Feb 28 Daily Rhythm

Morning
Psalm 83:1-8   

O God, do not keep silence; do not hold your peace or be still, O God! For behold, your enemies make an uproar; those who hate you have raised their heads. They lay crafty plans against your people; they consult together against your treasured ones. They say, “Come, let us wipe them out as a nation; let the name of Israel be remembered no more!” For they conspire with one accord; against you they make a covenant—the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, Moab and the Hagrites, Gebal and Ammon and Amalek, Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre; Asshur also has joined them; they are the strong arm of the children of Lot.

Almighty creator and redeemer, throughout all ages there are those who wish to silence your word. You threaten self centered humanity because we want an independence we were not made for. We ask you to silence your enemies with your presence and your power. Subdue them to yourself by your grace and make your power known in the world.

Afternoon
Psalm 83:9

Do to them as you did to Midian, as to Sisera and Jabin at the river Kishon, who were destroyed at En-dor, who became dung for the ground. Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna, who said, “Let us take possession for ourselves of the pastures of God.”

Father, we struggle to pray a prayer like this. We want grace, not vengeance. Help us to remember that even in your grace there is vengeance heaped out on your son at the cross. Let us hate cheap grace that does not involve justice and transformation. And give us hearts that accept justice however you see fit to bring it.

Evening
Psalm 83:13   

O my God, make them like whirling dust, like chaff before the wind. As fire consumes the forest, as the flame sets the mountains ablaze, so may you pursue them with your tempest and terrify them with your hurricane! Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek your name, O LORD. Let them be put to shame and dismayed forever; let them perish in disgrace, that they may know that you alone, whose name is the LORD, are the Most High over all the earth.

Oh God, this line reminds us that shame is what causes us to seek your name. Let our own shame drive us to you where you destroy our shame and remake us in your image. Let us only point to the sin of others with hope that it will drive them to seek your name. Oh God, be glorified in us and in those we love.