Praying the Psalms with Luther

READ: Ezekiel 34 Psalm 85 Hebrews 7:1-10

The 85th Psalm is a Psalm of prayer in which the psalmist pleads against God’s wrath and seeks His grace. The wrath consists in this, that they have a lack of God’s Word and true preaching; also a lack of good government, peace, godly authority; and finally a lack of fruitful times and good harvest. These afflictions hang together, one with the other. Therefore, the Psalmist prays that God would speak again, so that His people will not fall into folly, blaspheme in impatience, nor seek other gods; so that peace, unity, truth, and love might wash over His people, and the land be fruitful; so that they can live a proper and honorable life in a God-pleasing way in peace and quietness, as St. Paul [1st Timothy 2:2] also teaches us to pray.

PRAY: Remember not, O God, our transgressions or hold them against us, and record not our sins in Your book, but cast them into the depth of the sea, and remember them no more – forever. Impute to us the obedience of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who fulfilled all righteousness for us and gave Himself a sacrifice for our sins. Let us live for His sake, and enable us to walk worthy of our calling. Amen.