1 00:00:02,750 --> 00:00:07,710 Speaker 1: Life Audio Hi there, and welcome to another Prayer Through 2 00:00:07,730 --> 00:00:11,890 Speaker 1: the Psalms episode of the Praying Christian Women podcast. I'm Jamie, 3 00:00:12,230 --> 00:00:14,730 Speaker 1: and I'm excited to be back. We've taken a long 4 00:00:14,870 --> 00:00:18,610 Speaker 1: hiatus from our Prayers Through the Psalms over the summer 5 00:00:18,680 --> 00:00:21,260 Speaker 1: and kind of into the fall, and I'm really excited 6 00:00:21,300 --> 00:00:25,700 Speaker 1: to bring back these weekly devotions because it's a highlight 7 00:00:25,720 --> 00:00:27,900 Speaker 1: of my week, and I hope it's a highlight of yours. 8 00:00:28,690 --> 00:00:32,750 Speaker 1: We are into Psalm 69. So we've done 68 Psalms 9 00:00:32,970 --> 00:00:37,360 Speaker 1: before now. So we're just moving through them. And this 10 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:41,420 Speaker 1: one is kind of a long one. And some of 11 00:00:41,460 --> 00:00:45,000 Speaker 1: the passages are going to be familiar to you because 12 00:00:45,760 --> 00:00:49,100 Speaker 1: they're quoted a lot in reference to Jesus' suffering on 13 00:00:49,120 --> 00:00:54,710 Speaker 1: the cross. And some of them have familiar imagery about 14 00:00:55,210 --> 00:00:59,000 Speaker 1: sinking in the muck and the mire. I particularly love 15 00:00:59,040 --> 00:01:03,760 Speaker 1: the Psalms that talk about sinking because I have a 16 00:01:03,840 --> 00:01:08,140 Speaker 1: very vivid object lesson kind of from our time in Alaska. 17 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:12,800 Speaker 1: So when we get into the actual text of this chapter, 18 00:01:13,300 --> 00:01:15,720 Speaker 1: you'll notice it talks about sinking into the mud and 19 00:01:15,760 --> 00:01:17,810 Speaker 1: then it talks about being in the water up to 20 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:22,590 Speaker 1: my neck. And there's a very sad and scary but 21 00:01:23,150 --> 00:01:28,199 Speaker 1: true situation in Alaska. So I believe Alaska has, if 22 00:01:28,300 --> 00:01:34,550 Speaker 1: not the largest tide gradient and fastest incoming and outgoing 23 00:01:34,610 --> 00:01:37,370 Speaker 1: tides of anywhere in the world, at least one of 24 00:01:37,430 --> 00:01:41,430 Speaker 1: the quickest change of tides and one of the most 25 00:01:42,190 --> 00:01:46,589 Speaker 1: large tide gradients of anywhere on the planet, which means 26 00:01:46,830 --> 00:01:49,420 Speaker 1: that when the tide goes out, it goes out quickly 27 00:01:49,440 --> 00:01:51,940 Speaker 1: and it goes out a lot. And when the tide 28 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:54,140 Speaker 1: comes in, it comes in quickly and it comes in 29 00:01:54,180 --> 00:01:57,820 Speaker 1: a lot and way faster than anyone that doesn't have 30 00:01:57,840 --> 00:02:01,780 Speaker 1: experience with it will expect it to. In addition to this, 31 00:02:02,060 --> 00:02:04,540 Speaker 1: which can be dangerous for someone trying to cross an 32 00:02:04,720 --> 00:02:08,239 Speaker 1: area of a stream or a river or body of 33 00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:13,470 Speaker 1: water that looks like it's actual solid ground, even if 34 00:02:13,500 --> 00:02:15,690 Speaker 1: it's just regular solid ground and you're going across and 35 00:02:15,710 --> 00:02:17,870 Speaker 1: the tide comes in quickly, it can take you by surprise. 36 00:02:17,930 --> 00:02:20,940 Speaker 1: They actually have something called a bore tide that comes 37 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:24,790 Speaker 1: different heights at different times. People actually will surf it 38 00:02:24,910 --> 00:02:28,830 Speaker 1: on the tourniquet arm. And it is just a large, 39 00:02:29,110 --> 00:02:32,150 Speaker 1: basically where the incoming and outgoing tide meet, and it 40 00:02:32,250 --> 00:02:34,549 Speaker 1: forms kind of a little, like a wave. And it 41 00:02:34,590 --> 00:02:36,570 Speaker 1: can be a large wave, it can be a middle-sized 42 00:02:36,620 --> 00:02:39,820 Speaker 1: wave or a small wave, but it carries surfers, so 43 00:02:39,860 --> 00:02:43,400 Speaker 1: it's significant. So basically, you gotta be careful. But if 44 00:02:43,440 --> 00:02:45,940 Speaker 1: that weren't enough of the tide coming in quickly and 45 00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:50,079 Speaker 1: going out quickly, we have something interesting we have glacial 46 00:02:50,220 --> 00:02:54,980 Speaker 1: silt that forms mudflats. So if you think of cornstarch, 47 00:02:55,200 --> 00:02:58,720 Speaker 1: it's what's called a non-Newtonian fluid. So when you step 48 00:02:58,820 --> 00:03:01,300 Speaker 1: on it, when you smack it with your hand, it 49 00:03:01,340 --> 00:03:03,900 Speaker 1: becomes solid. And when you let it go, it just 50 00:03:03,980 --> 00:03:09,030 Speaker 1: kind of like turns back into sort of a mushy liquid. 51 00:03:09,040 --> 00:03:14,950 Speaker 1: I you know, kids will play with it and stuff. Well, 52 00:03:15,110 --> 00:03:18,630 Speaker 1: picture something like this with very, very fine particles formed 53 00:03:18,730 --> 00:03:23,690 Speaker 1: by glaciers coming down mountains and turning soil and rock 54 00:03:23,900 --> 00:03:28,680 Speaker 1: into tiny, tiny, fine, fine grains of particles. And because 55 00:03:28,700 --> 00:03:31,900 Speaker 1: they're so tiny and fine, like cornstarch, when they mix 56 00:03:31,940 --> 00:03:35,760 Speaker 1: with water, they form basically quicksand is what it ends 57 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:39,620 Speaker 1: up being. So when there's absolutely no water and you 58 00:03:39,660 --> 00:03:44,090 Speaker 1: have a completely low tide, It might feel solid as 59 00:03:44,110 --> 00:03:45,650 Speaker 1: you're walking on it. You can kind of see a 60 00:03:45,670 --> 00:03:48,070 Speaker 1: little bit of liquid in it, but just a little 61 00:03:48,090 --> 00:03:50,170 Speaker 1: bit of liquid, a little bit of water coming up 62 00:03:51,050 --> 00:03:56,940 Speaker 1: and it becomes quicksand. So every year someone ends up 63 00:03:57,160 --> 00:03:59,900 Speaker 1: going out on the mudflats thinking, going for a walk 64 00:03:59,980 --> 00:04:04,320 Speaker 1: because it looks like open area and a tide will 65 00:04:04,360 --> 00:04:07,890 Speaker 1: come in way quicker than the person thinks and and 66 00:04:07,910 --> 00:04:10,690 Speaker 1: they'll get stuck. And what happens is, just like quicksand, 67 00:04:10,710 --> 00:04:13,890 Speaker 1: the more you struggle, the deeper your feet go into 68 00:04:13,930 --> 00:04:19,070 Speaker 1: this glacial silt. And as the tide comes in, very sadly, 69 00:04:19,230 --> 00:04:22,510 Speaker 1: and unfortunately, sometimes people die. It's been known to happen. 70 00:04:22,610 --> 00:04:24,190 Speaker 1: I don't know when the last time was, but it's 71 00:04:24,270 --> 00:04:27,240 Speaker 1: probably not even been a handful of years, maybe just 72 00:04:27,270 --> 00:04:29,520 Speaker 1: a couple of years since someone has died due to 73 00:04:29,839 --> 00:04:32,219 Speaker 1: going out on the mudflats. All of this to say 74 00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:35,870 Speaker 1: that what will happen is the tide comes in and 75 00:04:35,910 --> 00:04:38,570 Speaker 1: the water rises and rises. You can't get your feet out. 76 00:04:39,070 --> 00:04:41,930 Speaker 1: And eventually it gets up to your neck. And this 77 00:04:42,010 --> 00:04:44,669 Speaker 1: is the picture I have when I read what David 78 00:04:44,730 --> 00:04:52,300 Speaker 1: says in this psalm. It's panic and just intense anxiety 79 00:04:52,380 --> 00:04:55,979 Speaker 1: due to impending doom. So I want you to kind 80 00:04:56,000 --> 00:04:59,560 Speaker 1: of have this picture, not to be morbid, but in 81 00:04:59,620 --> 00:05:02,550 Speaker 1: this psalm, The water is up to his neck and 82 00:05:02,630 --> 00:05:06,409 Speaker 1: he can't get out. He is stuck just like someone 83 00:05:06,770 --> 00:05:09,570 Speaker 1: who would be stuck in the mudflats would be. If 84 00:05:09,630 --> 00:05:13,380 Speaker 1: you find yourself in a situation where you're feeling impending doom, 85 00:05:13,720 --> 00:05:16,440 Speaker 1: maybe it's not life or death, but maybe it's the 86 00:05:16,480 --> 00:05:20,400 Speaker 1: life or death of your reputation or maybe it's financial 87 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:25,130 Speaker 1: ruin or maybe it's a health condition that might not 88 00:05:25,150 --> 00:05:31,430 Speaker 1: be life-threatening but is absolutely scary and devastating. Whatever it 89 00:05:31,470 --> 00:05:33,970 Speaker 1: happens to be, whatever your struggle, I want you to 90 00:05:34,010 --> 00:05:36,730 Speaker 1: put yourself in the position of David. And then I 91 00:05:36,790 --> 00:05:42,150 Speaker 1: want you to experience the progression from this desperation into 92 00:05:42,890 --> 00:05:47,279 Speaker 1: expression of his raw, true feelings. Because he, more than 93 00:05:47,400 --> 00:05:52,339 Speaker 1: anyone else in the Bible, demonstrates, gives us permission to 94 00:05:52,839 --> 00:05:57,060 Speaker 1: be angry with God, to be desperate, to feel hopeless, 95 00:05:57,760 --> 00:06:03,950 Speaker 1: and yet to go to God with those feelings. Let's pray. 96 00:06:13,870 --> 00:06:32,250 Speaker 1: Let's pray. We just come to you today asking that 97 00:06:32,310 --> 00:06:36,350 Speaker 1: you would point us to truths in this passage, that 98 00:06:36,370 --> 00:06:39,310 Speaker 1: you would point us to examples of how we can 99 00:06:39,350 --> 00:06:43,789 Speaker 1: live our own lives with more authenticity in our relationship 100 00:06:43,830 --> 00:06:48,150 Speaker 1: with you, with more trust, and just with the freedom 101 00:06:48,790 --> 00:06:52,970 Speaker 1: to express our raw and true and sometimes untidy emotions 102 00:06:53,070 --> 00:06:56,310 Speaker 1: to you through prayer. We just pray that if there 103 00:06:56,350 --> 00:07:00,120 Speaker 1: are any barriers between us and reading your word and 104 00:07:00,180 --> 00:07:03,400 Speaker 1: hearing from your Holy Spirit, that you would just break 105 00:07:03,440 --> 00:07:08,200 Speaker 1: them down in Jesus' name. We confess any sin, whether 106 00:07:08,250 --> 00:07:11,670 Speaker 1: it's sin in our thoughts, in our words, in our actions, 107 00:07:12,470 --> 00:07:14,550 Speaker 1: whether it's sin we're aware of or sin we're not 108 00:07:14,610 --> 00:07:17,050 Speaker 1: aware of. We pray that you would take it from us. 109 00:07:18,170 --> 00:07:20,800 Speaker 1: We lay it at the feet of Jesus because we can, 110 00:07:20,860 --> 00:07:24,600 Speaker 1: because he died to pay the penalty for those sins. 111 00:07:25,960 --> 00:07:27,800 Speaker 1: And you've promised to remove them as far as the 112 00:07:27,900 --> 00:07:30,500 Speaker 1: East is from the West. And that when you look 113 00:07:30,520 --> 00:07:34,100 Speaker 1: at us, you see your son. You see purity. And 114 00:07:34,120 --> 00:07:36,860 Speaker 1: you're able to commune with us in a way that 115 00:07:36,900 --> 00:07:40,140 Speaker 1: would not be possible without Jesus. So we thank you 116 00:07:40,160 --> 00:07:42,580 Speaker 1: for the gift of Jesus as well. And for the 117 00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:44,400 Speaker 1: gift of your word. And we just pray that you 118 00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:49,840 Speaker 1: would bless this time of meditation on your word and prayer. 119 00:07:49,860 --> 00:07:52,560 Speaker 1: And we just pray that your word would go out 120 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:58,880 Speaker 1: today and not return empty. In Jesus' name, amen. All right, 121 00:07:58,920 --> 00:08:01,680 Speaker 1: let's read this Psalm. This is a long one, I'm 122 00:08:01,700 --> 00:08:04,780 Speaker 1: warning you, but it's really, really good. So hang in there. 123 00:08:05,840 --> 00:08:09,560 Speaker 1: Psalm 69. And as usual, this is from the NASB, 124 00:08:09,620 --> 00:08:12,580 Speaker 1: the New American Standard Bible, 1995. I just really like 125 00:08:12,600 --> 00:08:16,140 Speaker 1: this translation to read the Psalms. It says, a cry 126 00:08:16,170 --> 00:08:21,010 Speaker 1: of distress and imprecation on adversaries. This is the first 127 00:08:21,050 --> 00:08:25,310 Speaker 1: time I've seen this in a description. Imprecation is an 128 00:08:26,130 --> 00:08:31,030 Speaker 1: imprecatory prayer. or basically calling down God's wrath on enemies. 129 00:08:31,910 --> 00:08:35,510 Speaker 1: And we've talked about this. Actually, Praying Christian Women has 130 00:08:36,110 --> 00:08:39,910 Speaker 1: episodes that address imprecatory prayers and whether or not it's 131 00:08:39,950 --> 00:08:44,530 Speaker 1: appropriate to call down curses on our enemies. You can look, 132 00:08:44,710 --> 00:08:47,790 Speaker 1: you know, Google that, look into it, see what you think, 133 00:08:48,809 --> 00:08:53,270 Speaker 1: come to your own conclusions. Not everything that's demonstrated in 134 00:08:53,290 --> 00:08:58,309 Speaker 1: the Bible is for everyone. On the other hand, prayer. 135 00:08:58,750 --> 00:09:01,710 Speaker 1: It's God's word. And I feel like we pray the 136 00:09:01,750 --> 00:09:06,060 Speaker 1: Psalms as our own prayers. Some of them will inevitably 137 00:09:06,600 --> 00:09:10,080 Speaker 1: be imprecatory. We've seen them before. I've just never seen 138 00:09:10,120 --> 00:09:13,520 Speaker 1: it written in a description from the Bible. So this 139 00:09:13,540 --> 00:09:18,780 Speaker 1: is for the choir director, according to Shoshanim, which means 140 00:09:18,800 --> 00:09:23,790 Speaker 1: the lilies, possibly, which some people think is in reference 141 00:09:23,850 --> 00:09:25,670 Speaker 1: to the tune that it was to be sung to, 142 00:09:26,250 --> 00:09:30,160 Speaker 1: which again, Like to be able to hear these Psalms 143 00:09:30,240 --> 00:09:34,920 Speaker 1: sung would be incredible, but we can't. Not until heaven. 144 00:09:35,900 --> 00:09:37,850 Speaker 1: And it is a Psalm of David. So this is 145 00:09:37,929 --> 00:09:41,829 Speaker 1: definitely attributed to David. Save me, O God, for the 146 00:09:41,910 --> 00:09:45,170 Speaker 1: waters have threatened my life. I have sunk deep in 147 00:09:45,230 --> 00:09:49,730 Speaker 1: mire or mudflats, if you want to sort of swap 148 00:09:49,750 --> 00:09:52,700 Speaker 1: that out in your head. And there is no foothold. 149 00:09:53,300 --> 00:09:56,340 Speaker 1: I have come into deep waters and a flood overflows me. 150 00:09:57,010 --> 00:10:00,600 Speaker 1: I'm weary with my crying. My throat is parched. my 151 00:10:00,740 --> 00:10:03,860 Speaker 1: eyes fail while i wait for my god those who 152 00:10:03,900 --> 00:10:05,960 Speaker 1: hate me without a cause are more than the hairs 153 00:10:06,020 --> 00:10:09,380 Speaker 1: of my head those who would destroy me are powerful 154 00:10:09,450 --> 00:10:13,050 Speaker 1: being wrongfully my enemies what i did not steal i 155 00:10:13,309 --> 00:10:17,489 Speaker 1: then have to restore So this first part is just 156 00:10:17,530 --> 00:10:21,130 Speaker 1: talking about that feeling of being overwhelmed. And it says, 157 00:10:21,170 --> 00:10:23,370 Speaker 1: my eyes fail while I wait for my God. It's 158 00:10:23,410 --> 00:10:25,780 Speaker 1: this picture of looking. I remember when I was a 159 00:10:25,820 --> 00:10:27,900 Speaker 1: kid and I would look for the school bus coming 160 00:10:27,940 --> 00:10:30,120 Speaker 1: to the bus stop. And my dad was way taller 161 00:10:30,160 --> 00:10:32,420 Speaker 1: than me. And so he would see it before I 162 00:10:32,480 --> 00:10:34,880 Speaker 1: would see it coming. He also, I think, had better 163 00:10:34,980 --> 00:10:37,960 Speaker 1: eyesight than me. And so it's kind of like David 164 00:10:38,020 --> 00:10:42,150 Speaker 1: just waiting, waiting on God. and just his eyes are 165 00:10:42,190 --> 00:10:45,530 Speaker 1: just getting tired from straining and looking and hoping, you know, 166 00:10:45,790 --> 00:10:49,089 Speaker 1: every moment he thinks God's going to come. Meanwhile, the 167 00:10:49,150 --> 00:10:52,250 Speaker 1: waters are coming higher and higher and higher, and there 168 00:10:52,309 --> 00:10:55,760 Speaker 1: is no foothold. These mud flats are sucking his feet in, 169 00:10:56,320 --> 00:10:59,180 Speaker 1: so he can't swim away. Oh God, it is you 170 00:10:59,240 --> 00:11:02,160 Speaker 1: who knows my folly, and my wrongs are not hidden 171 00:11:02,220 --> 00:11:05,120 Speaker 1: from you. May those who wait for you not be 172 00:11:05,160 --> 00:11:08,950 Speaker 1: ashamed through me, oh God, God of hosts. May those 173 00:11:09,450 --> 00:11:12,860 Speaker 1: who seek you not be dishonored through me, O God 174 00:11:12,900 --> 00:11:16,320 Speaker 1: of Israel, because for your sake I have borne reproach. 175 00:11:16,960 --> 00:11:20,540 Speaker 1: Dishonor has covered my face. I've become estranged from my 176 00:11:20,580 --> 00:11:24,600 Speaker 1: brothers and an alien to my mother's sons. Or zeal 177 00:11:24,679 --> 00:11:27,969 Speaker 1: for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of 178 00:11:28,010 --> 00:11:30,490 Speaker 1: those who reproach you have fallen on me. And I'm 179 00:11:30,510 --> 00:11:32,630 Speaker 1: going to note right here, zeal for your house has 180 00:11:32,710 --> 00:11:38,110 Speaker 1: consumed me is often quoted in verses parallel with Jesus 181 00:11:38,570 --> 00:11:43,710 Speaker 1: overthrowing the tables in the temple when the tax collectors 182 00:11:44,290 --> 00:11:47,550 Speaker 1: and the thieves were in the temple, cheating the people 183 00:11:47,590 --> 00:11:52,220 Speaker 1: of God. That is John 2, 17, after Jesus cleanses 184 00:11:52,270 --> 00:11:56,460 Speaker 1: the temple. His disciples remember this scripture from this psalm, 185 00:11:56,500 --> 00:11:59,840 Speaker 1: zeal for your house will consume me. I wept in 186 00:11:59,880 --> 00:12:03,359 Speaker 1: my soul with fasting. It became my reproach. When I 187 00:12:03,400 --> 00:12:06,359 Speaker 1: made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them. 188 00:12:06,840 --> 00:12:09,020 Speaker 1: Those who sit in the gate talk about me, and 189 00:12:09,240 --> 00:12:12,420 Speaker 1: I am the song of the drunkards. But as for me, 190 00:12:12,840 --> 00:12:16,030 Speaker 1: my prayer is to you, O Lord, at an acceptable time. 191 00:12:16,990 --> 00:12:19,750 Speaker 1: And here the tide turns a little bit where he's 192 00:12:20,570 --> 00:12:24,870 Speaker 1: laying his case out. He's feeling overwhelmed. He's been falsely accused. 193 00:12:25,290 --> 00:12:28,350 Speaker 1: He is sitting on debt that he didn't incur that 194 00:12:28,370 --> 00:12:30,310 Speaker 1: he now has to pay back. So there might be 195 00:12:30,330 --> 00:12:34,290 Speaker 1: a financial or Maybe it's symbolic of another kind of 196 00:12:34,370 --> 00:12:40,099 Speaker 1: debt that he's in. And basically he is in this 197 00:12:40,220 --> 00:12:43,380 Speaker 1: place of utter despair. And yet he says, but as 198 00:12:43,480 --> 00:12:47,900 Speaker 1: for me, no matter what happens, no matter what trials 199 00:12:47,940 --> 00:12:51,580 Speaker 1: and tribulations are piled up and heaped on me, as 200 00:12:51,660 --> 00:12:54,220 Speaker 1: for me, as a child of God, my prayer is 201 00:12:54,280 --> 00:12:57,140 Speaker 1: to you, God, in the greatness of your loving kindness, 202 00:12:57,820 --> 00:13:01,880 Speaker 1: answer me with your saving truth. Deliver me from the mire. 203 00:13:02,100 --> 00:13:05,059 Speaker 1: Do not let me sink. May I be delivered from 204 00:13:05,100 --> 00:13:08,560 Speaker 1: my foes and from the deep waters. May the flood 205 00:13:08,580 --> 00:13:11,900 Speaker 1: of water not overflow me, nor the deep swallow me up, 206 00:13:12,330 --> 00:13:15,210 Speaker 1: nor the pit shut its mouth on me, saying, Do 207 00:13:15,250 --> 00:13:19,110 Speaker 1: not rescue me before I drown. I'm so close to 208 00:13:19,150 --> 00:13:21,250 Speaker 1: drowning right now, but I need you and I believe 209 00:13:21,290 --> 00:13:24,250 Speaker 1: in you to save me before I drown. Answer me, 210 00:13:24,320 --> 00:13:27,229 Speaker 1: O Lord, for your loving kindness is good. According to 211 00:13:27,250 --> 00:13:29,510 Speaker 1: the greatness of your compassion, turn to me and do 212 00:13:29,550 --> 00:13:32,229 Speaker 1: not hide your face from your servant, for I am 213 00:13:32,290 --> 00:13:36,210 Speaker 1: in distress. Answer me quickly. Oh, draw near to my 214 00:13:36,270 --> 00:13:39,370 Speaker 1: soul and redeem it. Ransom me because of my enemies. 215 00:13:40,070 --> 00:13:42,770 Speaker 1: You know my reproach and my shame and my dishonor. 216 00:13:43,309 --> 00:13:47,450 Speaker 1: All my adversaries are before you. Reproach has broken my 217 00:13:47,490 --> 00:13:50,270 Speaker 1: heart and I am so sick. And I looked for sympathy, 218 00:13:50,309 --> 00:13:53,990 Speaker 1: but there was none. And for comforters, but I found none. 219 00:13:54,450 --> 00:13:57,559 Speaker 1: They also gave me gall for my food. And for 220 00:13:57,600 --> 00:13:59,939 Speaker 1: my thirst, they gave me vinegar to drink. Again, this 221 00:14:00,000 --> 00:14:03,980 Speaker 1: is another reflection in the New Testament back to this 222 00:14:04,020 --> 00:14:07,220 Speaker 1: psalm when Jesus is offered vinegar when he's on the cross. 223 00:14:08,059 --> 00:14:10,820 Speaker 1: May their table before them become a snare. And when 224 00:14:10,840 --> 00:14:13,020 Speaker 1: they are in peace, may it become a trap. May 225 00:14:13,040 --> 00:14:15,550 Speaker 1: their eyes grow dim so they cannot see. This is 226 00:14:15,590 --> 00:14:20,210 Speaker 1: our imprecatory prayer. And make their loins shake continually. Pour 227 00:14:20,310 --> 00:14:23,090 Speaker 1: out your indignation on them. And may your burning anger 228 00:14:23,170 --> 00:14:26,520 Speaker 1: overtake them. May their camp be desolate. A little caution here. 229 00:14:26,540 --> 00:14:28,160 Speaker 1: This is David being very raw. And as I said, 230 00:14:28,180 --> 00:14:53,850 Speaker 1: there are things in the Bible like Solomon and other kings, 231 00:14:54,030 --> 00:14:56,810 Speaker 1: you know, David committing adultery just because he committed adultery 232 00:14:56,970 --> 00:14:59,430 Speaker 1: and was called a man of God's own heart doesn't 233 00:14:59,470 --> 00:15:03,510 Speaker 1: necessarily mean that committing adultery is right, right? It goes 234 00:15:03,550 --> 00:15:06,980 Speaker 1: against the Ten Commandments. It goes against God's best. Just 235 00:15:07,040 --> 00:15:12,180 Speaker 1: because Solomon had tons of horses and chariots, even though 236 00:15:12,200 --> 00:15:14,620 Speaker 1: the law said not to, and had multiple wives, even 237 00:15:14,640 --> 00:15:17,280 Speaker 1: though the law said not to, it's still in the Bible. 238 00:15:17,600 --> 00:15:21,530 Speaker 1: So I would caution praying that someone would go to hell. 239 00:15:21,680 --> 00:15:24,420 Speaker 1: This is pretty much what this is saying. This is pre-Jesus. 240 00:15:25,100 --> 00:15:28,480 Speaker 1: So their understanding of Sheol and of death was a 241 00:15:28,500 --> 00:15:31,480 Speaker 1: little different. But here he's saying there's a book of life. 242 00:15:32,100 --> 00:15:34,480 Speaker 1: To me, it looks like he's foreshadowing. I'm not a 243 00:15:34,540 --> 00:15:39,480 Speaker 1: scholar on the Jewish understanding of the afterlife. There's Abraham's bosom, 244 00:15:39,520 --> 00:15:42,080 Speaker 1: and then there's the abyss, which is in a parable 245 00:15:42,120 --> 00:15:44,540 Speaker 1: of Jesus that kind of fleshed that out a little bit. 246 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:47,830 Speaker 1: But he's talking about a book of life. And he's saying, 247 00:15:47,880 --> 00:15:51,290 Speaker 1: blot them out of the book of life. Basically, let 248 00:15:51,330 --> 00:15:54,430 Speaker 1: them go to hell. And I would really caution, as 249 00:15:54,490 --> 00:15:57,490 Speaker 1: you are incorporating these psalms into your prayer life, to 250 00:15:57,530 --> 00:16:00,830 Speaker 1: look into this. Talk to a pastor. I'm not a theologian, 251 00:16:01,690 --> 00:16:03,950 Speaker 1: but I do know that in one of our episodes, 252 00:16:04,090 --> 00:16:08,000 Speaker 1: Alana and I talk about imprecatory prayer. I think our 253 00:16:08,100 --> 00:16:13,380 Speaker 1: understanding of this needs to be taken in context because 254 00:16:13,680 --> 00:16:16,180 Speaker 1: in Matthew 5, 43 to 44, it says, You've heard 255 00:16:16,200 --> 00:16:18,040 Speaker 1: that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and 256 00:16:18,100 --> 00:16:21,510 Speaker 1: hate your enemy. But I, Jesus, say to you, love 257 00:16:21,530 --> 00:16:24,610 Speaker 1: your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. David 258 00:16:24,630 --> 00:16:29,630 Speaker 1: was operating under Old Testament wisdom. And David was also, 259 00:16:30,070 --> 00:16:33,570 Speaker 1: the enemies that were coming against him were coming against 260 00:16:33,610 --> 00:16:37,190 Speaker 1: the God of Israel and his nation as well. And 261 00:16:37,210 --> 00:16:39,990 Speaker 1: I don't have a good answer for you other than 262 00:16:40,010 --> 00:16:43,690 Speaker 1: I personally don't believe that praying for someone to be 263 00:16:43,730 --> 00:16:47,070 Speaker 1: cut off from the possibility of salvation is biblical. I'm 264 00:16:47,090 --> 00:16:48,620 Speaker 1: going to leave it at that. I'm going to let 265 00:16:48,660 --> 00:16:51,500 Speaker 1: you dig into it because there are some who say 266 00:16:51,580 --> 00:16:55,500 Speaker 1: praying the imprecatory Psalms is fine. There are others such 267 00:16:55,600 --> 00:16:59,860 Speaker 1: as C.S. Lewis who doesn't necessarily agree with that. So 268 00:17:00,460 --> 00:17:03,760 Speaker 1: should we read God's word? Can we pray God's word? Absolutely. 269 00:17:04,180 --> 00:17:09,590 Speaker 1: But when we do, the way I address this is 270 00:17:10,369 --> 00:17:14,390 Speaker 1: I look at my enemy with a capital E as 271 00:17:15,190 --> 00:17:18,710 Speaker 1: Satan and his minions. who are already condemned to hell. 272 00:17:19,190 --> 00:17:21,480 Speaker 1: There's no way they can get out of that. That 273 00:17:21,540 --> 00:17:25,340 Speaker 1: has been decreed and his destiny and their destiny is hell. 274 00:17:26,140 --> 00:17:30,040 Speaker 1: So as I pray this Psalm, the way I would 275 00:17:30,080 --> 00:17:34,980 Speaker 1: pray it would be to think my enemy is not 276 00:17:35,040 --> 00:17:39,060 Speaker 1: flesh and blood, just like we learn in Ephesians. The 277 00:17:39,100 --> 00:17:42,240 Speaker 1: battle is not against flesh and blood. It's about the principalities, 278 00:17:43,020 --> 00:17:46,609 Speaker 1: the evil forces that set themselves up against God. So 279 00:17:46,630 --> 00:17:49,670 Speaker 1: that's how I handle this. If this question has piqued 280 00:17:49,690 --> 00:17:52,670 Speaker 1: your interest, I would really love for you to speak 281 00:17:52,730 --> 00:17:55,170 Speaker 1: to someone who is a theologian to give you some 282 00:17:55,210 --> 00:17:59,899 Speaker 1: insights or look further in scripture for your answers and 283 00:17:59,940 --> 00:18:02,520 Speaker 1: go to God with that. So anyway, no more time 284 00:18:02,580 --> 00:18:04,300 Speaker 1: on that. But I just I had to say that. 285 00:18:04,859 --> 00:18:07,340 Speaker 1: That's one. It's one thing to pray that God would 286 00:18:07,600 --> 00:18:10,330 Speaker 1: turn the traps of your enemies against them. I think 287 00:18:10,350 --> 00:18:13,489 Speaker 1: that's perfectly fine if the situation calls for it so 288 00:18:13,510 --> 00:18:16,129 Speaker 1: that they are ensnared in their own sin. I think 289 00:18:16,150 --> 00:18:19,709 Speaker 1: that's biblical, even New Testament biblical. But I do not 290 00:18:19,750 --> 00:18:22,850 Speaker 1: think praying for someone to go to hell is biblical 291 00:18:23,270 --> 00:18:26,209 Speaker 1: from what we know of who Jesus is. Okay. But 292 00:18:26,250 --> 00:18:29,330 Speaker 1: I am afflicted and in pain. May your salvation, O God, 293 00:18:29,390 --> 00:18:31,580 Speaker 1: and this is verse 29 that I'm picking back up on. 294 00:18:31,970 --> 00:18:34,420 Speaker 1: May your salvation, O God, set me securely on high. 295 00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:37,139 Speaker 1: I will praise the name of God with song and 296 00:18:37,200 --> 00:18:40,200 Speaker 1: magnify him with thanksgiving. And it will please the Lord 297 00:18:40,240 --> 00:18:42,320 Speaker 1: better than an ox or a young bull with horns 298 00:18:42,359 --> 00:18:45,460 Speaker 1: and hooves. The humble have seen it and are glad. 299 00:18:46,060 --> 00:18:48,359 Speaker 1: You who seek God, let your heart revive. For the 300 00:18:48,400 --> 00:18:51,709 Speaker 1: Lord hears the needy and does not despise his who 301 00:18:51,770 --> 00:18:55,070 Speaker 1: are prisoners. So here we go. He is afflicted. He's 302 00:18:55,130 --> 00:18:58,090 Speaker 1: in pain. But he's saying, God, you are my savior. 303 00:18:58,109 --> 00:19:01,080 Speaker 1: You're my salvation. Let that lift me up out of 304 00:19:01,100 --> 00:19:03,640 Speaker 1: the muck and mire and set me. Kind of like 305 00:19:03,680 --> 00:19:06,100 Speaker 1: the other psalm that talks about setting my feet upon 306 00:19:06,140 --> 00:19:10,330 Speaker 1: a solid rock. set me securely on high. Let heaven 307 00:19:10,369 --> 00:19:13,110 Speaker 1: and earth praise him, the seas and everything that moves 308 00:19:13,170 --> 00:19:16,169 Speaker 1: in them. For God will save Zion and build the 309 00:19:16,210 --> 00:19:19,060 Speaker 1: cities of Judah, that they may dwell there and possess it. 310 00:19:19,490 --> 00:19:22,190 Speaker 1: The descendants of his servants will inherit it, and those 311 00:19:22,250 --> 00:19:25,190 Speaker 1: who love his name will dwell in it. And here 312 00:19:25,290 --> 00:19:28,689 Speaker 1: he brings it all together. At the very end, after 313 00:19:29,359 --> 00:19:34,219 Speaker 1: railing and raging and complaining and praying imprecatory prayers, he 314 00:19:34,280 --> 00:19:37,080 Speaker 1: is saying, let heaven and earth praise him. Let the 315 00:19:37,130 --> 00:19:39,240 Speaker 1: sea and everything that moves in him. So he's talking 316 00:19:39,280 --> 00:19:41,540 Speaker 1: about the very thing that was about to swallow him 317 00:19:41,640 --> 00:19:45,710 Speaker 1: up and kill him. Let even those things reflect back 318 00:19:45,770 --> 00:19:49,590 Speaker 1: on God and praise him. So my word to you 319 00:19:49,630 --> 00:19:54,760 Speaker 1: today is, God is bigger than even the things that 320 00:19:54,800 --> 00:19:57,870 Speaker 1: are threatening to swallow you up because he's a redeemer 321 00:19:58,380 --> 00:20:01,230 Speaker 1: of everything. So that even those things that are right 322 00:20:01,270 --> 00:20:05,730 Speaker 1: now working against you, like the sea that's threatening by 323 00:20:05,890 --> 00:20:08,610 Speaker 1: coming right up to your neck, he's bigger than all 324 00:20:08,630 --> 00:20:11,740 Speaker 1: of it. And he can redeem it and not just 325 00:20:12,359 --> 00:20:17,700 Speaker 1: lift you out of it, but turn even those difficult situations, 326 00:20:17,850 --> 00:20:21,909 Speaker 1: and I dare say even people, back to himself to 327 00:20:21,950 --> 00:20:26,889 Speaker 1: bring glory to him. Let's pray. Father God, we praise 328 00:20:26,930 --> 00:20:30,369 Speaker 1: you for being a redeemer. We pray not only that 329 00:20:30,410 --> 00:20:32,429 Speaker 1: you would lift us up out of the muck and 330 00:20:32,450 --> 00:20:36,720 Speaker 1: the mire, the glacial silt that surrounds our feet and 331 00:20:36,780 --> 00:20:39,750 Speaker 1: keeps us from being able to escape, that you would 332 00:20:39,790 --> 00:20:41,869 Speaker 1: not only get us out of it, but that you 333 00:20:41,910 --> 00:20:44,510 Speaker 1: would redeem it and reclaim it for yourself, God, for 334 00:20:44,530 --> 00:20:50,010 Speaker 1: your good purposes, for our good purposes. In Jesus' name, amen. 335 00:20:53,970 --> 00:20:55,850 Speaker 1: We'd like to take just a quick second to thank 336 00:20:55,869 --> 00:20:58,270 Speaker 1: the team at Life Audio for their partnership with us 337 00:20:58,330 --> 00:21:01,930 Speaker 1: on the podcast. If you go to lifeaudio.com, you will 338 00:21:01,970 --> 00:21:05,310 Speaker 1: find dozens of other faith-centered podcasts in their network. They've 339 00:21:05,350 --> 00:21:09,080 Speaker 1: got shows about prayer, Bible study, parenting, and so much more. 340 00:21:09,630 --> 00:21:10,680 Speaker 1: That's lifeaudio.com.