Jehovah Shalom, God of Peace,
Sometimes it seems you ignore our prayers and pleas and do not hear our troubles. Our hearts may be in anguish and terrified with horror. We long to escape the troubles and trials of this world and hurry to a place of shelter in the storm of this world. And sometimes it seems the wicked and violent have taken over our cities, prowling about with malice, abuse, and threats and lies. Destructive forces are at work in the city, tearing down buildings and monuments, businesses, community spirit, and hope. And sometimes it seems that those who were elected to serve the people in government have violated their covenant with their constituents. Their words are smooth as butter, even as war is in their hearts. In these and many more circumstances, we cry out for your Peace. Cover the distress in us; rescue us unharmed from the battles raging around us. Rescue our cities from the evil that has befallen them. And rescue us from the deception and the governance of ungodly leaders. We cast our cares on the Lord who will sustain us and never let the righteous be shaken. You, God, will bring down the wicked, the bloodthirsty and deceitful into the pit of decay. We choose to trust you and seek your peace for our hearts, our cities, and our relationships. Let us walk peacefully with our brothers and sisters in our families, churches, and communities to spread the Light of Christ in this dark world that so desperately needs your Light and Love. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.
Psalm 55
1
Listen to my prayer, O God,
do not ignore my plea;
2
hear me and answer me.
My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught
3
because of what my enemy is saying,
because of the threats of the wicked;
for they bring down suffering on me
and assail me in their anger.
4
My heart is in anguish within me;
the terrors of death have fallen on me.
5
Fear and trembling have beset me;
horror has overwhelmed me.
6
I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove!
I would fly away and be at rest.
7
I would flee far away
and stay in the desert;
8
I would hurry to my place of shelter,
far from the tempest and storm.”
9
Lord, confuse the wicked, confound their words,
for I see violence and strife in the city.
10
Day and night they prowl about on its walls;
malice and abuse are within it.
11
Destructive forces are at work in the city;
threats and lies never leave its streets.
12
If an enemy were insulting me,
I could endure it;
if a foe were rising against me,
I could hide.
13
But it is you, a man like myself,
my companion, my close friend,
14
with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship
at the house of God,
as we walked about
among the worshipers.
15
Let death take my enemies by surprise;
let them go down alive to the realm of the dead,
for evil finds lodging among them.
16
As for me, I call to God,
and the Lord saves me.
17
Evening, morning and noon
I cry out in distress,
and he hears my voice.
18
He rescues me unharmed
from the battle waged against me,
even though many oppose me.
19
God, who is enthroned from of old,
who does not change—
he will hear them and humble them,
because they have no fear of God.
20
My companion attacks his friends;
he violates his covenant.
21
His talk is smooth as butter,
yet war is in his heart;
his words are more soothing than oil,
yet they are drawn swords.
22
Cast your cares on the Lord
and he will sustain you;
he will never let
the righteous be shaken.
23
But you, God, will bring down the wicked
into the pit of decay;
the bloodthirsty and deceitful
will not live out half their days.
But as for me, I trust in you.