A SONG OF ASCENTS.
“Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth”
—let Israel now say—
“Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth,
yet they have not prevailed against me.
The plowers plowed upon my back;
they made long their furrows.”
The LORD is righteous;
he has cut the cords of the wicked.
May all who hate Zion be put to shame
and turned backward!
Let them be like the grass on the housetops,
which withers before it grows up,
with which the reaper does not fill his hand
nor the binder of sheaves his arms,
nor do those who pass by say,
“The blessing of the LORD be upon you!
We bless you in the name of the LORD!”
Gracious God and Heavenly Father,
Your people have been afflicted and despised since they were first chosen by you, and your people are still suffering in many places today, but are not without hope. We know that you are righteous and holy and that the fate of the wicked is in your hands. You are true to your covenant promises, LORD, and we know that all things work for the good of those who love you. Those who do not belong to you will be cursed. We are to pray for our enemies in the hope that they will turn to you, but if their hearts are hardened they will be put to shame, they will wither away like grass and they will not be blessed.
Father, you caused your Son to suffer to atone for our sins and so that we might be truly free from the bonds of our oppressors. Nothing can separate us from your love! Help us to trust you and to take heart when we are faced with hard times. We praise you for your goodness and faithfulness to us and we thank you for our deliverance.
In Christ’s name. AMEN