matter what is raging on the other 184 00:13:00,200 --> 00:13:03,160 Speaker 1: side of those wings, that we know that we are 185 00:13:03,200 --> 00:13:08,520 Speaker 1: yours and you belong to us. God. We just pray 186 00:13:09,840 --> 00:13:13,560 Speaker 1: for perspective. It's not going to be easy. Once we 187 00:13:13,679 --> 00:13:16,480 Speaker 1: come out of a time of prayer and meditation on 188 00:13:16,520 --> 00:13:19,079 Speaker 1: your word, it's not going to be easy to maintain 189 00:13:19,160 --> 00:13:23,880 Speaker 1: the feeling of protection. But Jesus said, not that you 190 00:13:23,960 --> 00:13:26,920 Speaker 1: would take them out of the world. Jesus prayed for 191 00:13:26,960 --> 00:13:28,920 Speaker 1: his disciples, saying, I don't pray that you would take 192 00:13:28,960 --> 00:13:30,720 Speaker 1: them out of the world, but protect them from the 193 00:13:30,760 --> 00:13:35,480 Speaker 1: evil one. That's our prayer for ourselves, for each other, 194 00:13:36,360 --> 00:13:39,760 Speaker 1: for the people we love, that we would be able 195 00:13:39,760 --> 00:13:44,360 Speaker 1: to walk and operate outside of our bubble of throne 196 00:13:44,440 --> 00:13:49,199 Speaker 1: room time and still maintain that picture of your protection. 197 00:13:51,240 --> 00:13:53,080 Speaker 1: Not that you would just take us out of the 198 00:13:53,080 --> 00:13:56,440 Speaker 1: world indefinitely, because then we would not be able to 199 00:13:56,480 --> 00:13:59,920 Speaker 1: take your kingdom out into the world, but that you 200 00:14:00,240 --> 00:14:03,840 Speaker 1: protect us and shelter us even as we go, even 201 00:14:03,840 --> 00:14:07,000 Speaker 1: as we do the hard things, and that you would 202 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:11,040 Speaker 1: just continually, your holy spirit would continually remind us of 203 00:14:11,120 --> 00:14:14,199 Speaker 1: your goodness and your bigness and your love and your protection. 204 00:14:14,320 --> 00:14:17,360 Speaker 1: That we could even just picture being under the shelter 205 00:14:17,679 --> 00:14:22,840 Speaker 1: of your wings, or being set upon that high place, 206 00:14:22,920 --> 00:14:28,400 Speaker 1: that rock of that stronghold, that high tower, that we 207 00:14:28,400 --> 00:14:32,480 Speaker 1: would remember that the victory is already one in Jesus' 208 00:14:32,560 --> 00:14:38,720 Speaker 1: name Amen. We'd like to take just a quick second 209 00:14:38,760 --> 00:14:41,200 Speaker 1: to thank the team at Life Audio for their partnership 210 00:14:41,240 --> 00:14:44,040 Speaker 1: with us on the podcast. If you go to lifeaudio 211 00:14:44,160 --> 00:14:46,800 Speaker 1: dot com, you will find dozens of other faith centered 212 00:14:46,800 --> 00:14:51,280 Speaker 1: podcasts in their network. They've got shows about prayer, Bible study, parenting, 213 00:14:51,440 --> 00:14:58,400 Speaker 1: and so much more. That's life audio dot com.