Struggling for Words?

Psalm 86
Hear me LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.
~Psalm 86:1

Do you ever have trouble finding the right words for prayer? Psalm 86 ought to be an encouragement to those of us who sometimes struggle for words in prayer. First, it is a fairly straightforward psalm in which the psalmist brings his praise and petitions before God. If you are not sure what to say to God, just reading this psalm by itself and using its words as your prayer could be a great place to start.

It begins with a mix of petitions (“Hear me, Lord”; “guard my life”; “have mercy on me”). Then we have praise (“You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love”) and a recounting of God’s previous faithfulness (“you have delivered me from the depths, from the realm of the dead”). After describing the psalmist's current situation (“Arrogant foes are attacking me, O God”), the psalm closes with more petitions (“Turn to me”; “Show me your strength”; “Give me a sign of your goodness”). This is not a bad model: petitions for God to hear us and to have mercy, then praise and a recounting of God’s faithfulness, a description of our predicament, and more petitions for God to demonstrate his faithfulness. So don’t be afraid to use this psalm on its own. Countless other psalms are similar in this regard.

But there is another lesson in this psalm as well. That is, that we can pick up words that we remember from other places—especially scripture and worship liturgies—and weave them into our own prayer. Scholars have pointed out that is what the psalmist has done here. Many of the phrases come from other psalms: “I am poor and needy” (40:17); “I put my trust in you” (25:1); “Teach me your way, Lord” (27:11); “Arrogant foes are attacking me, God” (54:3). Maybe these were in David’s mind from worship. Do you remember phrases from the liturgy or prayers that you find easy to remember? Do you still remember passages from memory verses you may have learned growing up? Don’t be afraid to weave them into your own prayers to make them fit your situation. If David (who wrote most of the psalms) did the same thing, why can’t we?

Eternal God, in every time and place and circumstance your people call on you, rejoicing in your love and cherishing your truth. Hear the prayers of our hearts that we may be protected from sin and delivered from evil, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for Psalm 86 from Book of Common Worship (1993), p.707)

~ Pastor Matt