Hear my cry, O Merciful One, listen to my prayer;
From the depths of my being I call to You, for my heart is faint.
Lead me to the Rock that is my strength, for You alone are my refuge,
your steadfast Love conquers my fears.
Let me dwell in your Heart forever!
O, to be safe under the shelter of your wings!
For with tender Love, You have heard my prayers,
You have shown me the heritage of those who know your Love and Friendship.
Committed to my birthright,
I will serve You in this world and in the Unseen Realm of Love.
As I walk on your path forever,
You fill me with abiding love, gentle joy, deep peace, and wisdom.
I shall sing praises and blessings to your Name,
as I abandon myself into your Heart moment by moment.
For You are the Love and Mind of our galaxy!
Nan C. Merrill Psalms for Praying
Reflection:
Holy God, I am beyond my own ability to cope with my current circumstances.
You are my rock, my refuge; hide me in the shadow of your wings.
I pray for those entrusted to keep me safe. May our leaders do right by their people.
May your steadfast love and faithfulness give us all the strength we need to continue on.
Check out other psalm reflections in the links below or find more of my writing published in Presbyterian Outlook or listen to my experiments in podcasting on the Period Pastor Podcast. Follow me @periodpastor
I began writing Psalm reflections during Lent of 2020. Shortly after, we decided to close the church building, work from home, and worship via zoom. Many churches use the Revised Common Lectionary (RLC) that rotates scripture on a three-year cycle (A, B, and C). Starting in Advent 2019, the church decided to worship with the texts from Year D, which is still not circulated as are years A, B, and C. Year D was created with the goal of including scriptures that were left out or not used as frequently as others. While we were using Psalms in year D, most other lectionary followers were using Year A. In Advent of 2020 we rejoined those who use the lectionary in year B. Advent of 2021 year C. When we returned to in person worship, we took the psalm reflections out of the order of worship. I continued to write them for the blog. Advent of 2022 year A. I left church work in July of 2023 but continued the practice of writing psalm reflections. Advent of 2023 year B. Advent of 2024 year C. I finished year C early, so I posted Psalm 119 and began work on missed psalms from Year D and others not in the lectionary. Advent of 2025 year A.
I use the Vanderbilt Divinity Library’s resource for lectionary readings and the PCUSA planning calendar to make text selections.
Year D Psalms that I haven’t come across in the other lectionary years, yet:
18, 144, 44, 110, 73, 75, 76, 28, 12, 61, 11, 88, 108, 64, 60, 10, 120
These are the psalms I haven’t found in any lectionary, yet:
5, 53, 64, 81, 131, 134, 135
Sources and notes:
“The psalm is a prayer for help in first person style. It is predominantly petition (vv. 1, 4, 6-7) supported by assertions of confidence (vv. 3, 5) and concluding with a promise of praise (v. 8). The psalmist is at “the end of the earth,” a metaphor for being at the end of one’s resources, and his resolution and courage are exhausted (v. 2); reference to “the enemy” rounds out the formulaic description of trouble.” Mays p. 214
“In verses 6-7 there is a petition for the king, that he have a long life in the presence and under the protection of God. …. [This psalm and others like it (ex. Psalm 84)] witness the importance of the Davidic king as one in and through whom God bestowed protection and blessing on the community and individuals in it.” Mays p. 215
“At first glance Psalm 61 appears to be yet another psalm rooted in the world of men and war. The superscription labels it “of David.” The psalm begins with petitions typically found din individual laments–“hear my cry,” “listen to my prayer”– and then moves to complaint (v.2a), renewed petition (vv. 2b-4), confession of trust (v. 5), a prayer for the king (vv. 6-7), and a concluding vow of praise (v. 8). In v.2 the psalmist locates herself at “the end of the earth”, which an also be translated as “the border of the land” in the seas of “outpost.” This could suggest a military context, especially when viewed with “refuge” and “strong tower” in v. 3, making vv. 6-7 a prayer before battle offered by the soldiers of the king on his behalf. Other interpreters suggest that “the end of the earth” refers to the exile o rotate it is not a geographical term at all but rather a metaphor for someone who feels separated from God spiritually in a situation of suffering.” W p. 141
“A closer look at the metaphors of Psalm 61 reveals other possibilities for understanding. First of all, the psalmist describes herself in v. 2 as calling to God “when my heart is faint.” Her diminished body is a “somatic idiot of distress” that suggests powerlessness and vulnerability within the God/psalmist patronage relationship; the psalmist’s language has relational power that roots itself in the loyalty of mutual interdependence. The pairing of “steadfast love” and “faithfulness” in v. 7 reinforces this sense of loyal interdependence, emphasizing that God is dependable in a time of crisis. Further, the petition in v. 2b, “lead me to the rock,” lift up God’s protective nature as experienced in the wilderness (Exod 13:17, 21; Pss 77:20; 78:14; 52-53) and suggest pastoral-shepherd imagery. Such imagery “bespeaks tenderness, gentleness, and attentiveness”; this God “has maternal qualities, and in these verbs does what a moth does,” leading her child along a pathway of safety and nurture.” W pp. 141-142
Alter, Robert. 2007. The Book of Psalms: A Translation with Commentary New York: W. W. Norton & Company
WBC Allen, Leslie C. 1983. Word Biblical Commentary: Psalms 101-150. Vol. 21. Waco, TX: Word Books, Publisher.
Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. 1974. Psalms: The Prayer Book of the Bible. 8th ed. Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Press.
Bourgeault, C. (2006). Chanting the psalms: A practical guide Audio Book. New Seeds.
Brueggemann, Walter. 2007. Praying the Psalms: Engaging Scripture and the Life of the Spirit. 2nd ed. Eugene, OR: Cascade.
Brueggemann, Walter. 2014. From Whom No Secrets Are Hid: Introducing the Psalms. Edited by Brent A. Strawn. 1st ed. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press.
Brueggemann, Walter. Davis Hanskins, Editor. 2022. Our Hearts Wait: Worshiping Through Praise and Lament in the Psalms Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville KY.
Brueggemann, Walter. (2002). Spirituality of the psalms. Augsburg Pub. House.
Brueggemann, Walter. (1984). The Message of the Psalms: A Theological Commentary. Minneapolis: Augsburg.
Chilson, Richard, ed. You Shall Not Want: A Spiritual Journey Based on the Psalms. Ave Maria Press, 2009.
Chittister, Joan. (2011). Songs of the heart: reflections on the psalms. John Garratt Publishing.
Cudjoe-Wilkes, G., Wilkes, A. J., & Moss, O. (2022). Psalms for black lives: Reflections for the work of Liberation. Upper Room Books.
WBC Craigie, Peter C. 1983. Psalms 1-50–Word Biblical Commentary. Vol. 19. Waco, TX: Word Books.
Creach, Jerome Frederick Davis. 1998. Psalms: Interpretation Bible Studies. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press.
DAFLER, J. (2021). PSOBRIETY: A journey of recovery through the psalms. Louisville, KY: WESTMINSTER JOHN KNOX.
W de Claisse-Walford, Nancy L. WISDOM COMMENTARY: Psalms Bks. 4-5. Edited by Barbara E. Reid. Vol. 22. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical, 2020.
Green, Barbara. 1997. Like a Tree Planted: An Exploration of Psalms and Parables Through Metaphor. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press.
W Hopkins, Denise Dombkowski. WISDOM COMMENTARY: Psalms Bks. 2-3. Edited by Barbara E. Reid. Vol. 21. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical, 2016.
NIB Keck, Leander E. 2015. The New Interpreters Bible Commentary. Vol. 3. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press.
Lewis, C. S. (2017). Reflections on the Psalms. Harper One, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers.
Mays, James Luther. 1994. Psalms. Louisville, KY: John Knox Press.
McCann, J. C. (1993). A theological introduction to the book of Psalms: The Psalms as Torah. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press.
McCann, J. C., & Howell, J. C. 2001. Preaching the Psalms. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press.
Merrill, N. C. (2020). Psalms for praying an invitation to wholeness (10th Anniversary Edition ed.). London, England: Bloomsbury Publishing.
Miller, Patrick D. 1986. Interpreting the Psalms. Philadelphia, PA: Fortress Press.
Morgan, Michael. 2010. The Psalter for Christian Worship Revised Edition. Westminster John Knox Press.
Schlimm, Matthew Richard. 2018. 70 Hebrew Words Every Christian Should Know. Nashville, TN: Abington Press.
Spong, M. (Ed.). (2020). The words of her mouth: Psalms for the struggle. Cleveland, OH: The Pilgrim Press.
WBC Tate, Marvin E. 1990. Word Biblical Commentary: Psalms 51-100. Edited by David Allan. Hubbard and Glenn W. Barker. Vol. 20. Waco, TX: Word.
Weems, Ann. 1995. Psalm of Lament. Westminster John Knox Pres
OTL Weiser, Artur. 1998. Old Testament Library: Psalms. Translated by Herbert Hartwell. 3rd ed. New York, NY: Manchester University Press.
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