Prayers that Bring Us Home

"God, You are my refuge... when my spirit feels weak" This Psalm of deep suffering of abandonment comes in the shadow of the beautiful intimacy of Psalm 139... a connection with God that will feel attacked, but this ancient prayer guides us cry out to (and at) God when we fall into the dark cave.

"God, lead me away from temptation... for my eyes are toward you"... we continue in the shadow of Psalm 139's divine intimacy, but explore the attacks that come against that closeness, and return to the uncomfortable idea of "perfect hate"

"GOD, PROTECT ME FROM THE EVIL ONE... LET ME DWELL IN YOUR PRESENCE" this Psalm begins a movement of 5 prayers that respond to the great, divine intimacy of Psalm 139 with the reality of that intimacy's desperate need for protection... Christians understand these Psalms from the last line of the "Lord's Prayer": deliver us from the evil one

For your meditation, we've taken out the commentary so you can simply listen to this ancient movement of the Psalms which leads us from a since of place, through a mantra prayer, into the depths of pain and rage, back up to a promise of love, and into the most intimate prayer of the Messiah's relationship with the Creator--a prayer of invitation and welcome Home.

This is not like any of our other episodes... We explore an entire movement of Psalms, and perhaps the most important movement in the Psalms as we arrive at the Prayer Book's zenith. Gaye and John give commentary to introduce each Psalm, then Ramona prays them for us... the next episode will just be Psalms 135-139 but with our commentary removed for your use in meditative prayer.

"God who made Heaven and Earth... we bless You"... this is the last of the Pilgrim Songs, the Psalms of Ascent sung the faithful go up to Zion. It is set in the dwelling place of the creator, the full homecoming.

"God, Anoint us with unity... bless us with life together"... this pilgrim song gives us lovely images of receiving this gift of unity against all the odds of the world.

"God, clothe me in Righteousness; Wrap me in Salvation"... Psalm 132 is the Messianic Psalm that looks back at the historical foundation of the Temple, forward to the Messianic fulfillment, and directly into our communal hearts as pilgrims.

"I give my sould over to Silence; I'm a weaned child resting against my mother"... Psalm 131 is what Gaye calls a Puddle that becomes a Well. One of the Pilgrim songs of a people ascending to Zion.

We continue the "Psalms of Ascent" the songs sung going up to Jerusalem for the celebration of the feasts, and this magnificent prayer holds us from the depths, teaches us the cry for ransom, and holds us in this marvelous image of God's "hesed" love

Again TWO "Psalms of Ascent" set right next to each other holding a lot of tension! We'll look at both of these Pilgrim Songs together, and how they hold the deep desire for protection next to the desperate need for healing after trauma.

this Psalm of Ascents, a pilgrim song sung by the crowds headed to Jerusalem, is a stunning image of responsibility and surrender, parenting and release, productivity and de-centering ourselves to truly see God's power.

Two more "Psalms of Ascent"--these pilgrim songs are in extreme tension but set together intentionally to guide our spiritual rootedness... the first is a song of Zionistic protection, and the next is about healing after destruction. We hope for protection and hold onto the power of resurrection, and these Psalms guide our hearts toward that depth.

The 5th of these 15 "Psalms of Ascent" the pilgrim songs sung by the caravans headed to the city of gathering and shalom, Jerusalem. The image of the broken bird snare, the release, the escape by God's gracious power is a powerful blessing and anchor of hope.

Psalm 123 is the 4th of the 15 "Psalms of Ascent" the pilgrim songs sung on the way up to Jerusalem for the feasts and festivals... this one is a real favorite of Christians because of the way Mary quotes it in Luke's Gospel... it is a magnificent teacher for the eyes of our hearts

"Shine forth against the darkness, my God. . . Comfort my anxious soul." This Psalm calls us to an assurance, even in the heavy shadow of oppression and violence.

"God, you reign over all. . . let us feel your Strength" This brief and powerful prayer affirms the firm establishment, the forever promise, the stability of God's power... such a vital thing to hold onto in the tumult of brokenness. Our bodies and minds need to hold onto this foundation. This lovely prayer comes within a movement of Psalms in which the Enemy [of all stability] is clearly seen and...

"God, let me flourish . . . Like a tree in your courtyard." This beautiful Psalm gives us marvelous images of the rhythm and blessing of God's proximity, a glimpse of the Messiah's perspective, and a promise of flourishing.

"We call upon you, God. . . Be our Refuge" This Psalm is one of the most memorized, recited, and adored in the history of humanity. We love its powerful imagery and promise but also we have a strained relationship with it--knowing it as the Psalm that the Satan used to tempt Jesus (Matt 4 and Luke 4). We pray this Psalm within this movement of Psalms, knowing its power, knowing that Jesus rebuffs...

"Teach us to number our days. . . Lord, Give us a Heart of Wisdom" Psalm 90 opens us up to a vision of our own mortality in the light of God's eternal presence. Called a prayer of Moses, it invites both into life rhythms and the 4th Book in the Psalms.

"Though we carry all of this hurt. . . We hold Your HESED love forever, God." This roller coaster of voices begins with perfect praise, shifts to God's description and promises of the Messiah, and then finally gathers around the Messiah crying out to God in agonizing misery. This Psalm concludes a movement of Psalms that began in 86 and introduces us to the Messiah's heart and life-arch.

"YAHWEH I cry out to you. . . through the lonely night." This Psalm comes from the Dark Night of the Soul, the "Desert" time of abandonment and loneliness. We hear the Messiah's voice crying out to God and wonder if there is any hope at all. Yet here is the rhythm of holding on, and continuing to pray, even when everything seems impossible. We find ourselves in the middle of a movement of Psalms t...

"This one was born there… All our springs are in You" A mystery song about birth, sandwiched between Empires, yet in the City of God. We wonder with this marvelous song...

"Incline your ear to me YAHWEH... UNITE my heart to your Way". The beautiful Psalm begins a new movement of prayers that are close to the identity, heart, and experiences of the Messiah. The Christian scriptures quote this Psalm as the "Lamb's Song." We will explore some of its many treasures.

"God of our Salvation. . . Let us hear the footsteps of your Way" Psalm 85 is an overwhelming song of beauty and the fruitful arrival of heaven on earth. Some of the most important words and images in our expressions of faith come together in this prayer as we end a movement of Psalms that began in Psalm 79, leading through desolation, hopelessness, fury, and then a call to Pilgrimage--now we see...