Thanksgiving Psalms: Psalm 57

Sunday night, at our Intergenerational Faith Formation Meal, we talked together about thankfulness, and each household received a sort of Thanksgiving devotional book to take home, with a different Psalm of Thanksgiving to read each day from now til Thanksgiving. For those of you who were unable to attend (or who just do better receiving things digitally!) those Psalms will also be sent out via the blog daily until Thanksgiving. Just a chance for you to stop and offer a prayer of thanks from the scriptures each day, developing deeper gratitude in your own lives. How do these ancient prayers of Thanksgiving compare to your own prayers? Which parts of these Thanksgiving prayers connect with your life?

Psalm 57: Praise and Assurance under Persecution

Of David, when David fled from Saul, in the cave.

1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,

    for in you my soul takes refuge;

in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,

    until the destroying storms pass by.

2 I cry to God Most High, to God who fulfills God’s purpose for me.

3 God will send from heaven and save me,

    God will put to shame those who trample on me.

God will send forth God’s steadfast love and God’s faithfulness.

4 I lie down among lions that greedily devour human prey;

their teeth are spears and arrows, their tongues sharp swords.

5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens.

    Let your glory be over all the earth.

6 They set a net for my steps; my soul was bowed down.

They dug a pit in my path,

    but they have fallen into it themselves.Selah

7 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast.

I will sing and make melody.

8     Awake, my soul!  Awake, O harp and lyre!

    I will awake the dawn.

9 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;

    I will sing praises to you among the nations.

10 For your steadfast love is as high as the heavens;

    your faithfulness extends to the clouds.

11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens.

    Let your glory be over all the earth.