My Heart Is Steadfast, O God
Devotional
Companion to the Psalter
A Devotional Guide to the Psalms
Object:
My heart is steadfast,
I will sing and make melody.
Awake, my soul ...
Give victory with your right hand,
and answer me,
so that those whom you love
may be rescued ...
O grant us help against the foe,
for human help is worthless.
-- Psalm 108:1, 6, 12
Theme: Praise and prayer for victory
Outline
1-5 -- Praise of God (a repetition of Psalm 57:7-11).
6-13 -- Prayer for victory (a repetition of Psalm 60:6-12).
Notes
• Mixed -- Lament
• An "editor" took portions of two older psalms and united them to make this new hymn for Israel in a new situation (similar to the older).
• The use of familiar words of praise followed by a familiar prayer for victory were brought together for a new use. (See Psalms 57 and 60.)
Prayer
Dear Lord, we thank you for the dependability and the good and faithful work of others, on whom we depend for many of your blessings. But only you can bring us through the trials and judgment our sins have brought upon us; only you can silence our foe.
No strength of ours can match his might
We would be lost, rejected.
But now a champion comes to fight,
Whom God himself elected.
Ask who this may be;
Lord of hosts is he!
Jesus Christ, our Lord,
God's only Son, adored.
He holds the field victorious.1
Keep us in Christ the victor and bring us to your eternal kingdom. Amen.
____________
1. "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God," verse 2; words by Martin Luther (1483-1546).
I will sing and make melody.
Awake, my soul ...
Give victory with your right hand,
and answer me,
so that those whom you love
may be rescued ...
O grant us help against the foe,
for human help is worthless.
-- Psalm 108:1, 6, 12
Theme: Praise and prayer for victory
Outline
1-5 -- Praise of God (a repetition of Psalm 57:7-11).
6-13 -- Prayer for victory (a repetition of Psalm 60:6-12).
Notes
• Mixed -- Lament
• An "editor" took portions of two older psalms and united them to make this new hymn for Israel in a new situation (similar to the older).
• The use of familiar words of praise followed by a familiar prayer for victory were brought together for a new use. (See Psalms 57 and 60.)
Prayer
Dear Lord, we thank you for the dependability and the good and faithful work of others, on whom we depend for many of your blessings. But only you can bring us through the trials and judgment our sins have brought upon us; only you can silence our foe.
No strength of ours can match his might
We would be lost, rejected.
But now a champion comes to fight,
Whom God himself elected.
Ask who this may be;
Lord of hosts is he!
Jesus Christ, our Lord,
God's only Son, adored.
He holds the field victorious.1
Keep us in Christ the victor and bring us to your eternal kingdom. Amen.
____________
1. "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God," verse 2; words by Martin Luther (1483-1546).