I've not been too faithful with this prayer blog since Easter--I've simply been going other directions with my prayer life. A week ago, however, the day my 70-year-old father underwent quadruple bypass surgery after cardiac arrest, I went to Psalm 71, often called the Psalm for the Aging and prayed it for my dad. He's doing very well in this period of recovery, but even before the surgery, I already felt peace, that his renewal was a certainty. Something whispered to my heart while I read this Psalm as a prayer--all the while picturing my own dad and all those years he made music at the organ bench for various churches or directing their choirs. I saw the verses about praising in song and it became all the more his Psalm. I heard that voice whisper that I need not fear his death during surgery, that even as this Psalm sees the far side of 70, so would he...
Psa 71:1 In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.
Psa 71:2 Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me.
Psa 71:3 Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou [art] my rock and my fortress.
Psa 71:4 Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.
Psa 71:5 For thou [art] my hope, O Lord GOD: [thou art] my trust from my youth.
Psa 71:6 By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels: my praise [shall be] continually of thee.
Psa 71:7 I am as a wonder unto many; but thou [art] my strong refuge.
Psa 71:8 Let my mouth be filled [with] thy praise [and with] thy honour all the day.
Psa 71:9 Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.
Psa 71:10 For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together,
Psa 71:11 Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for [there is] none to deliver [him].
Psa 71:12 O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help.
Psa 71:13 Let them be confounded [and] consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered [with] reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt.
Psa 71:14 But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.
Psa 71:15 My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness [and] thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers [thereof].
Psa 71:16 I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, [even] of thine only.
Psa 71:17 O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.
Psa 71:18 Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto [this] generation, [and] thy power to every one [that] is to come.
Psa 71:19 Thy righteousness also, O God, [is] very high, who hast done great things: O God, who [is] like unto thee!
Psa 71:20 [Thou], which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.
Psa 71:21 Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.
Psa 71:22 I will also praise thee with the psaltery, [even] thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.
Psa 71:23 My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed.
Psa 71:24 My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long: for they are confounded, for they are brought unto shame, that seek my hurt.
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