Proper 17 (Ps) September 1st

Psalm 57:1-11
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, 

till the storms of destruction pass by. 

²  I cry out to God Most High, 

to God who fulfills his purpose for me. 

³  He will send from heaven and save me; 

he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah 

God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness! 

⁴  My soul is in the midst of lions; 

I lie down amid fiery beasts— 

the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, 

whose tongues are 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 way, 

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 glory! 

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 great to the heavens, 

your faithfulness to the clouds. 

¹¹  Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! 

Let your glory be over all the earth!

Stand ready to face down the threats of this world. They will surround you on all sides. Some of these threats do come from other people. But the most fierce threats come from spiritual forces, which surround us on all sides. Even the early church ran into lions and beasts as they were thrown into the Colosseum. 

The Lord is our refuge and strength. He is the one who protects us from our enemies. He is the one who delivers us even from the jaws of death in death. It is God who takes us from death to life. We are dead in our sins and raised to new life in Baptism (or remembrance of said Baptism). God likewise has conquered death and even though we die yet shall we live. May the Glory of God fill the earth, and bring perfection back to your creation.

Let us Pray

Blessed Lord, since You have caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning, grant that we may so hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.