A Prayer to the God Who Delivers [Psalm 120]
I’ve been studying Psalm 120 over the last few months, and I tried my hand at writing a prayer related to that psalm. I debated all day about posting it here, because I’ve never written any sort of prayer like this. It’s definitely a work in progress. But I thought I’d share it with you hoping you might find encouragement in praying through this passage of Scripture.
This incredibly rich psalm has much to teach us, but I decided to focus on the idea of God as deliverer. It’s a psalm of lament that doesn’t end on a note of rejoicing like many of the psalms do. Even so, it’s a prayer of hope. Bernhard Anderson wrote, “(T)he laments are really expressions of praise, offered in a minor key in the confidence that Yhwh is faithful and in anticipation of a new lease on life.” If the author had no hope, there would be no point in crying out.
But the psalmist laments before God, begging him for deliverance. Why? Because he believes, even if faintly, that Yhwh saves.
Especially this time of year, we remember that truth as we celebrate the coming of the Messiah. Matthew 1:21 says, “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
Like a child crying out to a parent for help when they’re hurt, we cry to our God in distress knowing he actually has the power to rescue.
He is the true God who delivers his people.
(I suggest reading Psalm 120 in addition to the prayer below, so I’ve included the whole passage in the gray graphic.)
A Prayer to the God Who Delivers
God who delivers,
we cry out!
We wrestle and mourn and weep before you,
knowing you can answer.
Will you answer?
We hear the lies whispered in our ears
that you are powerless, that we are hopeless.
But we’ve also heard a truth
that silences the lies.
The one conceived in a virgin womb,
later shouted with an empty tomb
the truth of resurrection.
Help us to trust that you are working.
Give us peace to wait.
Strengthen our hope for the day
when darkness will be made light,
our sorrow turned to joy,
and hope made sight.
On that day, we will see your face.
We will worship in your presence.
And we will rest in the arms
of the God who delivered.
Amen.
