Psalm 3

Many are my foes, oh Lord. Many are my foes.

They tell me of my woes, oh Lord. They tell me of my woes.

They tell me that no man like me can stand

Under the weight of your just and mighty hand.

“There is no salvation for him,” they say. “No salvation for him.”

Oh Lord, but you – you, oh Lord – are a shield.

Your strength is great, oh Lord. Such power none can wield.

But with that strength, your strength, oh Lord,

You shield me from the evil horde.

“God is my fortress,” I declare. “My strong and mighty fortress.”

You are my glory too, oh Lord, and you raise my head.

Your beauty reaches beyond the sky’s vast spread.

Yet you, yes you, oh Lord, have loved me.

And me, yes me, oh Lord, you see.

“I will lift you up,” you vow. “I will lift your head.”

I cry to you, oh Lord. Aloud to you I cry in fear.

You answer from your dwelling place. You hear, oh Lord, you hear.

I sleep at night and wake at dawn.

It’s because of you I breathe and yawn.

“I will never leave,” you say. “Dear child, I won’t forsake thee.”

But Lord, oh Lord, evil men – my enemies – stand all around.

They surround me, Lord, and I can make no sound.

They set themselves against my life.

But you, yes you, oh Lord, protect me from all strife.

“Salvation belongs to the Lord,” I scream. “I am safe in Him.”

Arise, oh Lord, arise! Save me, oh God, save me!

It is in you and you alone that I am free.

For you, with your mighty hand, strike sin on the cheek,

And you break its teeth. You make the mighty meek.

“God’s blessing on his people,” the Psalmist writes. “Selah.”

Psalm 2

Lord, you laugh because you know that those who plot against you will fall. Their grand aspirations to cast away all restraints set by you will come to nothing. You laugh, Lord. You laugh, and when you speak to them, your voice makes them shake in fear. You declare to those who plot against you that your throne as already been established on earth and in heaven. Your son, your heir, will rule the nations. He shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them to pieces like pottery. In his hand, the nations have no power. Be warned, nations: choose to serve the Lord. When you do, serve him with softness of heart. Kiss the Son lest he be angry. His wrath is quickly kindled, but those who take refuge in him will certainly find his forgiveness and mercy.

Psalm 1

Lord, you have blessed the one who does not seek counsel of wicked men. You bless him who does not live the life of a bully and brat. You bless those who delight in your infallible Word – those who think about your laws and promises day and night – unceasing, unfailing. My I turn away from wickedness and become a man that you bless. May I find my daily joy in and delight in the sweet words of your tongue. For the man you bless is rooted firmly near your streams of living water. He produces fruit of your Spirit. His leaf does not whither, for he is eternally nourished by the sweet truths of your Word. Everything he does prospers because he always does your will – and your will always comes to pass. Lord, you are pleased by the way of the righteous, but you let the plans of the wicked fail. The wicked will not be able to stand in the face of your judgment, nor will they understand the gatherings of the righteous, for we gather to worship you, and the only god they know is themselves.