Devotion Time:2012 Devotions: Psalm Week 2 April 23 April 28, 2012

Devotion Time:2012 Devotions: Psalm Week 2 April 23 – April 28, 2012

This week, we will continue to reflect on some selected psalms. The Book of Psalm is the prayer and praise book of God’s people. Generations of Christians have learned to pray and praise God through the psalms.

Read:Read each psalm slowly, paying attention to the cadence and the emotions being expressed. As you read, affirm the truths in the words. Note words that stand out, or phrases that give you pause. The text will be presented in the NIV as well as the NLT (New Living Translation), to help us “hear” each psalm better.

Meditate: Choose one or two key verses from the psalm to remember.

Note: Each psalm contains truths about who God is, and provides lessons, warnings or promises that apply to us. Note these.

Pray: Pray along with the thoughts and wording of the psalm, paraphrasing or directly using the words of the psalm. When the psalms refer to foes or battle, apply the words to our spiritual battles as Christians—“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12). Also, consider if the words of the psalms trigger a special way you can pray for someone else, or intercede for the global Christian community.

Devotion Time:2012 Devotions: Psalm Week 2 April 23 – April 28, 2012

MONDAY, APRIL 23

Bible Text

Devotion Time:2012 Devotions: Psalm Week 2 April 23 – April 28, 2012

Psalm 16 (NIV84)

A miktam of David.

1Keep me safe, O God,

for in you I take refuge.

2I said to the Lord, “You are my Lord;

apart from you I have no good thing.”

3As for the saints who are in the land,

they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight.

4The sorrows of those will increase

who run after other gods.

I will not pour out their libations of blood

or take up their names on my lips.

5Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup;

you have made my lot secure.

6The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;

surely I have a delightful inheritance.

7I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;

even at night my heart instructs me.

8I have set the Lord always before me.

Because he is at my right hand,

I will not be shaken.

9Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;

my body also will rest secure,

10because you will not abandon me to the grave,

nor will you let your Holy One see decay.

11You have made known to me the path of life;

you will fill me with joy in your presence,

with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Psalm 16 (NLT)

A psalm of David.

1Keep me safe, O God,

for I have come to you for refuge.

2I said to the Lord, “You are my Master!

Every good thing I have comes from you.”

3The godly people in the land

are my true heroes!

I take pleasure in them!

4Troubles multiply for those who chase after other gods.

I will not take part in their sacrifices of blood

or even speak the names of their gods.

5Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing.

You guard all that is mine.

6The land you have given me is a pleasant land.

What a wonderful inheritance!

7I will bless the Lord who guides me;

even at night my heart instructs me.

8I know the Lord is always with me.

I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.

9No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice.

My body rests in safety.

10For you will not leave my soul among the dead

or allow your holy one to rot in the grave.

11You will show me the way of life,

granting me the joy of your presence

and the pleasures of living with you forever.

Devotion Time:2012 Devotions: Psalm Week 2 April 23 – April 28, 2012

Reflection

Key Verse

God is …

Lessons for me …

Prayer

Please write out a prayer referring to the words of the psalm, and personalizing the psalm as a prayer for yourself, or as an intercessory prayer for others. You can also write out a prayer based on what the psalm reveals about who God is, or some lesson or promise you want to respond to in prayer.

tuesday, April 24

Bible Text

Devotion Time:2012 Devotions: Psalm Week 2 April 23 – April 28, 2012

Psalm 20 (NIV84)

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

1May the Lord answer you when you are in distress;

may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.

2May he send you help from the sanctuary

and grant you support from Zion.

3May he remember all your sacrifices

and accept your burnt offerings.Selah

4May he give you the desire of your heart

and make all your plans succeed.

5We will shout for joy when you are victorious

and will lift up our banners in the name of our God.

May the Lord grant all your requests.

6Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed;

he answers him from his holy heaven

with the saving power of his right hand.

7Some trust in chariots and some in horses,

but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

8They are brought to their knees and fall,

but we rise up and stand firm.

9O Lord, save the king!

Answer us when we call!

Psalm 20 (NLT)

For the choir director: A psalm of David.

1In times of trouble, may the Lord answer your cry.

May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm.

2May he send you help from his sanctuary

and strengthen you from Jerusalem.

3May he remember all your gifts

and look favorably on your burnt offerings.

Interlude

4May he grant your heart’s desires

and make all your plans succeed.

5May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory

and raise a victory banner in the name of our God.

May the Lord answer all your prayers.

6Now I know that the Lord rescues his anointed king.

He will answer him from his holy heaven

and rescue him by his great power.

7Some nations boast of their chariots and horses,

but we boast in the name of the Lord our God.

8Those nations will fall down and collapse,

but we will rise up and stand firm.

9Give victory to our king, O Lord!

Answer our cry for help.

Devotion Time:2012 Devotions: Psalm Week 2 April 23 – April 28, 2012

Reflection

Key Verse

God is …

Lessons for me …

Prayer

wednesday, April 25

Bible Text

Devotion Time:2012 Devotions: Psalm Week 2 April 23 – April 28, 2012

Psalm 22 (NIV84)

For the director of music. To the tune of “The Doe of the Morning.” A psalm of David.

1My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

Why are you so far from saving me,

so far from the words of my groaning?

2O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,

by night, and am not silent.

3Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;

you are the praise of Israel.

4In you our fathers put their trust;

they trusted and you delivered them.

5They cried to you and were saved;

in you they trusted and were not disappointed.

6But I am a worm and not a man,

scorned by men and despised by the people.

7All who see me mock me;

they hurl insults, shaking their heads:

8“He trusts in the Lord;

let the Lord rescue him.

Let him deliver him,

since he delights in him.”

9Yet you brought me out of the womb;

you made me trust in you

even at my mother’s breast.

10From birth I was cast upon you;

from my mother’s womb you have been my God.

11Do not be far from me,

for trouble is near

and there is no one to help.

12Many bulls surround me;

strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.

13Roaring lions tearing their prey

open their mouths wide against me.

14I am poured out like water,

and all my bones are out of joint.

My heart has turned to wax;

it has melted away within me.

15My strength is dried up like a potsherd,

and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;

you lay me in the dust of death.

16Dogs have surrounded me;

a band of evil men has encircled me,

they have pierced my hands and my feet.

17I can count all my bones;

people stare and gloat over me.

18They divide my garments among them

and cast lots for my clothing.

19But you, O Lord, be not far off;

O my Strength, come quickly to help me.

20Deliver my life from the sword,

my precious life from the power of the dogs.

21Rescue me from the mouth of the lions;

save me from the horns of the wild oxen.

22I will declare your name to my brothers;

in the congregation I will praise you.

23You who fear the Lord, praise him!

All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!

Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!

24For he has not despised or disdained

the suffering of the afflicted one;

he has not hidden his face from him

but has listened to his cry for help.

25From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly;

before those who fear you will I fulfill my vows.

26The poor will eat and be satisfied;

they who seek the Lord will praise him—

may your hearts live forever!

27All the ends of the earth

will remember and turn to the Lord,

and all the families of the nations

will bow down before him,

28for dominion belongs to the Lord

and he rules over the nations.

29All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;

all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—

those who cannot keep themselves alive.

30Posterity will serve him;

future generations will be told about the Lord.

31They will proclaim his righteousness

to a people yet unborn—

for he has done it.

Psalm 22 (NLT)

For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be sung to the tune “Doe of the Dawn.”

1My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

Why are you so far away when I groan for help?

2Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer.

Every night you hear my voice, but I find no relief.

3Yet you are holy,

enthroned on the praises of Israel.

4Our ancestors trusted in you,

and you rescued them.

5They cried out to you and were saved.

They trusted in you and were never disgraced.

6But I am a worm and not a man.

I am scorned and despised by all!

7Everyone who sees me mocks me.

They sneer and shake their heads, saying,

8“Is this the one who relies on the Lord?

Then let the Lord save him!

If the Lord loves him so much,

let the Lord rescue him!”

9Yet you brought me safely from my mother’s womb

and led me to trust you at my mother’s breast.

10I was thrust into your arms at my birth.

You have been my God from the moment I was born.

11Do not stay so far from me,

for trouble is near,

and no one else can help me.

12My enemies surround me like a herd of bulls;

fierce bulls of Bashan have hemmed me in!

13Like lions they open their jaws against me,

roaring and tearing into their prey.

14My life is poured out like water,

and all my bones are out of joint.

My heart is like wax,

melting within me.

15My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay.

My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.

You have laid me in the dust and left me for dead.

16My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs;

an evil gang closes in on me.

They have pierced my hands and feet.

17I can count all my bones.

My enemies stare at me and gloat.

18They divide my garments among themselves

and throw dice for my clothing.

19O Lord, do not stay far away!

You are my strength; come quickly to my aid!

20Save me from the sword;

spare my precious life from these dogs.

21Snatch me from the lion’s jaws

and from the horns of these wild oxen.

22I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters.

I will praise you among your assembled people.

23Praise the Lord, all you who fear him!

Honor him, all you descendants of Jacob!

Show him reverence, all you descendants of Israel!

24For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy.

He has not turned his back on them,

but has listened to their cries for help.

25I will praise you in the great assembly.

I will fulfill my vows in the presence of those who worship you.

26The poor will eat and be satisfied.

All who seek the Lord will praise him.

Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy.

27The whole earth will acknowledge the Lord and return to him.

All the families of the nations will bow down before him.

28For royal power belongs to the Lord.

He rules all the nations.

29Let the rich of the earth feast and worship.

Bow before him, all who are mortal,

all whose lives will end as dust.

30Our children will also serve him.

Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord.

31His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born.

They will hear about everything he has done.

Devotion Time:2012 Devotions: Psalm Week 2 April 23 – April 28, 2012

Reflection

Key Verse

God is …

Lessons for me …

Prayer

Devotion Time:2012 Devotions: Psalm Week 2 April 23 – April 28, 2012

thursday, April 26

Bible Text

Devotion Time:2012 Devotions: Psalm Week 2 April 23 – April 28, 2012

Psalm 23 (NIV84)

A psalm of David.

1The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

2He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

3he restores my soul.

He guides me in paths of righteousness

for his name’s sake.

4Even though I walk

through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

5You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

6Surely goodness and love will follow me

all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord

forever.

Psalm 23 (NLT)

A psalm of David.

1The Lord is my shepherd;

I have all that I need.

2He lets me rest in green meadows;

he leads me beside peaceful streams.

3He renews my strength.

He guides me along right paths,

bringing honor to his name.

4Even when I walk

through the darkest valley,

I will not be afraid,

for you are close beside me.

Your rod and your staff

protect and comfort me.

5You prepare a feast for me

in the presence of my enemies.

You honor me by anointing my head with oil.

My cup overflows with blessings.

6Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me

all the days of my life,

and I will live in the house of the Lord

forever.

Devotion Time:2012 Devotions: Psalm Week 2 April 23 – April 28, 2012

Reflection

Key Verse

God is …

Lessons for me …

Prayer

Devotion Time:2012 Devotions: Psalm Week 2 April 23 – April 28, 2012

FRIDAY, April 27

Bible Text

Devotion Time:2012 Devotions: Psalm Week 2 April 23 – April 28, 2012

Psalm 24 (NIV84)

Of David. A psalm.

1The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it,

the world, and all who live in it;

2for he founded it upon the seas

and established it upon the waters.

3Who may ascend the hill of the Lord?

Who may stand in his holy place?

4He who has clean hands and a pure heart,

who does not lift up his soul to an idol

or swear by what is false.

5He will receive blessing from the Lord

and vindication from God his Savior.

6Such is the generation of those who seek him,

who seek your face, O God of Jacob.Selah

7Lift up your heads, O you gates;

be lifted up, you ancient doors,

that the King of glory may come in.

8Who is this King of glory?

The Lord strong and mighty,

the Lord mighty in battle.

9Lift up your heads, O you gates;

lift them up, you ancient doors,

that the King of glory may come in.

10Who is he, this King of glory?

The Lord Almighty—

he is the King of glory.Selah

Psalm 24 (NLT)

A psalm of David.

1The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.

The world and all its people belong to him.

2For he laid the earth’s foundation on the seas

and built it on the ocean depths.

3Who may climb the mountain of the Lord?

Who may stand in his holy place?

4Only those whose hands and hearts are pure,

who do not worship idols

and never tell lies.

5They will receive the Lord’s blessing

and have a right relationship with God their savior.

6Such people may seek you

and worship in your presence, O God of Jacob.

Interlude

7Open up, ancient gates!

Open up, ancient doors,

and let the King of glory enter.

8Who is the King of glory?