Pray the Psalms: Psalm 35

[MUSIC PLAYING] Hi. It’s Rick [INAUDIBLE]. Psalm 35. When my kids were young, I remember we used to go to this medieval festival, and they’d take these plastic swords, and they’d have plastic shields, and plastic breastplates, and they’d always do some sword fighting along the way. 

It was play. It was fun. It was pretend. Well, you know, sometimes, that’s what we need to do when things are hard. And there’s also an image in the psalm of the silence of God. When we don’t hear God, when it’s hard to be in touch with Him, the Psalms give us words to get in touch with him. 

Plead my cause, oh, Lord, with those who strive with me. Fight against those who fight against me. Take hold of the shield and buckler, and stand up for my help. Take hold of a shield. So I use the Psalms with language like that when I’m not sure where God is. But in these Psalms, there’s text. There’s images. There’s a way of getting in touch with what I’m feeling, and what I want to say. Do not be silent Lord. Do not be silent. Fight with me. Stand by my side. 

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