O God, ransom Israel from all its troubles. Psalm 25: 22 NLT
This last verse in Psalm 25 turns the whole psalm upside down. Here we were thinking that the psalm was about an individual's pain, that the enemies spoken of were an alliteration and the problems were simply a part of life. But perhaps the psalmist is David asking for help against true enemies. Whereas we read this psalm as personal, the king is praying for his country. He needs help not just for himself but an entire people.
How often do our own prayer concerns focus on ourselves rather than the bigger picture? How often are we praying for those we love and forget those whom we have never even met? Only when faced with disasters do we open up our circle of petitions.
This psalm teaches us that we must pray for the forest as well as the trees.
God, we have so many personal concerns that we forget to pray for those outside our circle of friends. We neglect to include those whom we have never met. Forgive us. We ask now that you ransom our country from all its troubles. We pray for those who are suffering from famine and war. We ask for peace in our world. May poverty be cast out and your glory reign. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Copyright 2011 Amelia G. Sims
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