Today’s reading is a psalm, one of the songs of Israel and a fitting prayer with which to start your week. 

Consider the things in your life that you find yourself often putting your hope in instead of in God. Is it your job? Your home? Your abilities? 

Read this psalm (taken from the Church of England’s Common Worship Psalter). You may wish to pause at each ‘red dot’ below to pace yourself and allow the words to speak to you.

Remember that our hope is in ‘his unfailing love’ (v18).

 

Psalm 33

Refrain: The earth is full of the loving-kindness of the Lord.

1 Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, •
for it is good for the just to sing praises.

2 Praise the Lord with the lyre; •
on the ten-stringed harp sing his praise.

3 Sing for him a new song; •
play skilfully, with shouts of praise.

4 For the word of the Lord is true •
and all his works are sure.

5 He loves righteousness and justice; •
the earth is full of the loving-kindness of the Lord. R

6 By the word of the Lord were the heavens made •
and all their host by the breath of his mouth.

7 He gathers up the waters of the sea as in a waterskin •
and lays up the deep in his treasury.

8 Let all the earth fear the Lord; •
stand in awe of him, all who dwell in the world.

9 For he spoke, and it was done; •
he commanded, and it stood fast. R

10 The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to naught; •
he frustrates the designs of the peoples.

11 But the counsel of the Lord shall endure for ever •
and the designs of his heart from generation to generation.

12 Happy the nation whose God is the Lord •
and the people he has chosen for his own. R

13 The Lord looks down from heaven •
and beholds all the children of earth.

14 From where he sits enthroned he turns his gaze •
on all who dwell on the earth.

15 He fashions all the hearts of them •
and understands all their works.

16 No king is saved by the might of his host; •
no warrior delivered by his great strength.

17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; •
for all its strength it cannot save. R

18 Behold, the eye of the Lord
is upon those who fear him, •
on those who wait in hope for his steadfast love,

19 To deliver their soul from death •
and to feed them in time of famine.

20 Our soul waits longingly for the Lord; •
he is our help and our shield.

21 Indeed, our heart rejoices in him; •
in his holy name have we put our trust.

22 Let your loving-kindness, O Lord, be upon us, •
as we have set our hope on you.

Refrain: The earth is full of the loving-kindness of the Lord.

Feed your people, Lord,
with your holy word
and free us from the emptiness of our
wrongful desires,
that we may sing the new song of salvation
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.