angela hormberg

Tag: Prayer

  • Psalm 31

    Psalm 31

    Commonplace –

    “O love the Lord, all ye his saints: for the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.

    Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all yet that hope in the Lord” (Psalm 31:23-24).

    In Psalm 30, we see David’s framework for prayer:

    1. Beseech: verses 1-8

    David beseeches God to hear him. He asks God to deliver Him, acting as his strong rock of defense.

    1. Confess: verses 9-18

    David then asks for God’s mercy and confesses that his own strength fails because of his iniquity. He was at the mercy of his enemies and fear surrounded him, yet he trusted in God. He prays for God to deliver him and protect him, keeping him from shame and silencing his enemies.

    1. Praise: verses 19-24

    David recognizes God’s goodness towards those who commit to Him. He acknowledges God’s protection, recalling a time when God showed his marvelous kindness toward him. He entreats other saints to love the Lord and be of good courage, knowing God will strengthen all those who put their trust in Him.

    Matthew Henry notes the following regarding Psalm 31:

    “It is a mixture of prayers, and praises, and professions of confidence in God, all which do well together and are helpful to one another” (279).

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 31.” 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 28

    Psalm 28

    Commonplace –

    “The Lord is my strength and shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him” (Psalm 28:7).

    Psalm 28 is a prayer. David confesses his allegiance to the Lord by acknowledging he will turn to God alone. He petitions God to answer when he cries and lifts up his hands to Him. He prays to not be included with the wicked, those who say one thing but mean another, and asks they be punished according “to the wickedness of their endeavours” (v.4a) and that they be sent to “their desert” (v.4b), because they, unlike him, do not turn to God. David ends his prayer with faith, blessing God for hearing his prayer and proclaiming “my heart trusted in [God], and I am helped” (v.7) and closes with a prayer for his people, that God will save them, bless them, feed them, and lift them up forever” (v.9).

    Matthew Henry presents the following two viewpoints regarding Psalm 28.

    “The former part of this psalm is the prayer of a saint militant and now in distress (v. 1-3), to which is added the doom of God’s implacable enemies (v. 4,5). The latter part of the psalm is the thanksgiving of a saint triumphant and delivered out of his distresses (v.6-8), to which is added a prophetical prayer for all God’s faithful loyal subjects (v.9), so that it is hard to say which of these two conditions David was in when he penned it. Some think he was now in trouble seeking God, but at the same time preparing to praise him for his deliverance, and by faith giving him thanks for it, before it was wrought. Others think he was now in triumph, but remembered, and recorded for his own and others’ benefit, the prayers he made when he was in affliction, that the mercy might relish the better, when it appeared to be an answer to them” (272).

    From my summary, it’s apparent which view I believe it is, which is that he is in distress when he prays it. Which view do you think it is?

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 28.” 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 25

    Psalm 25

    Commonplace –

    “All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies” (Psalm 25:10).

    Psalm 25 is a daily prayer, one in which we can call on at any time. It reflects our day-to-day need. Within its verses, David prays for God’s mercy and truth to fill his life.

    Prayer for Mercy

    David recognizes his own sin and cries out for mercy,

    “Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins” (V. 18).

    He reminds himself that God is “good and upright…therefore will he teach sinners in the way” (v.8). This is a promise on which the believer may rely.

    Prayer for Truth

    He commits his soul to God and prays for God to teach him in truth,

    “Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths.

    Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day” (v.4-5).

    He reminds himself that God will guide him in truth, but he, as a believer, must commit to being meek and teachable and keeping God’s covenant’s and testimonies.

    Matthew Henry describes Psalm 25 as a psalm “full of devout affection to God, the out-goings of holy desires towards his favour and grace and the lively actings of faith in his promises (262).

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 25.” 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 20

    Psalm 20

    Commonplace –

    “The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;

    Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion;

    Remember all thy offerings and accept thy burnt sacrifice;

    Selah” (Psalm 20:1-3).

    In Psalm 20, David is asking his congregation to pray for him and gives them the words to use that will most help him in his time of need. Matthew Henry offers a wonderful summary of Psalm 20.

    “It is the will of God that prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings, should be made, in special manner, for kings and all in authority. This psalm is a prayer, and the next a thanksgiving, for the king. David was a martial prince, much in war. Either this psalm was penned upon occasion of some particular expedition of his, or, in general, as a form to be used in the daily service of the church for him. In this psalm, we may observe,

    I. What it is they beg of God for the king (v. 1-4).

    II. What assurance they beg it.” (248).

    We may find this psalm very useful in praying for our own leaders and our kin and kindred, as well. We can pray this psalm for any one working on behalf of good. As David notes, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God” (Psalm 20:7). Amen.

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 20.” 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 5

    Psalm 5

    Commonplace –

    “But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.

    For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield” (Psalm 5:11-12).

    In Psalm 5, the opening lines are “Give ear to my words, O Lord” (v.1.) and “Hearken unto the voice of my cry” (v.2). In a similar manner in Psalm 4, David called out to God in the opening verse, “Hear me when I call, O God”. David comes before God as a member of His kingdom, as one who has the right to approach the throne. In both psalms, David is respectful, both times adding a specific attribute to God, when he addresses Him: “God of my righteousness “ (Psalm 4:1) and “my King and my God” (Psalm 5:2). David would have been very familiar with how to appropriately approach the throne of the ruler, as he was a King and was used to receiving requests from his own people. He is modeling for us to be bold but respectful when entering the spiritual throne room of God, as a member of His kingdom.

    Why is this important? It is important for a couple of reasons.

    1. It is a sign of reverence. It is important to acknowledge God’s place in the Kingdom as ruler, as it immediately puts one in a right attitude. We acknowledge we are His people, and He is our God; He is higher, and we are lower. He is God, and all power rests in Him. This isn’t because God needs us to acknowledge Him as higher, but it is for our peace, knowing we don’t rely on ourselves nor are we alone. We acknowledge His role as our provider and our dependence on His mercy. Unlike an earthly King, who is distant and difficult to approach, we have complete access to our King at all times.
    2. It is a sign of belonging. As members of God’s Kingdom, we have the right to come before Him and make our requests. We belong to Him. Therefore, we are not alone. David had this right through his heritage as a Hebrew; we have this right through faith in Christ.
    3. It is a sign of need. Pride melts away, when the heat of need refines us. We recognize we have needs that we cannot fulfill, which immediately brings us to a place of humility, which brings relief. No longer do we have to do everything, we can release that stress and turn it over to God, resting in the peace and comfort of knowing He is our Provider.

    After acknowledging God, David turns to instruction.

    1. When to pray. He models for the reader the appropriate time to turn to God, which is in the morning, not because this is the only time, but because it is when prayer should begin: immediately when we arise. By beginning with prayer in the morning, we set our sight immediately on that which is good.
    2. How to live. Reject evil, because evil has no place with God. We should avoid sin, lying, speaking with flattery, and any manner of evil, because God, in His goodness, cannot abide with it. Accept good by having a holy reverence of God, trusting in Him, and following after Him.
    3. Rejoice. By choosing God and good, we can and should rejoice in His blessing and protection.

    Following is excerpt of Matthew Henry’s summary of Psalm 5.

    “[Psalm 5] is a prayer, a solemn address to God, at a time when the psalmist was brought into distress by the malice of his enemies. Many such times passed over David, nay, there was scarcely any time of his life to which this psalm may not be accommodated, for in this he was a type of Christ, that he was continually beset with enemies, and his powerful and prevalent appeals to God, when he was so beset, pointed at Christ’s dependence on his Father and triumphs over the powers of darkness in the midst of his sufferings.

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 5.” 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 4

    Psalm 4

    Commonplace –

    “Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah

    Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord” (Psalm 4:4-5).

    Psalm 4 is credited to David. David begins this psalm with a plea to God to be heard; he predicates his argument to be heard on God’s previous responses to his cries. In the past, God blessed him in his distress, and he is asking for the same again: “have mercy upon me and hear my prayer” (Psalm 4:1b).

    David then turns to his oppressors and calls them out for their shaming him to stoke their own vanity. He warns them that God will hear him, when he prays.

    Then, David turns his face to God, and the glory of God fills him to overflowing as the wisdom pours out in his song. He instructs the reader in the way of the good in verses 5 and 6. This receiving from God and sharing with others has “put gladness in [his] heart” (v. 7), and his prayer has been answered. He receives the calm and comfort only God can impart: “for thou, Lord, only makes me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4:8). In this psalm, David leads the reader from being perturbed to being at peace and the pathway is prayer.

    Matthew Henry paints a beautiful picture of David as we see him in Psalm 4.

    “David was a preacher, a royal preacher, as well as Solomon; many of his psalms are doctrinal and practical as well as devotional; the greatest part of this psalm is so, in which Wisdom cries to men, to the sons of men (as Prov. 8:4,5), to receive instruction” (204).

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 4.” 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 3

    Psalm 3

    Commonplace –

    “Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah” (Psalm 3:8).

    This is a very desperate psalm; David is being hunted by his son, Absalom. Yet in his despair, David is not fearful, even though his circumstances would seem to dictate it. If he is not fearful, how does David maintain his peace?

    Herein David gives us a pattern to use in times of trouble:

    I. He relates his situation to God.

    Is this necessary? Is not God omniscient and omnipresent? Yes, He is. So the recounting of the situation is the opportunity of the troubled to speak out his fear: in writing or verbally. It draws that fear from the mind into reality and solidly identifies the problem. Using David’s situation as the example, we note, he says “many are they that rise up against me”(Psalm 3:1b) and “many there be which say of my soul, “There is no help for him in God” (Psalm 3:2). So, he expresses two fears: the physical threat of bodily harm and the spiritual threat of God not helping him.

    II. Recognize that God is Protector.

    After expressing his fears, David claims the promise of God, “But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head” (Psalm 3:3). In one verse, David overcomes the two fears he expressed. The singular expression of ‘God is my shield’ counteracts his two fears: 1) he uses the present tense “to be verb” and addresses God – “But thou, O Lord, art”, which acknowledges God has not deserted him; David still has access to God, even in this present moment and 2) he acknowledges God’s role as protector – “thou art a shield for me”.

    III. He recalls God’s previous help

    This is very important; we have available to us our own history, looking back to see how God has helped us in the past serves as a personal testimony to ourselves in present trouble. David remembers: “I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me” (Psalm 3:4-5). David spends time pondering his past difficulties, possibly remembering when he was being hunted in a similar way by Saul; in that circumstance, David slept and arose, because God was keeping him safe.

    IV. Encouragement

    David takes courage from remembering being spared in the past. He then en-courages himself: “I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about. Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. ” (Psalm 3:6-7). He expresses his confidence, which gives him confidence.

    V. Living in peace

    David rests in the peace he has found: “Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: thy blessing is upon thy people” (Psalm 3:8).

    In his summary of Psalm 3, Matthew Henry writes:

    “As the foregoing psalm [Psalm 2], in the type of David in preferment, showed us the royal dignity of the Redeemer, so this, by the example of David in distress, shows us the peace and holy security of the redeemed, how safe they really are, and think themselves to be, under the divine protection” (201).

    For the reader, Henry offers the following:

    “Those speak best of the truths of God who speak experimentally; so David here speaks of the power and goodness of God, and of the safety and tranquility of the godly” (201).

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 3.” 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 143

    Psalm 143

    Commonplace –

    “Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness” (Psalm 143:10).

    Like Psalm 141 and Psalm 142, Psalm 143 begins with David asking God to hear his prayer, “Hear my prayer, O Lord” (Psalm 143:1). David’s heart is heavy, and his soul is downtrodden. Alone and despondent he reaches out to God, “Quicken me, O Lord, for thy name’s sake: for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble” (Psalm 143:11). In times of trouble, when faced with the limits of this finite world, our consolation is the reality of eternity. When we acknowledge the eternal in our time bound existence, we step outside our circumstances and put our troubles into perspective. Prayer is the ultimate act of revolution; it is choosing hope in the midst of despair. It is the belief that God actually can bring one’s soul out of trouble, even in the midst of it. In verse 10, David is asking God to infuse him with the will needed to choose right. He affirms God’s goodness and asks God to lead him in the path of uprightness. It is in this affirmation of God’s goodness that the first step on the path to goodness is taken.

    “Preservations are pledges of salvation, and those shall find God their hiding-place who by faith make him such” (Henry 630).

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 143.” 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 119:169-176

    Psalm 119:169-176

    Tav or Tau

    Commonplace –

    “I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments” (Psalm 119:176).

    The last verse of Psalm 199 begins with repentance and confession; David acknowledges his choices have led him astray. He then turns to God and asks God to come to him, because he remembers God’s commandments. While in folly David rushed into sin, his conscience serves him in good stead and reminds him of truth and goodness, calling him to repentance and a return to goodness. Again, David’s words reflect the title of the section. “The word TAV means ‘impression’ or ‘mark’” (“Tav”). God’s commandments have left an indelible impression on David. While he may ignore them in moments of weakness, they never leave him. “Thus he concludes the psalm with a penitent sense of his own sin and a believing dependence on God’s grace” (Henry 592).

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 119.” 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.

    “Tav”. BJE: Your Jewish Journey. NSW Board of Jewish Education, https://bje.org.au/knowledge-centre/jewish-languages/hebrew-alphabet/bet/ , Accessed 27 May 2025.

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg

  • Psalm 119:Tau or Tav

    Psalm 119:Tau or Tav

    Part 22:Tau or Tav verses 169-176

    The twenty-second part is Tau or Tav, which is the twenty-second letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

    The following information is from the website BJE:Your Jewish Journey or Hebrew4Christians

    “As the final letter of the Hebrew alphabet, TAV is equal to the number four hundred and is symbolic of perfection.

    The word TAV means ‘impression’ or ‘mark’.

    TAV alludes to the three essential services of the soul: teshuvah (repentance), tefillah (prayer) and Torah (all three of these words in Hebrew begin with the letter TAV).

    TAV represents truth.

    The letter TAV begins the word tikkun (redemption). This refers to the concept of teshuvah (a returning to the Source for forgiveness)” (“Tav”).

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 119.” 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.

    “Tav”. BJE: Your Jewish Journey. NSW Board of Jewish Education, https://bje.org.au/knowledge-centre/jewish-languages/hebrew-alphabet/bet/ , Accessed 27 May 2025.

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg