Day 8 Morning Psalt Intake

No matter what situation we are struggling with, our hope and our help is always in the Lord!

Psalm 38

A Psalm by David, for a memorial.
1 LORD, don’t rebuke me in your wrath, neither chasten me in your hot displeasure. 2 For your arrows have pierced me, your hand presses hard on me. 3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation, neither is there any health in my bones because of my sin. 4 For my iniquities have gone over my head. As a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me. 5 My wounds are loathsome and corrupt, because of my foolishness. 6 I am pained and bowed down greatly. I go mourning all day long. 7 For my waist is filled with burning. There is no soundness in my flesh. 8 I am faint and severely bruised. I have groaned by reason of the anguish of my heart. 9 Lord, all my desire is before you. My groaning is not hidden from you. 10 My heart throbs. My strength fails me. As for the light of my eyes, it has also left me. 11 My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my plague. My kinsmen stand far away. 12 They also who seek after my life lay snares. Those who seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and meditate deceits all day long. 13 But I, as a deaf man, don’t hear. I am as a mute man who doesn’t open his mouth. 14 Yes, I am as a man who doesn’t hear, in whose mouth are no reproofs. 15 For in you, LORD, do I hope. You will answer, Lord my God. 16 For I said, “Don’t let them gloat over me, or exalt themselves over me when my foot slips.” 17 For I am ready to fall. My pain is continually before me. 18 For I will declare my iniquity. I will be sorry for my sin. 19 But my enemies are vigorous and many. Those who hate me without reason are numerous. 20 They who also render evil for good are adversaries to me, because I follow what is good. 21 Don’t forsake me, LORD. My God, don’t be far from me. 22 Hurry to help me, Lord, my salvation.
The humbling reality that every one of us is ‘but a breath’ should keep us ever seeking the amazing grace and faithfulness of God.

Psalm 39

For the Chief Musician. For Jeduthun. A Psalm by David.
1 I said, “I will watch my ways, so that I don’t sin with my tongue. I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me.” 2 I was mute with silence. I held my peace, even from good. My sorrow was stirred. 3 My heart was hot within me. While I meditated, the fire burned: I spoke with my tongue: 4 “LORD, show me my end, what is the measure of my days. Let me know how frail I am. 5 Behold, you have made my days hand widths. My lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely every man stands as a breath.” Selah. 6 “Surely every man walks like a shadow. Surely they busy themselves in vain. He heaps up, and doesn’t know who shall gather. 7 Now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in you. 8 Deliver me from all my transgressions. Don’t make me the reproach of the foolish. 9 I was mute. I didn’t open my mouth, because you did it. 10 Remove your scourge away from me. I am overcome by the blow of your hand. 11 When you rebuke and correct man for iniquity, You consume his wealth like a moth. Surely every man is but a breath.” Selah. 12 “Hear my prayer, LORD, and give ear to my cry. Don’t be silent at my tears. For I am a stranger with you, a foreigner, as all my fathers were. 13 Oh spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go away, and exist no more.”
Let all those who seek the Lord rejoice and be glad in Him!

Psalm 40

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.
1 I waited patiently for the LORD. He turned to me, and heard my cry. 2 He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay. He set my feet on a rock, and gave me a firm place to stand. 3 He has put a new song in my mouth, even praise to our God. Many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. 4 Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, and doesn’t respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. 5 Many, LORD, my God, are the wonderful works which you have done, and your thoughts which are towards us. They can’t be declared back to you. If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. 6 Sacrifice and offering you didn’t desire. You have opened my ears. You have not required burnt offering and sin offering. 7 Then I said, “Behold, I have come. It is written about me in the book in the scroll. 8 I delight to do your will, my God. Yes, your law is within my heart.” 9 I have proclaimed glad news of righteousness in the great assembly. Behold, I will not seal my lips, LORD, you know. 10 I have not hidden your righteousness within my heart. I have declared your faithfulness and your salvation. I have not concealed your loving kindness and your truth from the great assembly. 11 Don’t withhold your tender mercies from me, LORD. Let your loving kindness and your truth continually preserve me. 12 For innumerable evils have surrounded me. My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up. They are more than the hairs of my head. My heart has failed me. 13 Be pleased, LORD, to deliver me. Hurry to help me, LORD. 14 Let them be disappointed and confounded together who seek after my soul to destroy it. Let them be turned backward and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt. 15 Let them be desolate by reason of their shame that tell me, “Aha! Aha!” 16 Let all those who seek you rejoice and be glad in you. Let such as love your salvation say continually, “Let the LORD be exalted!” 17 But I am poor and needy. May the Lord think about me. You are my help and my deliverer. Don’t delay, my God.