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Day 250

Psalm 84:9a "O God, behold our shield..."

Day 250 – Psalm 84

“O God, behold our shield…” Psalm 84:9a

WORDS OF PRAYER

What words of prayer would be offered to God after the long pilgrim’s journey to Jerusalem? Would you have expected that a very long prayer would be offered to God? To our great surprise the words of prayer offered were extremely simple.

“O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer;
Give ear, O God of Jacob!
O God, behold our shield,
And look upon the face of Your anointed.”
Psalm 84:8-9

1. Invocation of God’s name

a) God is addressed formally.
He is after all the “LORD God of Israel”
b) God is addressed with great hope in the heart.
i) Had not God been gracious to Jacob though he had sinned grievously?
ii) Would this great God of compassionate mercy now hear the prayer of the pilgrim?

2. A plea to be heard was offered

a) Hear my prayer.
b) Give ear.
c) Prayer was not taken for granted.
d) That God would hear and answer prayer was certainly not to be taken for granted.

3. “O God, behold our shield”

a) The word “shield” is a reference to protection.
b) The petitioner was pleading with God to behold Israel.
i) Israel needed protection.
ii) The nation needed God’s protective shield.
c) The pilgrim did not utter a word about his own personal needs!

This was a totally selfless prayer.