angela hormberg

Tag: Prayer of Protection

  • Psalm 17

    Psalm 17

    Commonplace –

    “Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings” (Psalm 17:8a).

    Calling on the Lord

    Psalm 17 opens with David beseeching the Lord three times to heed his prayer using three synonymic verbs: hear, attend, give ear to. In the second half of verse 1, David emphasizes that his prayer “goeth not out of feigned lips” (v.1b), meaning his prayer comes from a sincere heart. David supports his use of multiple apposite verbs with the evidence that his earnest appeal is pouring forth from his devoted heart.

    Why should the Lord listen

    David then supports his claim that his heart is devoted by listing the following evidence:

    1. His heart has been proven.
    2. The Lord has tried him and found nothing wanting.
    3. He is steadfast in not allowing sin to come from his lips.
    4. He has been obedient to God’s words.
    5. He has kept to the right path.

    Petition

    Only then does he put forth his petition: that God would keep him on the right path and not allow him to fall into evil ways.

    Call on the Lord

    At this point, he once again asks God to hear his words.

    Why should the Lord listen

    Once again he supports his request with proof of his devotion: he has put his trust in God.

    Petition

    Then, he puts forth three more petitions:

    1. “Keep me as the apple of the eye” – prayer to be a cherished one of God
    2. “hide me under the shadow of thy wings” – prayer for God’s protection

    State the problem

    David then brings forth the reason for this prayer: he is being oppressed by his wicked enemy. He is surrounded by them. They hide, waiting for an opportunity to kill him.

    Evidence to support the validity of the claim

    The evidence of their wickedness:

    1. They speak pridefully.
    2. They bow down to the earth and not God.

    Petition

    David brings forth two more petitions:

    1. Disappoint the wicked.
    2. Cast the wicked down.
    3. Deliver him from the wicked.

    More evidence to support the claim

    Davide supplies more evidence of their wickedness:

    1. Men that have their portion in this life.
    2. Men who fill their bellies with God’s treasure.
    3. Men who propagate children just like themselves.

    Confidence in God’s Help

    David ends in confidence that his righteousness will have a reward: He will behold God’s face.

    Matthew Henry notes the following in his summary:

    “David being in great distress and danger by the malice of his enemies, does, in this psalm, by prayer address himself to God, his tried refuge, and seeks shelter in him” (237).

    and further

    “Some make [David], in this, a type of Christ, who was perfectly innocent, and yet was hated and persecuted, but, like David, committed himself and his cause to him that judgeth righteously” (237).

    In the same way, in our own struggles, we can commit ourselves and our causes to God, when we are innocent and yet hated and persecuted.

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 17.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3 and Volume 6, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

    Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg

  • Psalm 140

    Psalm 140

    Commonplace –

    “I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.

    Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence” (Psalm 140:12-13).

    The psalmist, David, opens this psalm with the very real prayer of protection from the evil man, the violent man, the wicked man, and the proud man. As we live in the world, we, too, must pray similar prayers of protection against these types of evil actors and mischief makers. David pleads for justice to be done and evil to be confounded. Then, he appropriately turns his gaze from that which surrounds him on earth upward to God, who holds the world in His hand. In the last two verses, David reorients his focus on God and, praising God and encouraging himself, reminds himself that God will keep watch and protection over His own. He closes with the confident words “the righteous shall give thanks…the upright shall dwell in thy presence” (Psalm 140:13).

    As Matthew Henry points out,

    “[David] assures all God’s afflicted people that their troubles would in due time end well (v.12,13), with which assurance we must comfort ourselves, and one another, in singing this psalm” (622).

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 140.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3 and Volume 6, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

    Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg

  • Psalm 91

    Psalm 91

    Commonplace –

    “Because he hath set his love upon ME, therefore I will deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

    He shall call upon ME, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honour him.

    With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him MY salvation” (Psalm 91:14-16).

    Psalm 91 is one of my favorite psalms. It is a promise from God to all those who love him; He will deliver, answer and satisfy. Surely, “if God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31, emphasis mine).

    Per Matthew Henry,

    “In singing this we must shelter ourselves under, and then solace ourselves in, the divine protection. Many think that to Christ, as Mediator, these promises do primarily belong (Isa 49:2), not because to Him the devil applied one of these promises (Matt 4:6), but because to Him they are very applicable, and, coming through him, they are more sweet and sure to all believers” (Henry 479).

    If Christ is the model of fearless living under God’s protection, then we, too, must live fearlessly under God’s protection. Consider Matthew Henry’s words, “In these verses, we have…a great truth laid down in general, That all those who live a life of communion with God are constantly safe under his protection, and may therefore preserve a holy serenity and security of mind at all times” (479). This is not a guarantee against affliction; we only have to observe the life of Jesus to know that trouble is part of life. “If [God] does not immediately put a period to their afflictions, yet they shall have his gracious presence with them in their troubles; he will take notice of their sorrows, and know their souls in adversity, will visit them graciously by his word and Spirit, and converse with them, and sanctify their afflictions to them, which will be the surest token of his presence with them in their troubles” (Henry 482).

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 91.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

    Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg