Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem(11/27/19)[Prayer]

The Holy Scriptures | 11/27/19 | left that other site

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Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem

(Music in The Bible)

Psalm 39

Psalm 39[a]

For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.

1 I said, “I will watch my ways
and keep my tongue from sin;
I will put a muzzle on my mouth
while in the presence of the wicked.”
2 So I remained utterly silent,
not even saying anything good.
But my anguish increased;
3 my heart grew hot within me.
While I meditated, the fire burned;
then I spoke with my tongue:

4 “Show me, Lord, my life’s end
and the number of my days;
let me know how fleeting my life is.
5 You have made my days a mere handbreadth;
the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Everyone is but a breath,
even those who seem secure.[b]

6 “Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom;
in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth without knowing whose it will finally be.

7 “But now, Lord, what do I look for?
My hope is in you.
8 Save me from all my transgressions;
do not make me the scorn of fools.
9 I was silent; I would not open my mouth,
for you are the one who has done this.

10 Remove your scourge from me;
I am overcome by the blow of your hand.
11 When you rebuke and discipline anyone for their sin,
you consume their wealth like a moth—
surely everyone is but a breath.

12 “Hear my prayer, Lord,
listen to my cry for help;
do not be deaf to my weeping.
I dwell with you as a foreigner,
a stranger, as all my ancestors were.

13 Look away from me, that I may enjoy life again
before I depart and am no more.”

Footnotes:

Psalm 39:1 In Hebrew texts 39:1-13 is numbered 39:2-14.
Psalm 39:5 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 11.

New International Version (NIV)(End of Scripture Passage)



This Psalm can be compared in theme to the Book of Ecclesiastes.

New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem

Our Father Who Art in Heaven,
How Blessed and Wonderful is Your Most Holy Name!
We Enter Your Gates With thanksgiving
and Your Courts With Praise,
For You Alone Are Worthy,
You Alone Are God,
You Alone Are The Most High!
Ancient of Days and Rock of All Ages,
The Lord of Hosts,
LORD, Our Banner,
Our Righteousness,
Our Provider and Our Healer,
You are Our Creator
and we are the Sheep of Your Pasture.

Who are We, mere humans,
to make gods in our own image?
And yet we bow down to gods of silver and gold,
And even idols of human flesh.
Electronic idols beckon to us,
to distract us from YOU, Abba, Father!
Forgive us our great sin, Dear LORD!

For the Sake of Your Anointed,
and For The Sake of Your Name,
We pray for the Peace of Jerusalem,
For Israel,
According to Your Word,
and Your Promise.

We Pray For Our President,
And other Leaders of Our Beloved USA
May They Receive Wisdom from You
To do the Right Thing.
We Pray For The Swift and Sure Coming of Messiah,
Blessed Be He,
To Establish His Kingdom,
and Make All Things Right.

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.



Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

[Silentgypsy]

Amen and thank you.

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Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem

In Western Music, which is based upon the Ancient Greek System of modes, the patterns of steps and half-steps cause very particular moods. The third degree of the scale makes a big difference whether or not it is a half-step or a whole step from the preceding tone. If it is a whole step, it conveys a "happy" sound. If it is diminished to a half-step, it sounds rather dark and moody, and hence, a "sad" sound. The great musicians of History have named these two moods "Major" and "minor". Of the seven modes that come down to us from as far back as Pythagoras (The Triangle Guy, as per one of my students!) Three of them have a Major mood (Ionian, Lydian, and Mixolydian) and three (Dorian, Phrygian, and Aeolean) have a minor mood. The seventh mode (Locrian) is so strangely minor that it is in a category all its own called "half-diminished", and is a favorite with Heavy Metal Soloists. Now, Just HOW does this esoterica fit in with Today's Psalm?

There is a very big trend, both in Christianity and the secular world, of "Positive Thinking". While it is a sound idea to focus on good things instead of drowning oneself in pessimism and catastrophic thinking, TOO much optimism can become a denial of Reality. Also, "Positive Thinkers" can become convinced of their own prowess and forget the uncomfortable fact that we are all sinners who fall short of a Perfect God. Like the Pythagorean System of steps and half-steps, there needs to be a balance of "moods". If all we had in Music were songs like "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and "The Mickey Mouse Theme Song", without the seasoning of The Blues, how barren the musical landscape would be! Even the Major Diatonic Chords have minor chords within them, and the minor scales have Major chords in them as well. Some modern "classical" composers have tried experimenting with Whole-Tone Scales, which would eliminate this entire Major/minor balance, but I'll bet you can't hum a single melody by one of those guys!

This Psalm has been compared to the Book of Ecclesiastes, because of its apparently negative view of life. If Ecclesiastes were the only Book in the Bible, or if this were the only Psalm, it would be a sad, unrelenting, miserable religion indeed!

But the Bible has both kinds of music, Major and minor. For every Psalm 40, there is a Psalm 150. For every Ecclesiastes, there is a Philippians. For every Lamentation, there is a verse about the Steadfast Love of God. The Bible is a Book of Reality, not "positive thinking". Nevertheless, as this Psalm closes, it tells us that we Must Have Hope. Not just "Hope" in "love" or "peace", or "the inherent goodness of mankind", or a "positive outcome", or "the bright side of life", but HOPE IN GOD. In fact, He is our ONLY Hope.

Come and Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

God Bless America!

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.



This Symbol Represents Christians in The Middle East, who desperately need our Prayers.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

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Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem

Thank You, Silentgypsy, For Your Prayers For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

God Bless America!

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.



This Symbol Represents Christians in The Middle East, who desperately need our Prayers.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

[etabeta]

Joining in prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem. God bless.

Happy Thanksgiving to All!

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Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem

Thank You, Etabeta, For Your Prayers For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

God Bless America!

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.



This Symbol Represents Christians in The Middle East, who desperately need our Prayers.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

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Happy Thanksgiving to You!

[NEWwoman]

Show me, Lord, my life’s end
and the number of my days;
let me know how fleeting my life is.

Amen, left that other site

Has special meaning for us retired folks.

Joining in prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem

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Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem

Thank You, NEWwoman, For Your Prayers For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

God Bless America!

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.



This Symbol Represents Christians in The Middle East, who desperately need our Prayers.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

[Hiskid]

Amen.

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Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem

Thank You, Hiskid, For Your Prayers For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

God Bless America!

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.



This Symbol Represents Christians in The Middle East, who desperately need our Prayers.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS