Precious Blood And Prayers Jericho March


Precious Blood of Jesus Christ


Jericho March Prayers using Rosary


THE JERICHO MARCH PARYER Pleading the Blood of Jesus –
Prayed using A Rosary


• Joshua led the people of Israel at the command of the Lord to go around the walls of Jericho for seven days and on the seventh days, with the priests taking up the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord, the walls of Jericho came crumbling down on the 7th day (Josh 6: 1-20).




We too have walls around up built by our sins of the world or inner wounds that need healing.
Lord, we come to you in faith , our intentions in the Chalice of the Precious Blood Christ at the foot of the cross.


In prayer we march around the walls which separates us from You and from receiving your graces.



Let these walls crumbling down as the Precious Blood Of Christ flows transforming us the image God has for us. 


We Pray for: (State Your Intension) 

Meditate as putting them in the Chalice, immersed in the Precious Blood Of Our Lord. 

Now it is Christ who will take case of these problems. When you say



“ Precious Blood Of Jesus Protect And Save Us “ 

can replaced by name of the person or group e.g. Your family the world, the parish, the city etc.


And the city was thrown open to the people of Israel (Jos 6 1-20).


 We too will be victorious, successful and prosperous as said in (Jos 1:7-9) as we mediate upon the word of God and the promises of the word of God in this Precious Blood of Jesus prayer.


START WITH THE CREED –
I BELIEVE … [1] OUR FATHER… [3] HAIL MARY AND GLORY BE …


1st Rosary Offertory Prayers : 


Our heavenly father I offer to you the victorious Bleeding Wounds of Jesus and the tears of Blood of His mother at the foot of the cross along with ourselves, our intensions and all our sufferings, in the Chalice.



We offer you Jesus lowly birth, circumcision, fear caused by the presentiments of passion, agony in the garden where his blood came out as sweat, His arrest and crowning with thorns,
(For God so loved the world that he have his only son, so that everyone who believes in Him may nit perish but may have eternal life. John 3:16)


Also Mary’s 1st Sorrow as a young mother when Simeon prophesied about her child’s destiny that a sword of sorrow will pierce her own soul. Abba Father, seal and anoint us as we… make His life an offering for our sins…(ref. Isa 53:10)


Come O Holy Spirit upon us; through Him let the FATHER’S WILL be perfectly accomplished in our lives with miracles, sign and wonders.

On the large beads Say “ Our father “ Intentions & Biblical verse for each decade Intentions :
Lord we offer… 

1] Ourselves as we are
2] Our thoughts
3] Our Word
4] Our deeds
5]Our future Biblical Verse: When I see the BLOOD I will pass over you no plague shall destroy you…


Ex 12:13 On the small ten beads say the 

“ Precious Blood of Jesus Protect and Save us “ end with “ Glory be “


2nd ROSARY Offertory Prayer :

Our Heavenly Father, we offer you the victorious Bleeding Wounds of Jesus and the tears of His mother at the Foot of the cross along with ourselves, our intentions and all our sufferings, in the Chalice.


We offer you scourging of Jesus at the Pillar (Surely He was …crushed for our iniquities… by His bruises we are healed Isa 53:4-5)
Also Mary’s 2nd sorrow as she fled to Egypt to save her son from the treat of death , now there is no running away from these moments of passion.


Abba Father, Seal and anoint us as we… make His life an offering for our sins…(ref. Isa 53:10)


Come O Holy Spirit upon us; through Him let the FATHER’S WILL be perfectly accomplished in our lives with miracles, sign and wonders. 


On the large beads Say “ Our father “ Intentions & Biblical verse for each decade Intentions :
Lord we offer…

 1] the root cause of our sickness
2] our soul experience God
3] Our inner wounds to rejoice in you
4] Our body
5] and release our ancestors. 


Biblical Verse: In Him we have redemption, through His BLOOD the forgiveness of our trespasses… 

Eph 1:7 On the small ten beads say the “ Precious Blood of Jesus Protect and Save us “ end with “ Glory be “


3rd ROSARY Offertory Prayer : 

Our Heavenly Father, we offer you the victorious Bleeding Wounds of Jesus and the tears of His mother at the Foot of the cross along with ourselves, our intentions and all our sufferings, in the Chalice.


We offer you Jesus as the cross was placed on His wounded shoulder which caused extreme pain; His falls sprinkling Precious BLOOD on the way to Calvary . 


(He …gave himself for us that He might redeem us from all from iniquity and purify for himself a people of His own…Titus 2:14) 


Also Mary’s 3rd sorrow – the loss of child at Jerusalem. She who knew he had to do His Father’s work as mother prepared Him for the sacrifice. Abba Father, seal and anoint us as we… make His life an offering for our sins…(ref. Isa 53:10)

Come O Holy Spirit upon us; through Him let the FATHER’S WILL be perfectly accomplished in our lives with miracles, sign and wonders.

On the large beads Say “ Our father “ Intentions & Biblical verse for each decade Intentions :

Lord we offer… 

1] body, soul, mind and spirit for we are temple of God

 2] from addictions, bondages and cursed

 3] from pride and anger, hatred 

4] from sloth, gluttony lust

5] from greed, envy & venial sins. 


Biblical Verse: BLOOD of … who offered himself without blemish… 

Purifyies our conscience… to worship the living God. Heb 9:14 On the ten small beads say the Precious Blood Prayer: 


” Precious Blood Of Jesus Purify Us” end with “ Glory be”

” Precious Blood Of Jesus Purify Us” end with “ Glory be”


4th ROSARY Offertory Prayer :

Our Heavenly Father, we offer you the victorious Bleeding Wounds of Jesus and the tears of His mother at the Foot of the cross along with ourselves, our intentions and all our sufferings in the Chalice.


We offer you Jesus being stripped of His garment in front of a mocking crowd, His pain at the terrible suffering the nailing of His hands and feet. 

(By a single offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. Heb 10: 12,14)





Also Mary’s sorrow –She who led Him gently to the first step of His hour at the miracle at Cana, now meets Him on the way to Calvary as He submits to His Heavenly FATHER’S WILL.
Abba Father, seal and anoint us we… make His life an offering for our sins…(ref.Isa 53:10) 


Come O Holy Spirit upon us; through Him let the FATHER’S WILL be perfectly accomplished in our lives with miracles, sign and wonders. 



On the large beads Say “
Our father “ Intentions & Biblical verse for each decade. Intentions : Lord …
1] direct our sense to you
2] Help us to ponder on Your suffering for our sake 


3] nourish our love for you 

4]nourish our love for our family 


5] strengthen our inner self.





Biblical Verse: … Jesus also suffered …to sanctify the people by His own BLOOD. Heb 13:12 On the ten small beads say the Precious Blood Prayer:


“PRECIOUS BLOOD OF JESUS PURIFY US” end with “Glory be”






 Our heavenly father I offer to you the victorious Bleeding Wounds of Jesus and the tears of Blood of His mother at the foot of the cross along with ourselves, our intensions and all our sufferings, in the Chalice. 

We offer you Jesus lifted up on the Cross, in His excruciating pain struggling to breathe, He gives His last sermon the 7 Words of the dying Saviour –
Father forgive them they do not know what they are doing;… 

Today you will be with me in Paradise ;…Women, here is your son, here is your mother;…

 My God, why have you forsaken me?…I am thirsty; …

 It is finished;… Father, into your hands I commend my spirit. 



Also Mary’s 5th sorrow at the foot of the Cross seeing her son in total rejection and dying on the cross.


Abba Father, seal and anoint us we… make His life an offering for our sins…(ref.Isa 53:10) 



Come O Holy Spirit upon us; through Him let the FATHER’S WILL be perfectly accomplished in our lives with miracles, sign and wonders. On the large beads say



 “ Our Father “

 Intentions & Biblical Verse for each decade. Intentions : Lord…

 1] forgive us & help us to forgive others 2]Commit us & ancestors to paradise 

3] commit our soul to Heavenly Father 4]commit us to Mother Mary
5]commit us as the fragrance of Christ to all whom we meet. Biblical Verse: …

God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things , whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the


“ BLOOD OF JESUS GET US CLOSER TO GOD “
end with “ Glory be “ 



6th  ROSARY Offertory Prayer

 ROSARY Offertory Prayers : Our heavenly father I offer to you the victorious Bleeding Wounds of Jesus and the tears of Blood of His mother at the foot of the cross along with ourselves, our intensions and all our sufferings, in the Chalice.


We offer you His side pierced, Blood and Water flowing out, lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself (…I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself. In 12:32) 

Also Mary her “YES” to God at Annunciation was extended to the peak of this
6th sorrow as she receives the body of her son- every drop of His Blood has been shed for us… 


Abba Father, seal and anoint us we… make His life an offering for our sins…(ref.Isa 53:10)



Come O Holy Spirit upon us; through Him let the FATHER’S WILL be perfectly accomplished in our lives with miracles, sign and wonders. On the large beads say 

“ Our Father “ Intentions & Biblical Verse for each decade. Intentions : 


1] Lord renew our baptismal vows to accept Jesus and reject Satan every moment 2]Mother,receive us too into your arms 


3] Lord let Your Blood cover us 




4] Lord frees us from all fears
5]Lord we surrender ourselves totally like a child in its mother’s arms. Biblical Verse : … the accuser … 


has been thrown down… conquered… by the BLOOD of the Lamb… Rev 12:10-11 


On the large beads say 

“ Our Father “ 

Intentions & Biblical Verse for each decade
. “ PRECIOUS BLOOD OF JESUS CAST THE DEVIL AWAY “

 end with “ Glory be “


7th ROSARY Offertory Prayer : 



Our Heavenly Father, we offer you the victorious Bleeding Wounds of Jesus and the tears of His mother at the Foot of the cross along with ourselves, our intentions and all our sufferings, in the Chalice.



We offer You the glorious resurrection, conquering over death (may …God … who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus… by the BLOOD of the eternal covenant, make you complete in everything good… Heb 13: 20-21)


Also Mary in her 7th sorrow –burial of her son’s lifeless body.


It was only her faith in God that kept her, hoping for her resurrection and life after death. As a mother she gathered the frightened disciples in prayer till empowering descent of the Holy Spirit.





This way she participated in all essential moments of the paschal mystery. 

Embracing the risen Christ, Mary is sign and anticipation of humanity, which hopes to reach its fulfillment in the resurrection of the dead. 


Abba Father, seal and anoint us we… make His life an offering for our sins…(ref.Isa 53:10)


Come O Holy Spirit upon us; through Him let the FATHER’S WILL be perfectly accomplished in our lives with miracles, sign and wonders. 


On the large beads say “ Our Father “ Intentions & Biblical Verse for each decade. Intentions : 


Lord… 1] help us die to sin and live the abundant life of Christ

 2]open before us door which no one can close 


3] close everything that concerns us with the power of your word 


4]refresh us with “YOUR PRECIOUS BLOOD “for gave us the Chalice saying :


DRINK FROM IT ALL OF YOU; FOR THIS IS MY BLOOD OF THE COVENANT… POURED OUT FOR MANY FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS (Mat 26:28)


5]accept us and answer our prayers (when he prayer ended… fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offerings… the glory of the Lord filled the temple 2 Chr 7:1) Biblical Verse : 

On His robe and on His thigh He has a name inscribed,


“ KING OF KINGS AND THE LORD OF LORDS “ end with “ Glory be “


End The Jericho March Prayer saying the prayer
“ Hail Holy Queen Mother of Mercy 

“PLEADING THROUGH THE BLOOD OF JESUS.

Novena 1, Day 4​Happy Independence Day!May God Bless America and the Whole World!

INVOCATION TO THE NINE CHOIRS OF ANGELS

Blessed Spirits of the heavenly court, invincible champions of the cause of God, after having adored, praised, blessed and given thanks to the God of all goodness, for the incomparable graces with which He has enriched you; after having made a sincere protestation with our whole heart, that we take all possible interest therein, rejoicing because of the joy and ineffable glory which you possess.

After having besought you benignantly to accept the inviolable resolution we now take to have a special devotion to you for the remainder of our days, and to promote its establishment and increase by every means in our power wherever we can, we implore the aid of all your glorious bands, for the advancement of the reign of the adorable Jesus and the amiable Mary over all heathens, heretics, schismatics, over all persons who live in true submission to the Holy, Catholic, Apostolic and Roman Church, and particularly over the Sovereign Pontiff who is its one visible head on earth, and over all other prelates; so that, all people professing the same faith, cleaving to the purity of its maxims, and leading a life conformable to its rules, the sacred interests of God.

Only may live and reign in all hearts throughout all ages.This is the grace for which we ask, O mighty princes of the heavenly host, from the Father of Mercies, through your powerful intercession; this is the consolation which we beseech the God of all consolation to grant us; that His Name may be sanctified, His Kingdom come, His Will be done on earth as it is in heaven; that the empire of sin and of the devils may be destroyed; that the Gospel may be preached to all nations, and received throughout all the earth; that the Holy Name of God may be honored and glorified; that all spirits may bless the Lord, adore Him, love Him, and live in perfect and entire submission to His Divine Will.

Come, then, O ye Angels and Archangels, hasten to establish the dominion of God in kingdoms and provinces, in-towns and country-places, and in all who dwell therein.Ye sacred Principalities, rule all hearts, possess them, that you may subject them to the empire of Jesus and Mary.Ye admirable Powers, confound the devils, who oppose themselves thereto, defeat the designs of hell, and the malice of all sorcerers and magicians, and other enemies of God.Ye divine Virtues, lead souls to walk in the solid paths of Divine Love.Ye glorious Dominations, make known to men, to this end, the will of God concerning them.Ye admirable Thrones, establish in their inmost hearts that peace which Our Lord bequested to us.

Ye Cherubim, princes of heavenly science, communicate its excellent light to our earth.And Ye Seraphim, princes of pure love, cause men to live only by its flames, that God alone may be the true Sovereign and the absolute Master of all we are, and all we do.Amen. Amen. Amen.God alone. God alone. God alone

Novena in Honor of the Nine Choirs of Angels July 1-9
Day 4 Message4 July 1997, 9:00pm​Today, Barnabas saw in a cloud a vision of Our Lord hanging on the cross with Blood flowing from the many wounds on His Sacred Body. In the cloud there were also many little children who were praying to the Agonizing Jesus Christ to save them. They said, “Oh merciful Father may you save us by your Precious Blood.

May the time come soon when you will reward the world.”​As Barnabas continued praying, the Precious Blood and water poured out from the Sacred Side of Our Lord Jesus Christ and covered the little children.

They rejoiced and praised God. Immediately the vision ended and the Holy Face of Jesus appeared and said, “My children the wrath of the Eternal Father is increasing. His anger increases because of the sins of the world. The world is full of sin; adultery and fornication rule the world. Men love the creature and neglect the Creator. They sin and blaspheme against the Living God. My death on the Cross is of no value to them. My son, you see how numerous the unborn children are who are aborted in the world.

My children they are many, they are many; their cries disturb Heaven and increase the anger of my Father.​My children, their blood wounds my Sacred Heart; their cries hurt the mystical wound in my Sacred Heart. Warn my people, Oh My loving children, stop sinning! My people, love me and stop sinning. Stop sinning! May you stop sinning!! Stop fornication. I say to you stop fornicationin my youth.

How I love you. How do you know that I love you? Console me by means of holy lives. My children, the hour is very short to save souls.​Inform my people to reconcile with their God.

Tell them to come back to me and to seek the Kingdom of their God. The hour of the coming Chastisement is coming soon. Many souls will be lost forever. Many faithful souls will grow weak at that time. Men will find it hard to change their lives. There will be confusion in many souls.

My children, I have told you this before and now I am reminding you that the coming destruction will start in every family that has shed the blood of innocent souls. Let all men call upon my Precious Blood and be saved.

Baptize the unborn babies with power of my Precious Blood. My children, the Immaculate Heart of my Mother will protect you and my Precious Blood will save you.​I bless you all.I bless you all.”​The vision ended and Barnabas saw the little children praising God in the clouds for awhile, then all vanished.​

Day 4 Meditation​

The sins of the flesh are the greatest weapons employed by the evil one to arouse the anger of the Eternal Father. Not only do they turn men and women away from God and unto each other, these sins also turn their love for God unto themselves. It also results in the slaughter of so many unborn babies. Their voiceless cries for retribution arouse the justice of God. The power of the Precious Blood devotion is made manifest. Through the Precious Blood, these unborn souls are baptized and can enter the Beatific Vision.​We must therefore pray fervently for them, especially the prayer for the Baptism of Aborted Babies, so that their cries will cease and God’s wrath will be calmed. We must pray very much for sincere repentance for all those involved in the lifestyle of fornication, adultery and abortion

Mother of Our Health Vailankanni

MONDAY, AUGUST 12, 2019
Barnabas Nwoye Gift of the Seal

Barnabas Nwoye – Gift of the Seal

Note: You know the Agonizing Crucifix? Well, Mel Gibson actually got one of the Precious Blood apostolate crucifixes in Nigeria. Can you see the similarity between the crucifix here and the one portrayed in the film?

THE MESSAGE OF BARNABAS NWOYE: THE PRECIOUS BLOOD DEVOTION

The Greatest Devotion in our time.

As we have now entered the much-awaited hours of darkness, foretold by many Catholic prophets, the true children of God face the toughest challenge they have seen yet.
As of now the Catholic Church is suffering its greatest betrayal as subversive saboteurs (masons) infiltrate and alter the authentic doctrine and teachings of the church to create the ultimate apostasy
(cf. Daniel 9:21, Matthew 24:15 and 2 Thessalonians 2:3).
Now as never before there is the rush for a One World Government and the ‘need’ to identify everybody in the world with a universal mark
(microchip – the forerunner of the Mark of the Beast).
In the secular world, political and social injustice reigns above all, with greed avarice, lust and a general hardening of hearts to the things of God.
With all this glaring signs, the final showdown between good and evil is set.
The Eternal Father, knowing what His remnant are going to go through, has outflanked the powers of Hell by introducing
THE PRECIOUS BLOOD DEVOTION.

Of all the places chosen by Heaven to plant a seed of holiness where the Church’s final victory would commence, Nigeria was chosen. Since July 1995 to the present, Our Lord Jesus Christ has been appearing to a university student called Barnabas Nwoye from Olo, Enugu State, Nigeria. Through this visionary,
Our Lord has introduced the final weapon for all His children to endure and overcome the Great Chastisement

THE PRECIOUS BLOOD DEVOTION –
A SUMMARY

In July 1995, at the hour of Divine Mercy (3pm), Our Lord called for the first time Barnabas Nwoye, a 17-year-old teenager from Olo, Enugu State, Nigeria during a school class.
Our Lord appealed to Barnabas to adore the Precious Blood and console Him for all the outrages committed against it.

Ever since then, messages have been streaming from the Blessed Mother Mary and a host of Angels and Saints such as St. Joseph, St. Michael the Archangel, St. Uriel
(another archangel who stands with six others before God), St. Anthony of Padua, St. Bridget of Sweden, St. Pio, St. Gertrude, St. Jude Thaddeus and many others.
On several occasions Barnabas has seen the Holy Trinity simultaneously blessing congregations, as priests pronounce the final blessing at the Mass.

A set number of the messages were powerful prayers dictated by Heaven for the devotion to the Precious Blood.
They are as follows:

The Chaplet


This first component was given to Barnabas on the 5th July 1996. After witnessing the whole Passion of Our Lord from Gethsemane to the Resurrection, Jesus appeared to him and handed over a Chaplet honoring the Precious Blood.
The Chaplet was strung like a Rosary except the decade was 12 beads long and red in color, while the beads separating the decades was white.
The Chaplet, to be recited immediately after the Holy Rosary, consists of five mysteries relating to the five wounds of Christ.

Consolation


The second component of the devotion was given on the 23rd June 1997; these prayers are specifically directed to the Eternal Father and His only begotten Son.
This second part of the devotion seeks to appease the Father and Son, for the world’s ingratitude, blasphemies and neglects of the Precious Blood that take place in the church, in our lives or in society at large.

Adoration


In the third part of this devotion, the Adoration prayers compromise of the seven prayers that adore, glorify and make petitions to the Precious Blood.
Our Lord gave these prayers on the 23rd June 1997 along with the Consolation Prayers.
The petitions are for the Catholic Church, its hierarchy, the clergy and the entire faithful.
Appeals are also made on behalf unrepentant sinners, Holy Souls in Purgatory and aborted babies that they may be accorded to the benefits of the Precious Blood.

Reparation


The fourth part of this devotion was dictated in a vision of the crucified Jesus, on 10thDecember 1998.
In seven anguished appeals Jesus describes the sins, which have kept Him crucified mystically for the last 2000 years.
This sins include grievances at Holy Mass, neglect of the Sacraments, immodesty in fashion, greed, avarice, lust, etc all causing millions to troop into Hell.
This component consoles Blessed Trinity for the offences they are subjected to in this world.

Intercession


The fifth part of the devotion is where special intercessory prayers called the ‘Mystical Prayers’ are recited.
These are very efficacious prayers taught by Our Lord during the month of July 1998.
Our Lord revealed to Barnabas these prayers as being the very same prayers uttered by Him during His passion and final breath for humanity.
There key intercessory prayers for the defect of the Antichrist, endurance during the chastisement, protection from the sin of the flesh and sustenance of faith.

The Seal


From this devotion, Heaven has attached a precious and powerful gift for devotees of the Precious Blood.
The seal is a spiritual mark, which Precious Blood devotees carry against the seal of 666.
This seal gives the devotee a spiritual strength to resist all temptations of Satan and withstand the sufferings brought about by the Antichrist.
The seal is achieved by the devotee remaining a state of sanctifying grace, especially in the periods specified by Our Lord when the Angels tour the earth to place it.

Gethsemane Hour


Finally, Our Lord is calling on all his chosen to be with him every Thursday 11pm to Friday 3am (or at least one hour between this period).
This is where all five components of the devotion are observed along with Holy Mass and Benediction (if possible).
It is here that all devotees share in the agony felt by Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane.
The intention is to obtain grace to endure the Great Chastisement and steadfastness in faith.

The prayers, invocations, hymns and choruses that were dictated by Heaven to Barnabas Nwoye from 1997 to 2001 constitute the Precious Blood devotion.
Each component was blessed by Jesus with graces that can be found in the official prayer manual.
The prayers and promises have imprimatur of Rev. Dr. Ayo Maria, Bishop of Illorin Diocese, Kwara State, Nigeria (June 17th 2000).

THE MESSAGES

The bulk of these messages were received during exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in the visionary parish church of St. Joseph in Enugu State, Nigeria.
The messages received are always vetted by Barnabas’ spiritual director (Rev. Boniface Onah) before being read out to those present during the apparitions.
The messages of 1997 – 2000 were reviewed by a Theological Commission set up by Bishop Anthony Gbuji of Enugu State.
They have received the Nihil Obstat of Rev. Fr. Stephen Obiukwu, Chairman of the Propagation of the Faith:

THE HOLY FATHER

“Pray, pray much for my Holy Church. Pray harder for My Pope. Soonest, My Holy Pope will be driven out of Rome.
The Wicked Man will drive him out, where he will be killed. Pray the Chaplet for him. Pray that he may hold firm his faith.”

Jesus Christ, 14th January 1997

PERSECUTION OF THE REMNANT

“My child, listen. I have warned My people that the hour to save is short and that the days are numbered.
You have seen what will happen to My children who trust in Me, My faithful children.
That is why I came and gave you My Holy Chaplet of My Precious Blood and promised to save through My Precious Blood. I promise to also save any sinner who calls on My Precious Blood.
I will allow a drop of the Precious Blood to fall on their hearts so that they will get converted before the day of forsaking…”

Jesus Christ, 16th January 1997, after showing Barnabas a fearful vision of the torture of the remnant by the Antichrist.

PRAY FOR THE PRIESTS

“My son, I tell you only one fourth of My Priests will be left after the Great Chastisement… My son, pray your Holy Rosary always as My Mother has ordered you. Pray the Holy Chaplet of My Precious Blood immediately after your Rosary. You must do this because the hour of salvation is short.”

Jesus Christ, 19th January 1997, after showing Barnabas the final massacre of Priests.

THE DEVOTION OF ALL DEVOTIONS

“My children, this Chaplet of the Precious Blood of My Son combines all the devotions of My Son’s Passion.
In Heaven, this prayer is one of the greatest prayers that ceases the anger of the Eternal Father and bring mercy to the world.”

Our Blessed Mother, 29th January 1997

MEDITATION ON THE AGONY

“My children, during your hour of meditation, think about My Crucifixion, the sweat of Blood, the scourging, the Crown of Thorns, piercing of My Body and the three hours I hung on the Cross. If you love Me, have mercy on Me.”

Jesus Christ, 4th February 1997

SPIRITUAL LUKEWARMNESS

“The wicked spirit has caused war in the Holy Church, in families, in schools and in companies. Cardinals fight against Cardinals, Bishops fight against Bishops. War in the spirit increases. They have caused spiritual Luke warmness in many souls.”

St. Michael, 14th July 1997

THINK HOW I LOVE YOU

“My children, when the world held My right hand and pierced it with a long nail, I cried in great pains. With love, I remembered you and offered My pains for your healing and salvation.
Meditate on My agony for your sake. Think how I love you.”

Jesus Christ, 4th July 1998

AGONY GROWS MORE

“My children, do you know that iniquity is fast, growing every minutes of the day? As sin of the world grows, My agony grows. That is why I am looking for someone who will console Me.”

Jesus Christ, 24th July 1998

ABORTION

“The number of daily aborted babies and innocent children is too large. Their blood disturbs My agonizing heart and increases My agony. Console Me through your preaching and teaching of these messages.”

Jesus Christ, 29th July 1998

ABANDONMENT IN THE TABERNACLE

“My son, I remain for you in the Sacrament of Love, waiting for you patiently where I am in prison for you. You rarely approach Me because you do not remember Me, who is in prison for you. My son, My agony greatly pains Me when I see the coldness, the mindlessness and neglect with which you approach the Holt Trinity whose presence fills the Holy Sanctuary.”

Jesus Christ, 10th December 1998, in one of the Anguished Appeals composing the Reparation prayers.

COME TO GETHSEMANE

“Children, I am in Gethsemane for you and all My people in the whole world.
I am in Gethsemane always because of the hour that is coming, the sorrowful hour, so fearful and terrifying. Children, how many will survive?
For the love I have for you and for all men, I am here in Gethsemane calling you to come and watch with Me.
Remain in Gethsemane with Me so that you will not give up when the hour comes.”

Jesus Christ, 15th March 1999, appealing to all His children to spend some time with him every Thursday between 11pm to 3am Friday morning in the ‘Gethsemane Hour’.

JOIN OUR LADY

“My sorrow is great, join Me in the battle against the wicked dragon, all who are sealed with the Blood of the Lamb.
Fight with Me against the heresies that destroy the foot of the Church.
Fear not their great number. Through the Blood of the Spotless Lamb, the faith of the true Church, of the true doctrine and of holiness will soon be restored.”

Our Blessed Mother, 7th May 1999

ADORE MY BLOOD

“Children many are calling the Blood but not adoring it…
All who adore My Precious Blood console My Father who mostly loves the Son. As you adore My Blood, the pains of My Sacred Heart get lesser.
The Sorrowful Heart of My Mother will also be consoled.”

Jesus Christ, 22nd July 1999

REMAIN FAITHFUL TO JESUS

“Remain faithful to Jesus. When you meet what is able to let you fall, hold firm your faith.
This hour might be as one of the hour of disappointment and hour of dryness. Know that Jesus has opened the gate and no one has the power to close it, except Him.
If this hour comes, pray harder. Know also, the hour of joy is at hand.”

St. Michael, 28th July 1999

REASONS FOR CHRIST’S AGONY TODAY

“The Holy Mass which is My Calvary way of your redemption is what the enemy is turning to a mere service…

My agony is great when I see many of My Priests who leave My Sacred Body and Blood to the non-consecrated priests to serve My people….
My agony is great when I see people receiving the Holy Communion in the hand…*

My agony is great when I see My Holy Temple being defiled: driving out the glory of God. Son, disastrous abomination has filled the Church, sitting up in the Holy Place…

My agony is great when I see the plan of the evil man destroying My Church with the ordination of women as priests.
My agony is great for seeing the enemy filling the hearts of My Priests with the desire from hell to marry…

My agony is great when I see a large number of My people who belong to the cult, son, even among those who consecrate themselves to Me…

My agony is great when I see the millions of souls who depart daily and nearly all go to Hell because of sins of the flesh.
My son, I suffer more greatly for the flow of blood of unborn babies that increases everyday. Their blood disturbs heaven more than the blood of Abel.”

Jesus Christ, 12th November 1999, in a lengthy appeal expiating on the sins that he is agonizing over in our times

*Concerning the issue of Communion in the hand, Pope John Paul II states:
“How eloquently the rite of anointing of the Priests’ hands in our Latin ordination tells a special grace and power of the Holy Spirit is necessary precisely for Priest’s hands!
To touch the sacred species and to distribute them with their own hands is a privilege of the ordained.”
(Domincae Canae, February 24, 1980)
“It is not permitted that the faithful should themselves pick up the consecrated bread and the sacred chalice, still less that they should hand them from one to another.”
(Inaestambile Donum, Holy Thursday, 3rd April 1980)
OBEY THE CHURCH
“Children, you must obey the Church not the evil one. Anyone who comes to destroy the Church is against the Church. The Church is My Body.
I plead with you not to quarrel with My clergies. Rather, pray for them.
I am the one who chose them and put them in their positions.”
Jesus Christ, 5th January 2000
MY MOTHER HAS COME MANY TIMES
“My Mother has come many times to you to warn you about the hour. She saw the coming destructions that are coming upon you. She wept for you. She wept bloody tears for you; yet you cannot understand the hour. I in turn, sweated blood in great agony for you. I also wept a stream of tears and blood for love of you. Still you cannot understand the times.”
Jesus Christ, 7th April 2000
SUFFERING IS NOT A WASTE
“Suffering under obedience gains much grace. Those who understand among them will enjoy their suffering and their persecution. Because in suffering of the Holy Cross is true happiness. If they understand and pray for more suffering and persecution, they will hasten the Glorious Reign. As their suffering increases, the hour of peace approaches.”
St. Francis of Assisi in conversation with other saints, 15th July 2000
THE CROSS OF TRUTH
“Your name is written in the Book of Life. I will remove millions of years from your Purgatory days in any truth that comes out of your mouth. In the same way, millions of years are added to your Purgatory days for every lie that comes out of your mouth. Children, I appeal to you: receive from me the Royal Cross of Truth.”
Jesus Christ, 24th July 2000
YOU ARE CALLED TO COME
“Even if the days fall in the hour of the great confusion, you are called to come. Even if the days fall in the hour of forsakenness, you are called to come. Even if it is your sorrowful days, I call you all to come. Children, pray that you will come. Get everything ready before the days come. The hour is already at hand.”
Jesus Christ, 7th August 2000
HUMILITY AND PURITY
“At the loss of My dear ones, Joseph and my beloved Jesus, Satan tempted Me to despair.
I conquered not by human energy, or by violence, or by shouting but by the Fire of Purity and by the Power of Humility.
I am the Woman who crushed the head of Satan.”
Our Blessed Mother, 28th June 2001
THE THORNY WAY OF LIFE
“Children, I say, there is no valuable thing in that place of pleasure and enjoyment.
There is no valuable thing in that easy way of life. All the precious treasures; I mean, the treasures of Heaven, are hidden in the thorny way of life.
See, I chose the Calvary way, the way of sorrow, the bloody way, full of pains and agony, for your salvation.
There is no other way of salvation I found, than the painful way of salvation.
Children, do not reject the Calvary way. Though the way is painful, the end is full of happiness.”
Jesus Christ, 12th September 2001, during a five days reparation programme in the month of September.
VISION OF THE ANTICHRIST
Jesus said, “Barnabas, look!”
Barnabas relates, “Our Lord pointed to the east, I saw a huge beast with seven heads and ten horns coming out of the sea.
As I was watching, the beast turned and formed into a man, looking like a soldier. At this time, the vision passed.
I came back to myself.”
Vision received on the 15th September 2001, during a five days reparation programme in the month of September.
THE GIFT OF THE GREAT SEAL
The gift of the seal has caused a lot of interest amongst the faithful and so needs exactitude in its explanation.
One reads in the Bible, when the Israelites of old left for the Promised Land, they were instructed by the Lord through Moses to splash the blood of lambs and kids on their doorposts.
This blood served as a ‘seal’ of protection from the Angel of death, sent to chastise the Egyptians
(Exodus 12: 21-28).
A seal in a spiritual sense is the earnest of the Holy Spirit on a person to withstand the attacks and trials brought about by Satan and his agents.
In the messages of the Precious Blood devotion, Jesus revealed to Barnabas of a precious gift that would be endowed on all devotees.
On 11th December 1998, Barnabas witnessed a vision of Jesus coming down with a chalice, with a tongue of fire at the top.
Divine rays flowed out of the chalice. Jesus said,
“My children, receive this; this is My Blood, the Blood of your redemption. Open your Heart for My Great Seal.”

Jesus explained that He wished to create a living tabernacle in our hearts to reside in it.
The offering of a heart to Him is of great importance, since in the end times, when many tabernacles shall be desecrated and closed, it will be our hearts that keep the presence of Jesus in ourselves.
The times ahead will also be of severe testing and suffering, as many have been prophesised to be spiritually blind and fall into the dragnet of the Antichrist.
In order that we remain steadfast in our faith, the gift of the seal is also a source of strength and grace to draw from. Jesus said to this effect on 9th July 1999:
“Have your seal now so that you will not be dry, when you enter the desert of dryness. At that time, all of you who are sealed will be strengthened by My Most Precious Blood. Their weak souls shall be courageous.”
Expiating on how a sealed soul is surrounded by heavenly hosts, Jesus said in the same message:
“Rejoice O Jerusalem, for in you the tabernacle of My love was built. The ocean of My Most Precious Blood will flow out and renew the world. You are surrounded by the Hosts of Heavenly Angels, who will guard you day and night. No one has the power to destroy you again.”

A devotee receives the seal by the arduous struggle to remain in a state of sanctifying grace, especially in the periods specified for the seal.
Jesus instructed that the seal be distributed every Friday of the year between the seal hours of 12 to 3 pm, especially in the following periods:

• Second Friday of December, continuing all Fridays of the month, till the first Friday of January.

• First Friday of April, continuing all Fridays, till the first Friday of May.

• Every Friday of the great month of July (The month normally devoted to the Precious Blood).

Before receiving the seal, a devotee is expected to try to perform five consecutive months of Gethsemane Hours, where all the prayers dictated by Jesus are said.
Then in a votive mass of the Precious Blood, the devotee is consecrated and through the blessings of the priest, a soul is sealed.
Any priest can perform the special consecration dictated to Barnabas and the seal is received anywhere in the world.
Our Lord instructed that the sealing mass be said on the third Friday of the month between the seal hours of 12 to 3 pm, if possible.

It is also important for a devotee to renew their seal time to time.
The renewal of the seal can be personally conducted every Friday in the seal hours.
What matters is that a person should be in a prayerful and pious mood whether it is in a church or at home.
However if one is at work, then Jesus simply asks that the person work in a spirit of mortification.
A grand prayer group renewal can be conducted at an appropriate period in the periods specified.
The formula for the consecration is found in the official prayer manual* of the Precious Blood

To avoid losing one’s seal, one must try with all effort to avoid all occasions of sin.
This is why it is important to renew one’s seal from time to time. One must also remain faithful to the devotion.

*Prayer manual and chaplet is obtainable from Queenship Publishing: http://www.queenship.org or you nearest Catholic Bookstore
Email: precious_blood2000@yahoo.com

THE AGONIZING CRUCIFIX

Our Lord was to also bestow on the Precious Blood devotion, a very powerful sacramental, which He promised would be a key weapon against all calamities.

On the 5th January 2000, Barnabas witnessed a vision Jesus walking alone in a desert. The visionary relates that as Jesus came closer, He held up a crucifix to Barnabas saying,

“Barnabas, take this.”

After handing the crucifix over, Jesus continued,

“This is your crucified Lord who loves you. He is the one whom you daily crucify.
Accept it from Me, carry it always. Show it the world; let all men have it also. Children this is what your sins do to Me.”

The visionary taking the crucifix closer, observed that the difference was that the wounds and scourges of our Lord’s body appeared well.
Blood oozed continuously from it.
On the crucifix was written the inscription:
‘I am the Agonizing Jesus Christ who loves you.’
Our Lord granted many promises to the crucifix, which included that in the days of the Antichrist, any house that possessed this sacramental would be protected from any harm and that much healing and deliverance would be performed through the crucifix.

The Agonizing Crucifix is received by a devotee at their consecration, along with their badge to remind them of their seal.
The Mystical Prayers of Our Lord Jesus Christ

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Therefore take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace; besides all these, taking the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one.
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.
To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints —“

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The following are the Mystical Prayers that Our Lord Jesus gave to Barnabas Nwoye
(1) – They carry both the Imprimatur and NIHIL OBSTAT. Note:
The highlighted phrases of each prayer were bold type in the original.

We encourage you to share them with as many people as possible.

God bless you and your families,
.
Ron & Ben

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THE MYSTICAL PRAYERS
Of Our Lord Jesus Christ
(These prayers, revealed by Our Lord as His petitions to His Heavenly Father during His Passion, were dictated to Barnabas for us to pray daily.)

Prayer to Vanquish Satan and his Agents
(5 July 1998)
(“There is no need for you to fear those numerous populations of the enemy. Children, simply offer the Wounds, Pains and Blood of My left Hand for their downfall; you will see them disappear like ashes — I assure you, many kingdoms of the enemy will disappear in the twinkle of an eye. Pray it and teach it to all men. My Precious Blood will save.”)

All you great number of enemies of the Holy Death of my Master Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary, the prince of darkness and iniquity, the father of all liars. I stand on the death of my Master Jesus Christ and offer His pains, Wounds, and the Precious Blood from His left Hand to the Eternal Father for your downfall, your destruction and your scourging. Amen. Precious Blood of my Master Jesus Christ – reign in me and in the lives of all men. Amen.

Prayer for the Protection and Unity of the Flock
(6 July 1998)
(“My children, whenever you say this prayer you are making the hour of my Kingdom on earth come sooner. Through this prayer My Father will let it come down soon; the hour of the Second Pentecost, when My prayer will be fulfilled that all shall be one — All who carry out this devotion will rejoice greatly when My Kingdom comes. I will protect them always.”)

Eternal Father, I offer You all the Wounds, pains, and the Precious Blood from the Sacred Feet of Your Son, Our Lord and Master, for all Your children who are wondering like sheep without a shepherd in this terrifying forest.
Protect them against wild predators and give them peace that they might be one, and united in the same way as the nail held fast the Feet of my Master and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Precious of Jesus Christ – reign forever. Amen.

Prayer for Refuge in the Sacred Side of Jesus Christ
(7 July 1998)
(“My children, these evil days will swallow many souls. That is why I teach this mysterious prayer to you in order that you all might be saved. My Sacred Side is open for all men.
Pray it and make it known to all men. All who teach this prayer to others will be protected. I love you all. Run for your lives —“)

O Loving Father, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Who protected the Israelites of old in His Holy Wings in the dryness of the cold and hot desert; I offer You the Holy death of my Master and Savior, Jesus Christ, for the protection of Your people who are scattered all over the world.
May the Blood and Water wash and strengthen, save and cleanse us that we might find home in the Sacred Side of Your Son which opens for all men. Amen.
Sacred Side of Jesus Christ – be our home for safety. Amen.

Prayer for Release from Ancestral Curses
(8 July 1998)
(“My children, pray it and make it known to the whole world. All who are under curses and constantly say this prayer shall be free from their curses.
Any family that is suffering from the curse of sins made by their forefathers, and makes a 144 day novena through this prayer, will be freed.
All who break a covenant and who are supposed to die shall be saved and also be released from their curse if they constantly say this prayer and repent.”)

Eternal Father, You are the only Immortal God, God Who is love, merciful and kind. Look at Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and have mercy.
I offer You the pains of His scourging at the pillar, His Wounds and Blood for all Your people who are living under the weight of the curse due to the sins of their ancestors and their disobedience for breaking the covenant they made with You.
May You set us free through the scourging of Your Son, heal us through His Wounds and save us through His Precious Blood. Amen.
Precious Blood of Jesus Christ – release us from curses. Holy Wounds of Jesus Christ – heal our wounds. By Your scourging – seal us. Amen.

Prayer for the Sustenance of the Faith
(9 July 1998)
(“When I was about to leave My people on earth, My agony grew greater when I remembered their unfaithfulness.
I also remembered the period that is coming is terrible and fearful; that many will betray Me like Judas, while others will deny that they know me — Children pray this prayer always for faith and make it known to the whole world before the perilous era comes in full force.
If you have little faith, even as small as the mustard seed, you will overcome this period.
This mysterious prayer is powerful. Teach it to the whole world. I love you all.”)

Omnipotent and Omniscient God, God of Elijah and the prophets, look at the Sacred Head of Your only-begotten Son and have mercy.
Arise and save Your people. I offer You all the shame, the pains, the Wounds and the Precious Blood from the Sacred Head of Your Son for all Your children who are living in these perilous times.
Strengthen our faith through the mockery of Your Son Jesus Christ and save us through the Precious Blood from His Sacred Head.
May we through the sufferings of Your Son Jesus Christ learn to suffer in You and die in You. Amen.
Holy tortures of Jesus Christ – increase our faith. Amen.

Prayer for the Manifestation of the Divine Will
(10 July 1998)
(“My Agony — grew worse and worse when I entered Gethsemane. I looked at my people and saw that they were asleep while their enemy was fast approaching and gaining ground — my Agonizing Heart broke out with these words
“Why are you sleeping, can’t you watch with me even one hour?
Pray that you will not fall into temptation.”
When I knelt down again in prayer the burden of my death weighed me down. “Father, take this cup away from me, but not my will, rather yours be done.” — Finally, I looked up and prayed to my Father thus — make it known to the whole world for the reign of my Father on earth.”)
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Eternal Father, You are the Creator and Author of life. You love the world You made. That is why You sent Your only-begotten Son to come for its redemption, so that Your Kingdom will come. Look upon Your Son and rise up in Your throne.
Raise Your right Hand and save Your people.
I offer You all the sufferings, pains, and death of Your only-begotten Son Whom You love, for Your triumph and reign on earth.
May You, through the Precious Blood of Your Son, make a new covenant and bring all Your children back to Your Holy Will. Amen.
Precious Blood of Jesus Christ – reign forever. Agonizing Jesus Christ – Thy Kingdom come. Amen.

Prayer for Endurance through the Coming Chastisement
(13 July 1998)
(“My children pray that this period you are living in now will be shortened. Pray also that your faith will not fail. Be on your guard. Be alert and watch always — How many of you will fight and drive back my adversary, conquer, and bring the captives home?
— My children learn this prayer and pray it always especially during the hour of trials — When my people rejected me and condemned me and said
“Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” I looked up to heaven and prayed to my Father and said —“)
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Merciful and Loving Father, Your wish is that all men should be saved.
Kindly look on Your rejected and condemned Son Who suffered many tortures and will suffer many tortures through the sins of Your people.
Look and see what sin has done to your only-begotten Son.
I offer all people who are living in these ungodly and wicked days, all the tortures, pains, rejections, and shame of Your Son Jesus Christ to You, for faith to withstand trials and patience to withstand long tortures.
May they through the sufferings of Your only Son fight to the end. Amen. Our Lord’s torture – increase our faith. Precious Blood of Jesus – save us. Amen.

Prayer for Fallen Sheep and Against a Fall in Faith
(22 July 1998)
(“I envisaged constant abandonment of faith in my people and how they will constantly reject their God and crucify Me daily. The pains grew in intensity when I saw how hard it will be for them to return — Many there were who would stop on the way because they thought the way was too hard and too long — How large the number of My people who will lose hope and fall — I say to you, My children, wake up and stand firm! During My fall, I remembered all these things and offered them to My Father through this prayer — Through it, My Father will pour on you all the needed graces to endure until the end. All who pray it devotedly will possess the fullness of the Holy Spirit and learn to be obedient and humble.”)
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Eternal and Loving Father, look kindly on Your only-begotten Son. See the heavy cross they prepared for Your only Son and have mercy on Your people. I offer You all the pains, sufferings, and the Precious Blood of Your Son Jesus Christ, Emmanuel; for all Your people who have abandoned their faith and will abandon their faith in the mountainous hills and deep valleys of this world. May they through the falling of Your Son under the Cross have strength to rise again and stand firm in the true faith. Through the ocean of His Precious Blood dumped under the Cross on the streets of Jerusalem strengthen all who are eager to do Your Will. Amen. Precious Blood of Jesus Christ – strengthen our weakened souls. Amen.

Prayer for the Reign of Glory on Earth
(27 July 1998)
(“The manifestation of the Red Dragon and the Antichrist in this last hour of this age pierced My Heart greatly during My ministry on earth and even more when I was about to breathe My last on the cross. As I hung on the cross, I envisaged the proud Dragon. It boasted to reign on earth forever — I silently offered My Father this prayer for the downfall of the enemy of the cross — My children, through this prayer the Antichrist and the Red Dragon and his agents will have a short hour of reign on earth. The more you pray, the shorter the hour of their reign on earth.”)
.
O Loving and Merciful Father, all knowing and all powerful, the Alpha and the Omega, the Eternal Father Who created all things, that You should forsake Your children, Your nature forbids. Look kindly on Your begotten Son Jesus Christ Who came to save men and bring Your Kingdom down on earth. We offer You all the agonies, tortures, pains, and the Precious Blood of Your Son Jesus Christ for the defeat of all the enemies of the Holy Cross of Salvation, the Antichrist and the Red Dragon who are fighting against the truth now and in the end of the age. May they, through the Precious Blood of our Redeemer and His last breath on earth, disappear like foam exposed under the sun, so that Your Kingdom may quickly come on earth. Amen. Precious Blood of Jesus Christ – Thy Kingdom come. Amen.

Prayer Against the Sins of the Flesh
(28 July 1998)
(“Do you know that I was naked in the sight of all men so that you shall defeat and kill the desires of the flesh which lead to this sin of fornication and adultery? Children, my adversary used this sin to claim all men to himself — Any sinner who constantly prays this prayer will gain true repentance — The more you pray it the more many will return to me and leave fornication and adultery. Many people will be lost due to the sins of the flesh. Work hard to save souls —“)
..
Holy and Merciful Father, Your only-begotten Son is standing naked in the sight of all men, so that Your people will know and fear Your Holy Law. Accept my humble prayer for all Your people who are living under iniquity, fornication and adultery, that through all the shame and disgrace of Your only-begotten Son, You will touch their lives for repentance and save them. May they, through the Precious Blood of Your Son Jesus Christ, which I plead to fall on their hearts, gain repentance and be saved and through His shame make them bold for repentance. Amen.

Prayer for the Baptism of Aborted Babies
(29 July 1998)
(“Today the blood of innocent children has filled Heaven. Their number is too great, too great; the wrath of the Eternal Father is about to fall on mankind — Their blood disturbs My Agonizing Heart and increases My agony — Through this prayer, large numbers of innocent unborn babies will be saved; pray it daily and make it known to the world. Anyone who teaches it will not be lost. Innocent souls in Heaven will not let them become lost. I, with My Love and Mercy, will protect them from falling into mortal sin.”)
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Heavenly Father, Your love is eternal. In Your ocean of love, You saved the world through Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Now look at Your only Son on the Cross Who is constantly bleeding for love of His people, and forgive Your world. Purify and baptize aborted children with the Precious Blood and Water from the Sacred Side of Your Son, Who hung dead on the Cross for their salvation, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. May they, through the Holy of Jesus Christ gain everlasting life, through His Wounds be healed, and through His Precious Blood be freed. There to rejoice with the Saints in Heaven. Amen.

Reparation Prayer for Sins Committed
Against the Precious Blood
(8 February 1997)
(“My children, let me explain to you how to pray and what heaven wants from you. My Son listens to you always. He wants to hear from you always. Oh my loving children, pray this prayer always — at least 500 times a day.” — Our Blessed Mother):
Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ, save us and the whole world.

NIHIL OBSTAT:

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Rev. Fr. Stephen Obiukwu

      Censor Deputatus

      Chairman, Doctrine and Faith Committee

      Archdiocese of Onitsha, Anambra State  430001

      NIGERIA  

      1st July, 1999.

IMPRIMATUR:
Ayo-Maria Atoyebi, O.P.
Bishop of Ilorin Diocese
Ilorin, Kwara State 240001 NIGERIA
17th June, 2001.

Footnotes
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(1) The mystical occurrences of Barnabas Nwoye have yet-to-be-approved by the Church.

http://www.preciousbloodinternational.com
.

Following the numerous requests and quiries about the Precious Blood devotion and the Seal of the Living God, USA representatives for the devotion have been established :

U.S.A
Mr. Stephen Banaszak (contact for Nevada and Wisconsin)
5606 South Hill Dr.
Madison, Wisconsin 53705
Tel: 608-231-2915
Fax: 608-238-6767
E-mail: smbanaszak@juno.com

Mrs. Debra Landry (contact for Virginia)
2208 Ardmore Ave.
Chesapeake
Virginia 23324 -1912
Email: landryjmj@yahoo.com

We also have other representatives around the world:

U.K
Precious Blood Devotion
Padre Pio Bookshop (Kathy Kelly, National Convener)
264 Vauxhall Bridge Road
Victoria
London
SWIV IBB
Telephone No. 02078345363

SINGAPORE
Cecilia Hon
9, Greenmead Ave.
Hillcrest Park
Singapore 289402
Tel: (065) 64664365
E-mail: cchon@singnet.com

AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
Mrs. Eileen Raman
3 Norfolk Crescent
Coffs Harbour 2450
Australia.

For more information on the devotion to the Precious Blood, please contact:

Headquarters: Apostolate of the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ
Land of Adoration (Rock of Gethsemane)
Olo, Ezeagu Local Government Area
Enugu, Enugu State
Nigeria.

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                             Postal Address:

                                    P.O. Box 121, Iwollo,

                             Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria.

Tel:(234) 08033792866

Email: precious_blood2000@yahoo.com

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Great Month of JulyMENU

Great Month of July To The Precious Blood Of Jesus Christ

Great Month of July To The Precious Blood Of Jesus Christ


Messages & Meditations from 1997

By Fr. Evaristus Eshiowu, FSSP

Messages from Our Lord for every day of the Great Month of July Novenas with daily meditations by Fr. Evaristus Eshiowu, FSSP.

© Copyright 2009 by Association of the Precious Blood – All rights reserved Permission is granted by the Association of the Precious Blood for the copying and distribution of the prayers in this book under the following conditions:

No additions, deletions or changes are to be made to the text in any way and the copies may not be sold for profit. Help us to spread solid Catholic teaching, free of charge, around the world!

Please send us copies of foreign translations made of this work so we may post them on our website.

This book will be available shortly in print by the Association. Please spread this booklet to all your friends and family members.

Novena in Honor of the Nine Choirs of Angels July 1-9

Day 1 – 1 July 1997, 9:00pm


“My children who are welcome to this great privileged hour, you are blessed.

Listen my loving children, I choose this hour to reveal much to you about the coming Chastisement so that you may be ready and help to save souls.

The hour is near, the time of the great tribulation is coming soon.
Many will shed their blood.

The wicked man will give his armies command to seize my children.

They shall be killed, Oh, pray, pray much my loving children! Make your faith strong. Be ready to meet the hour.

I will send my angels to earth to carry (to heaven) the bodies of my people who remain in their faith until death.

They will eat with me in heaven.


My children, many will not withstand this horrible hour. Pray for them. After this great persecution, the red cross will appear in heaven.

This cross represents the Precious Blood and the blood of martyrs.


At that time, anyone who remains in the faith and calls on my Precious Blood will be saved during the coming darkness.


My Precious Blood will protect him.
Pray the chaplet of my Precious Blood always, console and adore me.

How I wish that all who participate in this first novena will receive these prayers.

Your adoration pleases me much.

I bless you all.”

Day 1 Meditation:


Today, Our Lord is making clear the fact that the chastisement is imminent.

It must come.

The instrument of the chastisement will be the wicked enemy of our souls. Many of the faithful will be victims. The Lord says, the

“wicked man will give his men command to seize my children.”

The children here, refers especially to the devotees of the Precious Blood, some of whom will become witnesses both to the faith and the devotion.

The Lord promised that He would send angels to carry to heaven, the bodies of these people who will remain faithful to the end.

However, some will survive. Hence He urges us to pray harder for the strength we need in that hour, especially, pray the Chaplet of the Precious Blood.

*Today we pray for the grace to persevere in God’s Will in this life.

Day 2 – 2 July 1997, 9:00pm


In this second day of the first novena, Barnabas was led by an angel in a vision to an underground world.

There he saw a great number of soldiers all marked with the number 666 and worshipping the Beast.

The angel then led him to a strong house which held a great set of computers.

The Angel said,“Son of man, these people you see here, are from every country of the world.

They were chosen by demons for the attack in the time of the coming persecution, the hour of the evil government.

With the aid of this computer, all men will be marked. Pray now and get ready so as to endure to the end.”

The angel vanished. Then the Sacred Head of Jesus appeared in a cloud.

He came closer and said;

“Children pray much now that there is time. Soon this underground government will come out and rule the earth.

With their computer, many people will be marked. All who receive the mark will be destroyed.

At that time, everything laid outside My Precious Blood will be lost. Anyone who calls on my Precious Blood will be filled with faith.

Many will only find mercy in my Precious Blood. I say to you my loving children pray harder now.

Teach others how to pray.

Let all men consecrate themselves to my Precious Blood. I love you, I bless you all.”

Day 2 Meditation:


This particular message has a lot to do with, and is a further confirmation of the doctrine of the anti-christ in the book of Revelation.

While the children of God are adoring the Most Holy Trinity on High, the men of the under world are busy down below worshipping the Great Beast “with seven heads and ten horns” (Rev.13:11).

Many of us know about the number of the beast, 666 (Rev. 13:18), and there are already widespread rumors about plans to put computer chips in everyone.

This message brings all this into stark reality.

The visionary saw those who have the mark and the great computer used to fashion it.

We are moving towards an evil government that is destined specifically for this.

We must watch for this and be ready.

The Lord tells us the way to victory is to be firm in the faith, pray ceaselessly and be consecrated to His Precious Blood.

*Today we pray for our governments and all civil leaders.

Day 3 – 3 July 1997, 9:00pm


“My children pray, pray harder for my Holy Church.

Pray and never give up. The time of the wicked man is at hand. The time when he will rule my Church.

My children the wicked man is now in my Church.

He is planning with his agents to capture the highest throne in my Church. My children, the hour is fast approaching.

The great hour of my teaching of sorrow is coming soon.

Many of my priests will follow the teaching of the anti-christ and become anti-priests.

Many of my priests will be killed because they will not obey the evil man. Only a few good priests will remain.

Then my people will suffer greatly. They will find it hard to hear the Holy Mass as worthily as the one heard now.

Many tabernacles will be closed. People will run from one place to another to seek my Word and find nothing.

Many people will find it hard to pray because the mercy of God will cease.

My children, this is why I call upon you now to pray.

Make sacrifices always and offer your life now for me.

Let all men join together and call on my Precious Blood which calms the wrath of my Father.

My children, many people will regret because they did not welcome this devotion. Pray your Holy Rosary daily, my Mother’s Immaculate Heart will protect you.

Pray this chaplet of my Precious Blood always and make constant reparation for all the sins men commit against me and

My PRECIOUS Blood. My Precious Blood will save.

I love you all.

I bless you all.”

Barnabas then saw a large number of priests, in a vision, who were tied to pillars.

The armies tortured them and then the vision passed.

Day 3 Meditation:


There are two ways to pass through the chastisement; one is for the world and the other is for the Church.

While the previous message is about the chastisement for the world at large, today the Lord speaks about that of His Church.

The Evil one is planning, from within the Church, to take over the Throne of St. Peter

This will be accomplished to test our faith.

We must wait and watch for this trial. The Lord laments for the many priests who will follow the anti-christ and his teachings, and also over those priests who will lose their lives for refusing to obey the false teachings.

As a result, the grace of God will cease because the true Mass will be nowhere to be found.

In this situation, devotion to the Precious Blood will be the best way to communicate with the Lord.

Thus He insists that we pray and make more sacrifices to strengthen our souls.

*Today we pray for all our Church Leaders; the Pope, Cardinals, Bishops, Priests and Deacons.

Day 4 – 4 July 1997, 9:00pm


Today, Barnabas saw in a cloud a vision of Our Lord hanging on the cross with Blood flowing from the many wounds on His Sacred Body.

In the cloud there were also many little children who were praying to the Agonizing Jesus Christ to save them.

They said, “Oh merciful Father may you save us by your Precious Blood. May the time come soon when you will reward the world.”

As Barnabas continued praying, the Precious Blood and water poured out from the Sacred Side of Our Lord Jesus Christ and covered the little children.

They rejoiced and praised God. Immediately the vision ended and the Holy Face of Jesus appeared and said:

“My children the wrath of the Eternal Father is increasing. His anger increases because of the sins of the world.

The world is full of sin; adultery and fornication rule the world. Men love the creature and neglect the Creator.

They sin and blaspheme against the Living God.

My death on the Cross is of no value to them.

My son, you see how numerous the unborn children are who are aborted in the world.

My children they are many, they are many; their cries disturb Heaven and increase the anger of my Father.

My children, their blood wounds my Sacred Heart; their cries hurt the mystical wound in my Sacred Heart.

Warn my people, Oh My loving children, stop sinning! My people, love me and stop sinning. Stop sinning! May you stop sinning!! Stop fornication.

I say to you stop fornication in my youth. How I love you. How do you know that I love you?

Console me by means of holy lives. My children, the hour is very short to save souls. Inform my people to reconcile with their God.

Tell them to come back to me and to seek the Kingdom of their God.

The hour of the coming Chastisement is coming soon. Many souls will be lost forever.

Many faithful souls will grow weak at that time. Men will find it hard to change their lives.

There will be confusion in many souls.

My children, I have told you this before and now I am reminding you that the coming destruction will start in every family that has shed the blood of innocent souls.

Let all men call upon my Precious Blood and be saved.

Baptize the unborn babies with power of my Precious Blood.

My children, the Immaculate Heart of my Mother will protect you and my Precious Blood will save you.

I bless you all.

I bless you all.”

The vision ended and Barnabas saw the little children praising God in the cloud for awhile, then all vanished.

Day 4 Meditation:


The sins of the flesh are the greatest weapons employed by the evil one to arouse the anger of the Eternal Father.

Not only do they turn men and women away from God and unto each other, these sins also turn their love for God unto themselves.

It also results in the slaughter of so many unborn babies.

Their voiceless cries for retribution arouse the justice of God.

The power of the Precious Blood devotion is made manifest.

Through the Precious Blood, these unborn souls are baptized and can enter the Beatific Vision.

We must therefore pray fervently for them, especially the prayer for the Baptism of Aborted Babies, so that their cries will cease and God’s wrath will be calmed.

We must pray very much for sincere repentance for all those involved in the lifestyle of fornication, adultery and abortion.

*Today we pray for the conversion of sinners.

__

Day 5 – 5 July 1997, 9:00pm


Today during his prayer, Barnabas saw a vision of many people inside a lake of fire.

As the fire burned them, they cried out in deep sorrow. After a brief moment, a cloud came down and covered the whole place.

The Agonizing Jesus Christ hanging on the Cross appeared in the cloud.

His Precious Blood poured out from His holy wounds; especially the five most prominent ones.

Upon seeing Our Lord on the Cross, the people in the lake of fire all stood up and cried in a loud voice, saying,

“Lord, have mercy on us! Be merciful to us! May your Precious Blood save us!”

While they were praying, I saw an Angel of God come down from Heaven.

I He drew them out from the pit and they flew with the Angel into the cloud.

In the cloud, they sat with all the Host of Angels, and ate and drank the Body and Blood of the Spotless Lamb.

Then the Holy Face of Jesus appeared and said: “My loving children, follow the desert way to the new Jerusalem.,

Accept all sufferings as the cross. Love your cross. Accept it with joy.

Carry your own cross and follow me. Wake up when you fall.

Be strong and endure until the end.

My children people are lost forever because of the sins of the flesh.

Many souls suffer terrible purification because of the passions of the flesh.

My people love the perishable wealth of the world.

They worship money and lose their souls forever.

My children, many souls are heading towards perdition; they are heading towards perdition because of the temporary wealth of this world.

I beg you all with love, O my loving children, to follow the desert way.

Teach others how to accept their crosses.

I say live monastic lives.

Pray for the souls in Purgatory who are under the heat of purification.

Pray for them through the power of my Precious Blood.

I promise to save them. My children run for your lives that you will not suffer purification after death.

My children, pray that you will understand the coming revelations.

I love you all.

I bless you all.”

Day 5 Meditation:


The reality of the place of cleansing is depicted in today’s message.

The mercy of our Lord can be powerfully obtained through His Precious Blood.

We have the opportunity to make satisfaction for our sins of attachment to material things and the flesh while here on earth.

We must turn our sufferings into sacrifices and do more penance for our sins to avoid the cleansing fires of purgatory.

*Today we pray for the Holy Souls in Purgatory.

Day 6 – 6 July1997, 9:00pm


My children, hear this word of mine and keep it in your hearts.

I am the Agonizing Jesus Christ, I love you all. My children, the coming tribulation is terrible and fearful.

Pray much, I say pray much, pray harder.

Pray that the hour will not begin during the rainy season because there will not be any natural heat if it comes during the rainy season.

My children pray always now.

Offer all your prayers for the salvation of men. How terribly she will

suffer, the woman in labor! This coming hour is so terrible and fearful, who will survive it?

My loving children, pray that this hour will be short, prepare yourselves with holy love.

Show mercy to people and preach my words to them.

Live a completely holy life and inform others to change their lives.

Clothe yourselves with humility, for your humility will help you in this great battle.

My children, many will be lost forever, many will be lost forever, where are the few?

I am still looking for them. If men will hear, let them hear these words and pray.

Pray and make constant Adoration. Attend Holy Mass, my loving children. Attend Holy Mass now!

The time is coming when men will look for the Holy Mass as worthy as the one you hear now and find none.

Never let a day pass without receiving Holy Communion.

Drink my Precious Blood and be filled with power.

Tomorrow I will teach you a prayer through my Angel; a prayer of love and mercy.

My children, you will hear many speak and your faith will grow weak.

Happy are all who abide in my Most Precious Blood, the coming chastisement will not affect them.

Pray that you will be able to complete this novena fully. Your enemy will fight you and try to stop you so you will not fulfill it.

Remember my warnings and keep them.

I am happy with your zeal and love.

I bless you all.”

Day 6 Meditation:

This message is in direct reference to our Lord’s warnings in Matthew 24:19, “And woe to them that are with child and that give suck in those days.” And in Matthew 24:20,

“But pray that your flight be not in the winter or on the sabbath.” Again in Matthew 24:21

“For there shall be then great tribulation, such as hath not been from the beginning of the world until now, neither shall be.”

This message should be seen as a reminder or re-confirmation that the prophesy of the Lord to the Apostles is yet to come.

The Lord in His goodness gives us a remedy to prepare for the time – attend Holy Mass and

receive Holy Communion regularly now that we are free to do so. The opportunity will not be there during the tribulation.

Devotion to the Precious Blood will be the way to safety.

*Today we pray for the grace of endurance in time of trials.

Day 7 – 7 July 1997, 9:00pm

Today Barnabas saw a vision of the Agonizing Jesus Christ hanging alive on the Cross on a mountain top.

Our Lord wept bitterly as His Precious Blood poured out from all his wounds.

An Angel appeared and knelt reverently in front of the Crucifix. He sang a song to honor the Most Precious Blood:

“Adoration!, Adoration!!, Adoration!! To Thee, O most powerful weapon.

Adoration! Adoration!! Adoration!!! To Thy Most Precious Blood.

“Merciful Agonizing Jesus Christ, pour your Precious Blood on our souls. Satisfy my thirst and defeat our enemies. Amen.”

“Powerful Blood of salvation, fight the enemy. Powerful Blood of salvation, fight the enemy. Powerful Blood of salvation, fight the enemy.”

After this, the Angel said;

“Son of man say these prayers always. Pray them for protection.

Our Lord will save through His Precious Blood. Adore the Precious Blood and let others join you.

Pray and never give up. I love you.”

The angel left and the Holy Face appeared and said; “My children, listen and understand these words.

Children, the spiritual battle is increasing.

There is a great war in the spirit now.

The enemy has captured many nations and is ruling them. Your country is among the nations.

My children, there are many agents of the evil spirit that exist now in the world.

They came out from the ocean a few years ago.

Many of them built factories and produced many goods. Many opened Churches and many live among men in schools and in great cities.

They deceive my people. Children, now the hour is at hand.

They are not sleeping because they know their hour is very short.

Pray harder now, the evil man has not started his work.

The anti-christ is in the Church. He will rule my Church. Pray that you will not be deceived.

My children, know this now that when the wicked man bans the Holy Mass, know that that hour is the last fight.

This hour is the greatest, most horrible period.

This hour is followed by the three days of darkness.

On the second night of the three days of darkness my Angels will defeat the enemy through the power of my Precious Blood.

Let all men call on the Precious Blood and be saved. Make constant reparation for all the sins men commit against me. Be careful, children, war in spirit increases.

Join in the battle and win. Love me and save your souls.

I bless you all.”

Barnabas saw in a vision the Red Dragon in a pit which opened in front of the Crucifix. Blood from His Sacred Head dripped on and tormented the Dragon.

Day 7 Meditation:

The vision Barnabas had before the message revisits the Agony of Christ’s crucifixion on Calvary.

The message that follows is a very critical one.

The presence of the agents of evil in the world and of the anti-christ in the Church, is emphasized.

While the former are using government, business and churches to ensnare the faithful, the latter is seeking his opportunity to rule the Church, which will happen.

The anti-christ will forbid the celebration of the Holy Mass, thus bringing about the Three Days of Darkness.

The Angels of the Lord will defeat the enemy on the 2nd day of the darkness. This is a call to prepare for intense spiritual warfare.

*Today we pray for endurance through the coming chastisement.

Day 8 – 8 July, 1997, 9:00pm

Our Lord appeared this evening holding in His right hand His Sacred Heart surrounded by the Crown of Thorns.

Beside His Heart was a wound from which Blood and water constantly dripped and divine rays shone forth.

A cloud came down and covered the whole place.

Immediately He said: “My children, the wound in my Sacred Heart pains me much because of the sins of the world, for the souls that will be lost forever and for my children who will suffer the Great Chastisement.

Many of my children do not heed my warnings and revelations.

They continue sinning and blaspheming my Holy Name day and night.

Only very few people hear my messages and prepare for it. My children, pray for the unrepentant sinners, offer your daily sacrifices for them through the power of my Precious Blood.

I promise to allow a drop of my Precious Blood to fall on any heart that needs conversion through my Precious Blood. The hardened heart will break and be converted.

My children pray for them. Have faith in me, let your faith grow. Build your faith in me. Great temptation is coming.

Children the temptation is great. Who will survive it? Many will shed their blood.

My children make your faith strong. The time is coming when numerous children will be killed.

I have told you this before, now I am reminding you that the enemy has produced destructive tablets.

Any person who takes this tablet will die on a specified date. They do this in order to reduce the population of the world so that the beast will rule them.

Children they will give it free to all men. My Spirit will let you know when you hear about it or when you see it.

I say to you, pray much my children.

Be faithful. Imprint my Seal with my Precious Blood on the hearts of the faithful ones.

They will grow in faith and be victorious over the Red Dragon. Love me and be faithful to me.

Tomorrow, I will bless you truly with the power of the Trinity and reveal to you the last revelation of this Novena.

Come with faith, don’t sleep.

I bless you all.”

Day 8 Meditation:

One of the most important lessons of this devotion is to make us realize that Our Lord is still suffering the pains of His Passion.

One of the reasons is given in this message – because so many souls have refused to heed the Lord’s warnings and will thus they will be lost.

We must pray for the Unrepentant and hardened souls in the world through the power of the Precious Blood, that they may be saved. The Lord already told us that our

governments are evil and have evil plans. We need only to be watchful and persist in our love for Him.

*Today we pray for fallen sheep and against fall in faith.

Day 9 – 9 July 1997, 9:00pm

On this, the last day of the nine day Novena, Barnabas saw in a vision the Crown of Thorns in the cloud.

The crown moved around in the cloud until the Sacred Head crowned with Thorns appeared.

…… Blood was pouring out from all the wounds in His Sacred Head.

Our Lord raised his face and gently said;

“My children, today is the last day of the first Novena and the great month which Heaven dedicated to my Precious Blood.

Today I will remind you of all the past revelations.

Be careful, watch and pray. Children, I told you that many of my Cardinals have gotten married.

I have told you that one of them married an evil queen. The queen with her demonic power has won the Cardinal. My children, the possessed Cardinal will fight to rule my Church.

Children, during that time the Holy Mass will be banned.

If the Holy Mass is not banned, the great darkness will not come, because the Holy Mass has all powers to stop the great Chastisement.

But heaven has signed it, prepare for the coming tribulation.

Children, the underground government is ready to rule with their authority.

There will be one world government, one currency and the whole world will be computerized.

There will be a computer number on every good, company, and school.

The world will be numbered with the mark of the Beast 666 who is in the underground world now.

My children, never receive the mark. Anyone who receives the mark will be lost forever.

Listen, listen, be ready to offer your lives. Children I shed my Blood and the blood of martyrs shall be shed before I defeat the enemy.

Children rejoice in your faith. My Angel will take your body and your soul up to heaven; all those who offer their lives for my sake.

After this great persecution, there will be a red cross in the sky and the moon will be dark.

The sign in the sky will represent my Precious Blood and the blood of martyrs.

The Blood of innocent children will darken the moon. My children I told you that there will be a massive death of children who will be killed.

Pray and never give up. Children this coming persecution is terrible and fearful. I promise to save you.

Even in the great wrath of the Eternal Father My Precious Blood will save you.

Children, rejoice for the brightest star has come out in the cloud. The star is the brightest among all stars.

The Ark of the Covenant and pillar of cloud which will lead my people to the New Era.

The star is the Immaculate Heart of My Mother. Look you will see it every evening in the cloud.

She gives joy to her children who are consecrated to her. Prepare, consecrate your lives to her.

My Mother will protect her children. Say your Rosary and live a holy life. My children, give this chaplet to my two visionaries. Teach this prayer to them.

I say to them to pray it always.

The enemy will first attack my visionaries in the whole world.

They will suffer, fear not my children I promise to save them through the power of my Precious Blood.

All who call upon my Blood will be saved. Let families pray the chaplet of my Precious Blood.

I will save them in this horrible hour. My children, pray this chaplet for sinners. Pray it for unrepentant sinners.

I will allow my Blood to fall on their hearts before the great day comes.

They will obtain true contrition for their sins. Pray, pray for sinners, pray for the non-Catholic churches. Pray that they all will be one.

My Father will answer your prayers through my Precious Blood.

I will send a great sign in heaven and all men will see it and turn to My Flock.

They will worship me and adore me and my Precious Blood. My children, I will not perform great miracles now because the Church has not approved it.

But I will answer your petitions according to the Divine Will.

Prepare for the three day Novena. Be ready to welcome your Mother.”

The Holy Trinity appeared in the cloud. The Holy Spirit flashed Divine Light on Barnabas and all gathered with him. The Father and the Son blessed us and said, “I bless you all.”

Day 9 Meditation:

The message of this ninth day is a summary of the last eight days.

The Lord makes it clear that Heaven has signed the plans allowing the anti-christ to rule the Church, to ban the Mass, to allow the 3 days of darkness, and allow the evil one-world government and religion.

These are the instruments of the chastisement. Repetition is a way of emphasis in divine messages.

Here the Lord requests us to pray for sinners and non-Catholics that we may be united with them in the tribulation.

The power of the Precious Blood for these times is re-emphasized, and cannot be emphasized enough.

*Today we pray for non-Christians and non-Catholics.

+The First Novena ends here +

For the next three days, consecrated devotees can either return to the minimum Daily Devotion
(Rosary, Chaplet of the Precious Blood, Litany of the Precious Blood and Consecration Prayer to the Precious Blood) OR they may continue to offer the Great Month of July Novena prayers daily as an additional offering to Our Lord or for a special intention.

If you are not consecrated to the Precious Blood, you may take the three days off, but do not forget to return and join us for the next Novena!

Our Lord said “Come with zeal to the next novena.”

An additional gift of encouragement

10 July 1997, 9:15pm

During the normal devotional prayer gathering of Barnabas and his friends, he saw in a vision the Holy Face appearing in a cloud and saying:

“My children, Heaven rejoices. Heaven was happy with your adoration on the first novena. Your adoration pleased Me. Peace be with you all. Children, prepare well for further devotion. Do not be afraid to give these prayers

to anyone who participates fully in these novenas. Teach them all the ejaculatory prayers* and let their faith grow through your efforts.

Children, I overlooked your past weaknesses. I will be happy if you finish this devotion with zeal. Remember my order, welcome my children who are willing to show me love. I say welcome only those who are willing to watch and pray. Please my children, don’t choose Judases. Don’t welcome wolves into the peaceful flock. I want your loving sacrifices.

I bless you all.”

Immediately, the vision ended and Barnabas heard the songs of angels.

*The Ejaculatory Prayers:

“Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ – Save us and the whole world.” (8 February 1997)

“Precious Blood and water from the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ – We adore you. Save us and cleanse us. Amen” (28 April 1997)

“Powerful Blood of salvation, fight the enemy.

Powerful Blood of salvation, fight the enemy.

Powerful Blood of salvation, fight the enemy.” (7 July 1997)

“Precious Blood and water from the Sacred Side of Jesus Christ – Refine the Church and wash us clean. Amen” (28 July 1997)

“Adoration! Adoration!! Adoration!!! To Thee, O Most Powerful weapon. Adoration! Adoration!! Adoration!!! To Thy Most Precious Blood. Merciful, Agonizing Jesus Christ – pour your Precious Blood on Souls. Satisfy my thirst and defeat our enemies. Amen.” (7 July 1997)

Three day Novena in Honor of the most holy trinity July 13-15

Day 1 – 13 July, 1997, 9:00pm

Today Barnabas saw a vision of Our Lady coming down from the clouds. She was adorned with a white veil and held a Crucifix in her left hand and flowers in her right. Her Rosary was hanging from her side. As she descended, she was singing. When she arrived, she said; “My children, today I came to co-operate with you and show you all the loving kindness of my Motherly grace. Be happy and rejoice with Heaven in this Adoration. I am the Mother of Jesus Christ. I come to you, so that you will love my Son and console Him in His Agony. The mystical wound in the Sacred Heart of my

Son causes Him much pain because of the sins of the world.
The sins of the world are many.
Men do not want to heed the warnings of Heaven.
Their sins increase daily. Pray always, pray for sinners, pray that many will change their lives. My children, I have told you this before, now I am repeating it to you and the world. Pray,
“O Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ, heal the wounds in the most Sacred Heart of Jesus.”
I say many wounds shall be healed, because the sins of the world increase say, “Precious Blood of Jesus Christ, save us and the whole world.”
I assure you many will be saved and sinners will come to repent. Children, I’m giving you my last warning about the coming chastisements.
Know today that Heaven has signed this great purification. They say, Father, only purification will bring the new world. Children, don’t pray that the Chastisement will not come.
I say don’t pray that the Holy Mass will not be banned for some time. If it is not, there will not come the great darkness. Know today that the underground computer is out in this physical world. Soon you will hear about it.
This computer has power to computerize the whole world. The hour of the demon is fast approaching. The great day of darkness is coming.
The great day of persecution is coming. The Scripture has said it. Read Daniel Chapter 8.
Before the terrible day the Holy Sacrifice will be banned. Pray, pray and teach others how to pray. Pray that many souls will be saved. Show holy love to one another.
Accept all daily suffering. Be strong in your faith to welcome the coming persecution. My children are you ready to offer your love to me?
I say, are you ready to suffer martyrdom? Many will lose their faith and worship the evil man. I am the brightest star in the clouds.
My Immaculate Heart will shine on my children.
I will protect all who consecrate themselves to me, all who live holy lives.
Tell the world that the Precious Blood will save anyone who calls upon it.
Through the Precious Blood many souls will be saved. Honor and Adore the Precious Blood of my Son and Lord Jesus Christ.
My children, have a Crucifix on your door post. Pray with your Crucifix always. Live with it. Through this sign you will conquer. I am near to help you. Remain in peace from heaven. I bless you all.”

Day 1 Meditation:
On this first day of the second novena, our Blessed Mother Mary comes to the scene.
The presence of every mother in any situation of distress, signifies hope and comfort. Our Blessed Mother comes to explain the reasons for the chastisement; that it is the only way to purify the world from sin.
She admonishes Barnabas and the prayer group not to pray against the chastisement and the banning of the Holy Mass.
All these things have to do with the vision of the Prophet Daniel.
She admonishes all her children to prepare for the great persecution with courage and perseverance to the devotion to the Precious Blood of Jesus, the only instrument of safety.
A Mother’s instruction is always to be heeded. We must take recourse to her Immaculate Heart, a secure place of refuge.

*Today we pray that we may all take refuge in the Immaculate Heart of Mother Mary.

Day 2 – 14 July 1997, 9:00pm

Today, Barnabas saw in a vision the holy Archangel Michael with the hosts of Heaven marching and singing great war chants.
They were all holding swords but the Archangel Michael was holding a Chalice filled with the Precious Blood. As they marched and sang, a cloud came down from Heaven and covered the whole place. Then appeared the Crucifix on which Our Lord was hanging. Blood was constantly flowing out of His wounds. The Archangel Michael, who was still holding the Chalice, appeared with two little Cherubim. They bowed down and worshipped the Agonizing Jesus Christ on the Cross. Then the Archangel Michael said:

“Son of man receive the Sacred Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.”

Barnabas received it. Then he saw a great multitude of people coming from distant lands to the mountain to receive the Sacred Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. After some time, Michael the Archangel appeared again holding a sword and said, “Children of God, hear the voice of Heaven and run for your lives. I am Michael the Archangel, Chief and Commander of the Heavenly Hosts. I come to teach and admonish you. May the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ cover you all. Children of God, the spiritual battle is on. The enemy is not asleep. He has fought and won many souls. The enemy has sent all his armies into the battlefield because he knows that his time is short. Children of God, this is the great hour of dryness; the hour of evil, children of God. The demon rules this hour, who will survive it? The wicked spirit has caused war in the Holy Church, in families, in schools and

in companies. Cardinals fight against Cardinals, Bishops against Bishops, war in spirit increases. They have caused spiritual lukewarmness in many souls. They have manipulated many hearts that they can no longer pray to their Living God. They have poured the spirit of lies and pride on the people of God. This spirit yields lust in many hearts. Children of God, the demon Satan and his agents cannot rest until they win all men. This lust gives birth to fornication and adultery. Look, there are many innocent unborn babies in the cloud. Their number increases every minute of the hour. The enemy has taken advantage of many souls. Many souls are possessed. They worship the wicked spirit and attack the children of God. Children of God, the war is on! Atmospheric spirits are fighting you. Hydrospheric spirits are fighting you. Biospheric spirits are fighting against you. Their physical agents are fighting against you. Who will win the battle? Many souls will die in sorrow. Many people’s faith will grow weak. Listen, the enemy has captured the universe. They are on top of the government. They are sitting on the thrones of governments. They are entering, look, they are sitting, they are sitting on the thrones of governments. Who will survive this terrible hour of the demon? Children of God wait for the coming persecution with faith. But children of God, be happy that the Blood of Jesus Christ has conquered the demon. Through the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ, we will win the enemy again. Call upon the Precious Blood, all who are spiritually asleep, and the Blood of the Spotless Lamb will wake you up. Adore the Most Precious Blood, all who are manipulated by the enemy, you will be saved. Children of God, let all men console and adore the Most Precious Blood through this prayer, let all families consecrate themselves to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ. Our Lord will save through this, our enemy will be conquered again and defeated forever. This adoration is great. Anyone who constantly consoles and adores Our Lord through this prayer will not be lost. His lineage will be converted. The heavenly Hosts fight for him. And he will join the heavenly army after death. Pray much now, time is coming soon when all souls will be in confusion and will find it hard to pray. At that time the Divine ears will be far. Children, hold firm your faith. Be wise, the enemy will tempt you and many will fall. The last Novena will be hard, only a few will complete it. The Father will not allow anyone to fail His order. Happiness and peace will follow anyone who fulfills and makes the devotion of this great month well. The Father will bless him. Love and obey the Church.

I fight for you all.”

Day 2 Meditation:

St. Michael the Archangel is the leader of the Heavenly warriors and the Protector of the Universal Church. Hence he speaks about the crisis in the Church: Cardinals and Bishops at war against each other. Many fervent members of the faithful are worried about the ambiguities and falsehoods making their way to the pulpits in the Church. The Archangel notes that this is part of the plan of the evil one. He represents the Heavenly Hosts who are assuring us of their defense during the tribulations, if we remain faithfully devoted to the Precious Blood of Jesus. The battle ahead is the final battle we are assured the victory through perseverance in prayer.

*Today we pray for the assistance of the Holy Angels in our spiritual battles.

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Day 3 – 15 July 1997, 9:00pm

In a vision, Our Lady appeared to Barnabas with a palm branch in her hand and she said: “May the peace from Heaven be with you all. Your adoration pleases Heaven. I am the Mother of the Agonizing Jesus Christ.
Today is the last day of the three day novena. Heaven is happy, your prayers confused many kingdoms of the evil spirit. Your effort pleases the Holy Trinity. My Children you are about to enter the great pilgrimage hour. Pray that you will fulfill the last novena. Pray much for other people who will join you and fulfill this great hour of prayer. The enemy will fight you all. Many will come later and my Son will send them back. Some will sleep and wake not to join the adoration anymore. The faith of many will grow weak because they did not know and their eyes were not opened. Families will attack their children greatly. Many people will fight this devotion. My children, pray much, pray much that nothing will hinder you. Some will be sick and will not have the strength to join. Even death will hinder some. Happiness and Joy will follow him who devotedly makes the devotion well. The coming Chastisement will not overcome him. Remember my children that after this great month, no power will ever stop this devotion. The Church will approve it when I raise up my saving hand. Pray much, offer your daily sacrifices for the remaining novena. Prepare to make it great. Children the last day of this month will be great, so great, so great that all

who fulfill the devotion will rejoice! His family will repent and love their Creator and their God. I will protect them and my Son will save them through the power of His Blood. My children, the Eternal Father needs the voice of many people in the consolation and adoration prayers. Let all who will attend the last Novena have those prayers said in groups and sing in one spirit. Have your Crucifix, show love to the Agonizing Jesus Christ. Meditate on his sufferings whenever you pray, you will gain numerous indulgences. Obey all the warnings from Heaven and be ready to welcome the coming Chastisement. My children, pray much for your town, pray, pray much, many are waiting for salvation. They look for my saving power. But when they see it they do not recognize it, they hear of it, yet they join the agents of evil to mock it. Pray that their eyes be opened, that they will see and their ears be opened, that they will hear. I say, pray and break the hardened heart. Many people will hear of this devotion and save their lives. Children, when shall your people know about it? Listen my children, the aim of Heaven here is to teach the world how to pray. Let all men adore the price of their salvation. The Blood which saved the world from sin. All generations will adore you, O Precious Blood of redemption. This devotion combines all the devotions of my Son and my Lord’s passion. Heaven adores forever the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ through these prayers. Prepare for the coming novena soon, it will have a great teaching for the world.

(Silence)

My children, learn to show love to one another. Teach people the Way of Truth. Take your families, your relatives and friends along with you and *run for your lives. Great trials will come. Many souls will be lost. Build your faith on the Rock, Jesus Christ, my Son. Make the faith of people strong through your teaching. Children, the wicked man is in Rome now. Pray for my Pope, pray that his faith will be strong. Soon you will hear the news. Don’t fear, don’t run about, only pray and make this adoration. You will see many agents of the demon and hear about their actions. They will attack my Priests and destroy many tabernacles. Fear not, be strong in your faith. Children the faith of many people will grow weak. They will worship the Beast. I say to you pray much now and become consecrated to the

Precious Blood of my Son, you will be saved. All things laid outside the Precious Blood of my Son will suffer greatly. Love me.

I am with you all.

Remain in the peace from Heaven”

Day 3 Meditation:

On this last day of the three day novena, the Blessed Mother is back. With her comforting words, She speaks again about the activities of he evil one and his agents who will fight against this Heavenly devotion, however, they will not succeed. Rather the devotion will be recognized by the Church in due time, at the prompt of the Queen of Heaven. She then explains that this very Devotion is an amalgamation of all the devotions to the Passion of Our Lord. This is why it is so powerful, hence the demons and their agents dread and attack it. Through perseverance in prayer and consecration to the Precious Blood of Jesus we shall be saved.

*Today, let us pray for the spread of the Precious Blood devotion all over the world.

+The Second Novena ends here +

For the next four days, consecrated devotees can either return to the minimum Daily Devotion (Rosary, Chaplet of the Precious Blood, Litany of the Precious Blood and Consecration Prayer to the Precious Blood) OR they may continue to offer the Great Month of July Novena prayers daily as an additional offering to Our Lord or for a special intention. If you are not consecrated to the Precious Blood, you may take the next four days off, but do not forget to return and join us for the last Novena!

An additional gift of

Encouragement

17 July 1997, 9:15pm

During Barnabas and his prayer group’s devotion prayer which was offered with a Mass and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Barnabas saw a vision of Our Lord who said:
“My children, try your best to fulfill my words to you. Any past hour will never return again. Keep all minutes holy. I call you to praise this devotion and spread it to the world. Make this call holy and let my people return to me in peace.

Hear this word and obey the divine warnings.

I love you all.

I bless you.”

Twelve day Novena for

the new israel

July 20-31

Day 1 – 20 July 1997, 9pm

On the first day of the third Novena, in a vision, Barnabas saw the Holy Face of Jesus in a cloud. He had a Crown of Thorns on His Head and His Precious Blood continuously flowed from His wounds. In the same cloud were little Cherubim praying, consoling and adoring the Agonizing Jesus Christ. As he was watching, Blood from Our Lord’s Sacred Head spiritually dropped onto Barnabas’ head. Our Lord said to Barnabas, “My Son, listen, try hard to record these words”.

Barnabas then saw his prayer group and a great number of people who joined them in adoring the Agonizing Jesus Christ. They were surrounded by a multitude of angels during their adoration. As they called upon the Precious Blood, Blood dripped on them from the Sacred Head of Jesus. Then Our Lord spoke, “My children, you are welcome to this great Novena.

Let the peace from Heaven be with you. Today, Heaven is happy to see you adoring the most Precious Blood of your salvation. They join you in prayer. They will remain with you in this adoration. Let all men enjoy this great

privilege. Listen, my children, this great Novena is not for gossips but for my humble devotioners who remain in faith, waiting for the return of their Master. My children this very call is not for the gossip. I say to you this call is for my patient devotioners who will make known this devotion to the world. I warn you, all my people, never speak about this devotion now. Never preach it to anyone because you can’t explain it now. Even my first Apostle of this devotion can’t speak much about it. Join the Novena. All who fulfill this great Novena will have power to preach and speak about it to the world. Children, know today that this call is for a holy life. The aim of this devotion is not for revelation but to teach the world how to pray. I give this little revelation to teach the world how to pray. I give this little revelation to you only to let your hearts turn to me. I made it so that you will believe and save your lives… My children, I call all men as I called the Israelites in the past. I chose this devotion as I chose Israel my son to be great. They were weak, but I made them strong, they were few but their number increased. They were those whom I saved from Egypt through the blood of animals. I led them many years in the desert till they reached the promised land after defeating many nations. In the same way, I chose this group out of many devotions in my Holy Church to be the new Israel who will be redeemed through my Precious Blood. I say to you my Precious Blood will save. Honor it! All who devotedly call upon my Precious Blood will be saved. They will adore me, eat and drink in the feast of joy with me after the great tribulation. They will not understand these words all who live the life of the flesh. Only a spiritual man will hear these words and understand them. Pray and allow my spirit to open your heart so you will understand. My children, the greatness of this devotion will come after this coming purification when all men who are saved will acknowledge the value of the price of their salvation and adore me. Before the great day comes I will teach many great prayers and songs to you. I will allow my Angel to reveal and teach Heavenly prayers to you. Through these prayers the new Jerusalem will worship me. My children, don’t come as the people of Israel came. Do not refuse to hear Him speaking from Heaven. If you refuse, you will not escape. Read Heb. 12: 12-29. Read this now and understand the meaning. Read I Cor. 10: 1-19. Read and meditate, then run for your lives. This way is a desert way, all those who will follow will have faith. Keep this arena silent from 8pm. Heaven will be adoring Me during this hour. Keep this hour holy. My children, anyone who falls asleep, who comes late and

does not come for prayer will not join this Novena if they come. My anger will chase them away. Warn them not to join this Novena any more. Let my faithful ones remain. I have a great thing to teach to you. Answer this call with joy.

My Precious Blood will save you.

I bless you all”

The vision ended and a hand appeared from the cloud and touched Barnabas on the forehead. He woke up and the words of the vision came back to his memory.

Day 1 Meditation:

On this first day of the last Novena, the Lord is bringing new insight into this devotion. Consistent prayer expressed with full participation in the Novena, is required for a proper understanding of this devotion and is necessary before anyone can engage in propagating it. This devotion is a powerful way to prepare for the on-coming tribulation which the humble will be able to withstand through embracing it. The Lord reminds us that it was He Himself who led the Israelites out of Egypt into the promised land, but not without some necessary hardship. Those who persevere, will not only survive the Great Tribulation, but will rejoice at the great feast thereafter, just as those Israelites who survived the journey through the desert enjoyed the promise of a land flowing with milk and honey.

*Today, let us pray for the grace to understand the great value of this devotion.

Day 2 – 21 July 1997, 9pm

While praying today’s novena prayers; the Consolation, Adoration and Anguished Appeals, Barnabas saw Our Lord tied to a pillar. The Jewish soldiers were beating Him mercilessly and they inflicted many brutal wounds on His Sacred Body. He wept bitterly. A cloud descended and covered the whole place. In the cloud appeared the Agonizing Jesus Christ with His hands tied and His body covered with numerous wounds. His Head was crowned with thorns and Blood flowed from those wounds

constantly, dripping down His body which was covered with the wounds inflicted by the scourging. The Holy Face of Jesus appeared and said,

“Honor my Precious Blood, O my loving children and save your souls and the whole world. Make constant devotion to My Precious Blood. You will be protected from the snares of the devil. My children, the hour of great devotion will come. This hour will be a long period of holy living in the world. Over a thousand years the power of darkness will be chained and My Precious Blood will reign forever. The great sacrifice offered daily in the Holy Mass will praise and lift the throne of the Eternal Father. The Sacred Body and Blood offered daily will reign forever. Pray, pray much that you will see this great period. Practice the devotion of my Precious Blood and you will reach this happy era. Happy are those who reach the great hour of happiness. The second death has no power over them. My children, my Blood is a great weapon. Through My Precious Blood the Heavenly Armies won the great battle and chased the enemy away. Fight your enemy, the evil spirits, with My Precious Blood. You will win them. My Precious Blood is the circumcision of Gentiles. Through my Precious Blood the great salvation reached all men whether Jews or Gentiles. All were baptized in one body, and spirit, through my Precious Blood.
My Blood is the price of salvation. Through my Precious Blood you were brought together as members of one family. My Precious Blood paid the debt of human slavery and made men adopted sons. You are no more slaves but sons. That is why I call you my children. I say to you, honor the price of your redemption. My Blood is the hope of innocent souls. Only my Precious Blood will grant mercy to the unborn innocent souls. Only my Precious Blood will save them: I say to you baptize them with My Precious Blood. My Precious Blood is the mercy of the Eternal Father through which my Precious Blood grants mercy to the world. And even in the great hour of darkness, the hour of my Father’s wrath, my Precious Blood has power to grant mercy to humanity. Call on my Precious Blood always, it calms the anger of the Eternal Father. Children, I say to you, love me and console me always. Pray and teach others how to pray. Honor the Precious Blood which men neglect. Listen, my children, expose the Blessed Sacrament thirty minutes before you start the Novena let all of you offer petition songs to me for ten minutes. After, look at my Holy Crucifix and meditate on my passion. Have mercy on me. Then, offer your private intentions to me. Before the Novena, invite the Trinity with songs. My children, on the 26th of this month you will write your

intentions. Write the names of unrepentant sinners in your family. I will answer you according to the Divine Will. I say to you, you will give testimony when your prayer is answered. On the last day of this Novena the petitions will be burnt after the Holy Devotion. Children, many slept yesterday, but they are not here today. I say to you never welcome anyone who comes late, who falls asleep in My presence, and those who do not come to pray. If you can’t hear, I will stop the Novena before the end of it. I say to you this habit displeases Heaven. My children, it is better to welcome those who heard the information late then those who miss the Novena after attending it. Come with your Holy Bible tomorrow I will teach you many things. Please my children study these messages. I am the Agonizing Jesus Christ, have mercy on me. I love you.

I bless you all”

The vision ended and the pierced hand of Jesus appeared and His Precious Blood dropped three times on Barnabas. Then he woke up and wrote down this message.

Day 2 Meditation:

In today’s message we are meant to understand the great power of the Most Precious Blood of our Lord. A scene of His scourging at the pillar is first displayed to the visionary to show the bitter price Our Lord’s Passion cost Him in redeeming humanity, making His Precious Blood so efficacious even in our day. This Precious Blood is the circumcision of the Gentiles bringing them into the family of His chosen people; the hope of the souls of innocent children; the limitless mercy of the Eternal Father. It is source and summit of all the means of salvation. This is why we must console and adore the Precious Blood of Jesus relentlessly.

*Today, let us pray for the grace to recognize the power of the Precious Blood of Jesus and to adore it worthily.

Day 3 – 22 July 1997, 9pm

In the Novena prayer today with Mass and Adoration, Barnabas saw Heaven open. In a vision, he saw a Lamb sitting on the throne of God holding a flag which said:

“Rejoice O Most Precious Blood of Redemption”

There appeared a great number of people who were worshipping the Lamb. They represented countries and languages of the whole world. An angel appeared to Barnabas and said. “Son of man, do you know these people? Where did they come from?

Barnabas replied, “You know more than I, Sir. Tell me.”

The angel continued: “These people are God’s people who have overcome the great trial and chastisement. They have now won and have washed themselves with the Blood of the Lamb. They will reign with Him over a thousand years.”

A cloud descended and covered the whole place. The Holy Face of Jesus appeared with His Head crowned with thorns. Blood was flowing constantly from His wounds. He drew nearer and said: “My children, open your Holy Bible, and study my Holy Message, let your eyes open that you will understand the Scripture.”

The Precious Blood from His Sacred Head fell on us and He continued, “In the olden days, men offered the sacrifice of bulls for the remission of sins. But in this present age my Body served as the atonement. Moses made a seal of covenant with the blood of animals that they would obey the law of the Eternal Father. Read Exodus 24: 1 – 8. This covenant was renewed every year because they could not pay the debt of their sins forever.

This is why my Father prepared my Blood as an everlasting covenant. Read Heb. 9: 21-end and Chapter 10: 1-9. At My Last Supper on earth, I took bread and wine and offered them as a divine sacrifice to My Father. Immediately the bread became My Body and the wine became My Blood. This is the greatest sacrifice. Read Mathew 26: 27-28 and the Gospel of Mark 14: 23-24. The same sacrifice was proved by the Holy Spirit as the

everlasting covenant through My Apostle Paul in the letter he wrote to the Corinthians, 1 Cor. 11: 25.

My children, the Spirit made it clear in the letter to the Hebrews 9: 19-22 that only the Blood can wash away sins. And My Precious Blood does this forever. My children, you can see that anyone who breaks the law given to Moses was stoned to death. They did this because the blood is a great seal. Whoever destroys the blood of my children will suffer greatly. How then can anyone who neglects the Precious Blood of his salvation be saved? The Spirit says in the letter to the Hebrews 10: 29, that he will suffer. But now I am telling you they will curse the day that they were born, those who show coldness and neglect to the Blood of their salvation.

The land to which you are being called is holy. This call is holy. There are mysteries which eyes cannot see. I say to you read Hebrews 12: 22-27. Understand these words. This is what it is. My children, I say to you, pray much for this town, pray that their eyes will be opened to see their great privilege. If they cannot change their hearts until this Chastisement is over, I will take away the glory of the holy land and give it to those who will welcome it. This land is holy. Rejoice, for you are called to the joyful feast of God’s first born sons. My Precious Blood will save all those who call for help.

Read Hebrew 12: 24. Build your faith on the three testimonies of the Water, Spirit and Blood. You will be saved. Read the first letter of John 5: 6-12. Meditate on these words. Through the water you were baptized. The Spirit renewed you and baptized you with fire and my Precious Blood saved you. Make your faith strong, share in my shame and suffering, you will rejoice with me in the end. Encourage yourselves with the words of the Spirit in 2 Hebrews 13: 10-16. I say to you, love suffering, love the persecutions you suffer for my sake. I say again surrender to all crosses. Even if you die for my sake, My Precious Blood will save you. You will reign with me forever.

Meditate on Revelation 7: 8-end and let your faith grow up. My children, study these words carefully and be ready to preach this devotion when the right time comes. Make yourself a home for my Spirit and I will teach you many things. Barnabas, receive any questions from your people and I will

answer them. I love those who pray and meditate on the Passion. I bless them and my Spirit fills them. Continue the Adoration as you have done today.

I am with you all.

I am blessing you.”

Immediately the vision ended and a book opened in the cloud. But Barnabas could not read anything in it.

Day 3 Meditation:

In today’s message, the Lord Himself gives us a catechesis on the price of our Redemption. Blood is the price for the atonement for sins. In the old Testament, during the time of Moses, the blood of animals was used for this purpose, and through that blood, the old covenant was established in the book of Exodus. But since this was only temporary and was incapable of eternal Redemption, the Eternal Father prepared the Precious Blood of His Son for an everlasting Covenant that would pay once and for all the price of our Redemption. This is the summary content of the passages cited in the letter to the Hebrews. At the Last Supper, the Lord instituted this Eternal Covenant of His Blood in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist for us to celebrate in perpetual memory of Him; yet how many have already forgotten.

*Today, let us pray for the grace to appreciate the incomparable value of the Holy Mass.

Day 4 – 23 July 1997, 9pm

During the Novena prayer today with Mass and Adoration, Barnabas saw Our Lord in a cloud in a vision. The Lord approached Barnabas while holding a sword that was shining brilliantly with Divine Light. Then He said: “Today, I come to you with love and beg you my loving children to pray and watch always. Be careful always. Never let the enemy win over you. Never, I say to you, never let any of you fall into sins of the flesh. I say to you be careful not to chase the Holy Spirit away. Your enemy is fighting you. They plan for your downfall. Pray always, meditate on my

agony and you will be filled with power. Call on My Precious Blood. Your

enemy will be defeated. Console and adore my Precious Blood. I will

protect you. Make constant reparation for the sins committed against My

Precious Blood. Sinners will change their ways and turn to me. My

children, pray this Chaplet of My Precious Blood. I promise to destroy many

kingdoms of your enemy – the evil spirits. Many of you looked at my

Crucifix and hardened your hearts, let my agony touch your souls. My

children, love me and console me. I will not answer any questions from you

because you make noise, you disturb Heaven in your Adoration. Keep

yourselves holy and speak less. Live a life of silence tomorrow night and

win over your enemy. Please my children, if anyone among you loves me,

let him console me and show me love in this Adoration and always. My

Precious Blood will show mercy.

I am with you all.

I bless you all.”

The vision ended and there appeared two great swords in the clouds crossed over each other. Where the swords crossed, there appeared a Chalice with a Host above it.

Day 4 Meditation:

Today in a rather short encounter, the Lord showed Barnabas a sword glowing with divine light. A sword is definitely a sign of battle. In the message that follows the vision, we are cautioned against the plans of the enemy against us. Indolence is dangerous. Vigilance in prayer and recourse to the Precious Blood is advised. Be watchful and avoid all sins of the flesh.

*Today, let us pray to overcome the spirits of sloth and lust.

Day 5 – 24 July 1997, 9pm

During today’s Novena prayer with Mass and Adoration, Barnabas saw in a vision, Our Lord hanging on the Cross on a mountain. The Holy Face of Jesus appeared with numerous Cherubim. He was silent and was in a great agony. Then he said: “My loving children, keep your root strong in my Holy Church. Obey her teachings and live a holy life. Confess your sins to my

Priest and prepare yourself always for the waking of my Spirit. Live in the fullness of love and offer your lives for my service. Hold firm to your faith. Help to rebuild the temple for my sake. I say to you, never fight the flesh, Never, I say, never attack the temple of the Spirit. If you do the Father will judge you. Pray and ask the Father for divine wisdom in my name, I say to you pray for wisdom. The spirit gives wisdom in my name, I say to you pray for wisdom. The spirit gives wisdom to the humble and teaches them divine ways. I shed my blood so that your eyes will be opened through the holy strength of my promise. My Precious Blood is the power of the Holy Spirit. Children whenever you call upon my Precious Blood with all your heart and with love, the Holy Ghost will come and abide in you. Call upon my Precious Blood and be filled with power. My children, the gate will be opened. The way of life will be made known, but only few will follow it at last. When the door is about to close, the flock will rush to enter. But time will be over. Who will save them? And what shall be their hope? Many people come here but their hearts are far from me. When shall they know this truth? When will their hearts be opened to this great favor? Many will regret it at last. Join and make this devotion holy. Pray, pray, console me. I love you. Show me love so that you will have nothing to regret. Barnabas, receive the questions from your people. I will allow you to ask them and I will answer you. He who judges shall be judged. Know the Good Shepherd, listen to his alarm and run for your lives. My children, I say pray that my flock will hear the voice of the Good Shepherd and run for their lives.

Those who love me and adore my Precious Blood will not be lost. My

Precious Blood will save them, Barnabas many will not understand this

message. Pray for them.

I love you all.

I bless you all.”

The vision ended and a great Cross appeared in the cloud.

Day 5 Meditation:

Divine guidance is very necessary to be able to know and accomplish the Holy Will of God. We can never presume to overcome any temptation, solely trusting in our own strength. Our enemy is far more crafty than we are. Hence we cannot confront him. Rather we must pray for the wisdom to know the truth and with the Spirit, outwit him. We must remain humble to

receive this wisdom. Adoring and consoling the Precious Blood is always a true means to acquire this.

*Today, let us pray for the wisdom to know the Will of God.

Day 6 – 25 July 1997, 9pm

During today’s Novena prayer with Mass and Adoration, Barnabas saw, in a cloud, a vision of the Agonizing Jesus Christ tied with a rope around His wrists. There were many wounds on his Body from which His Precious Blood constantly flowed. Then there appeared the Holy Face of Jesus. He quietly said; “My Children, peace be with you.” Immediately Blood from His Sacred Head fell on all those present. Our Lord continued by saying; “Offer your questions to me.” Then He was silent.

Barnabas replied, “May your name be adored forever. O my Lord. Adoration to the Agonizing Jesus Christ, Lord THY KINGDOM COME.” Then he added, “Please Lord answer the petitions of your sinful creatures. They asked, “Among all your sufferings which one is the chief suffering that pained you most?” Please say something about the thorns in your Sacred Head and that of your Sacred Heart. Another one is, “why is it that most of the things that you did are in triplet? For example, your resurrection, the temptations, on the third day you were found in the temple, and many others. Please Lord speak on these matters. And which one is the Immaculate Heart between the two stars, is it the Eastern or Western one? Oh Lord, answer us.”

The Lord replied,“My children, learn to console me always in my agony. I suffered many tortures for your salvation. These tortures are hidden, and were not written down in the Holy Bible. I reveal it to my children who love me and will console me. The Jewish soldiers tied me to the pillar and beat me mercilessly. After beating me, they tied my hands and the feet, and rolled me from one end to another. They beat me and broke My Head with iron rods. They marched on me one after another, when they were tired they gathered together and pricked me with pins and needles, then they poured liquid lead in the wounds and left me there. I say to you my loving children if anyone among you loves me, let him console me. If anyone loves

me, let him adore My Precious Blood. I will show him love he who loves me, and show mercy to him who knows my Wounds and my Precious Blood. My children, all my suffering and agony are reflected in my Sacred Heart. My Heart bears all the pains. The mystical Crown of Thorns in my Heart represents the crown on my Sacred Head, the Crown of Thorns is real, Console me. Live in the Trinitarian love. Believe in the Trinitarian power. Adore the Trinitarian God. One God, forever. The Immaculate Heart appeared in the clouds. She is the brightest among all stars. Know the Ark of Covenant and rejoice. Say your Rosary always. You will enter the Ark. My children know this only. (Silence)

Barnabas then said, “Lord may your name be adored forever. Lord, please answer me this further question. When will the trouble begin in Rome? And what order will your children follow? In some apparitions they say that Nigeria will sink (be destroyed). What about the innocent ones? Will they all perish? About the coming Chastisement, there are those who can not afford to buy the candles or even say the recommended prayers. What will they do? And what about those who do not believe in your messages? What shall we do to convince them? Lord you told us about other visionaries, Lord can you say something about them? Lord, how can we know the tablet? River blindness, is it among…

The cloud in which Our Lord appeared, shook, and He replied,“Barnabas, be wise and ask reasonable questions. Ask what will help the world. I will answer all their questions. I will make everything clear to them. Do not fear. I love you. Continue my son.”

Barnabas continued, “Lord, many ask what will they do to fulfill your wish to follow this call until the end. What will we do to make this call holy? Lord answer us, you know that we are willing to show you love. Help us to love Thee. Please Lord give us the answer.”

The Lord replied, “My children when you hear, when you feel and when you see that my Pope is seized or that my Pope has fled from Rome and run for his life to another country, the hour has come. My children will suffer much. I say to you let all pray much that my true teaching will be in your hearts. Many nations will perish and disappear from the face of the world. But my

children will be saved. Those who love me and call on me for safety will be saved. I say to you, those who adore my Precious Blood and console me in my Agony will not be affected. My Precious Blood will save and my Mother’s Immaculate Heart will protect. My children, during the Chastisement many will die on accident because they did not obey my warnings. Many will suffer terrible agony because they neglected my warnings. I say to you, pray that the flock will hear the voice of the Shepherd and run for their lives. If the flock remains adamant to the alarm of the Shepherd the wild animal will come and destroy. I say to you the Shepherd will not regret. I say to you, pray, pray much, make an effort and obey all the instructions. Teach them the simple prayers. Teach them, “Precious Blood of Jesus Christ – save us and the whole world.” My Father will protect and save them. Pray for my renowned visionaries and mystics in the town, when the hour comes. I will call them and set them to work. When you see or hear about the tablet, my Spirit will tell you which one the tablet is. Be humble and accept the Divine will, you will reach the end. Offer your families to My Precious Blood. I will save them. I promise to convert them before the Great Tribulation comes. There will be peace and love. I say to you adore and honor My Precious Blood. I will allow My Precious Blood to fall on the heart of every sinner offered to my Precious Blood. I say to you offer to me and pray for them always through my Precious Blood, I will destroy all evils in your families. I have heard your prayers. Rejoice for your request has been granted. My children, never fail to give testimony when you see this goodness from the One who loves thee. Adore My Precious Blood and let all men join you. Barnabas, the remaining days are great and holy. Your adoration will be great and holy. Come with reverence and awe and worship your God. All who feel sleepy and weak will not be in this Chapel. Let them remain outside and offer their adoration to me. They should not enter this Chapel until the day’s devotion is over. If you do allow them, I will block my greatest favor to you. I will not speak about this again until the last day of this Novena. If anyone among you loves me, let him console me and pray for unrepentant sinners. I love you all.

I bless you all.”

The vision ended and the Immaculate Heart of Mary pierced with seven swords appeared in the cloud. Barnabas could hear the Cherubim in the cloud praying the Rosary.

Day 6 Meditation:

Today, the Lord takes time to address some of our questions. We always have questions about the changing world, about the coming chastisement, about our concern for salvation. We are worried about what will happen to us and our loved ones when the anti-christ takes over the Church as we already have been told to expect. We are concerned about those who are aware of this devotion and those who do not care for it, those hardened in sin. So many devotees have relatives and loved ones who have abandoned their faith. All these concerns the Lord addresses today. He gives us only one sign about the beginning of the great tribulation – the Holy Father will flee from Rome. The only definite answer to all our concerns is steadfast-ness in consoling Him and adoring His Precious Blood. He will convert even the most hardened sinners recommended to His Precious Blood through this devotion.

*Today, let us pray for our loved ones who have strayed from the faith. __________________________________________________________________________

Day 7 – 26 July 1997, 9pm

During the Novena prayer with Mass and Adoration, Barnabas saw Heaven open in a vision. Our Lord Jesus Christ appeared, stood on the throne of His majesty and raised His right hand holding a Cross. Then, I saw a great multitude of angels and the hosts of Heaven, who were worshipping him. They bowed down to him and said, “Glory, honor and praise be unto you, O glorious Lord. You are good, and it is right that You be honored. Let all creatures adore Thee. Adoration to Thee forever.”

After that, a great cloud descended and covered the whole place. In the cloud appeared the Holy Face of Jesus with a Crown of Thorns on is Head. Blood was constantly flowing from the wounds made by the thorns on His Sacred Head. Then He said, “My children, live in my peace. Be wise to make yourself an instrument of peace. You will enjoy a happy life. My son, why is it that only a few people among you show me love? Only a few know

me. My children, love me, console me and adore me. I promise to protect anyone who devotedly consoles me and adores me with this prayer against evil attack. He will not die a sudden death. He will not be burnt by fire.

Any soldier who says this prayer before he enters into a battlefield will not be defeated. No bullet will have any effect on him. Say this prayer over a woman in labor and the woman will have lesser pains. Any woman who devotedly says this prayer will be delivered safely without much pain. Put this prayer on the head of any child who is disturbed by evil spirits and my Cherubim will protect him. I promise to protect any family who devotedly says this prayer from lightning and thunder effects. Any house where this prayer is kept will be protected against storms. If this prayer is said to the dying before his death, I promise that his soul will not be lost. My children anyone who does not pass through My Precious Blood will be lost. Any sinner who consoles me and adores me through this prayer will obtain conversation. I promise to protect them with My Precious Blood and hide them in My Holy Wounds all who console me and adore me. Poison will have no effect on you. I will guard your five senses. Anyone who fights against you will lose. The Archangel Michael will defend you. I promise to baptize aborted children who are killed daily in the world and put a deep contrition in the hearts of their parents through the power of My Precious Blood. All who devotedly console me and adore me with this prayer until death will join the heavenly Armies and Choirs. I will give them the Morning Star. I say to you, pray and let others join your adoration. Show me love.

I love you”

Then Barnabas asked, “Lord, our Priest, your servant, will move for retreat, what shall we do? Please, my Lord, say something on this. Lord, Thy kingdom come! (Silence)

Our Lord answered, “The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed daily during this hour. My Angel will protect. No one will harm him. The Cherubim will be with him always. My Priest, make an effort, I am with you. My children, pray much for him. The purification rain will fall, in the hour and on the day Heaven wants. All who join this Novena will feel my agony and be purified. Happy are you all who join this great month from beginning to end, the Chastisement has no power over you.

I am looking for one to console me.

I bless you all”

Immediately the vision passed and the great beast appeared in the cloud with fire coming out from his mouth. Barnabas shivered and came back.

Day 7 Meditation:

Among all the prayers of this devotion, the Consolation and Adoration prayers to the Precious Blood have some special privileges. It is with this prayer that we console the Lord for His ongoing suffering and adore His Precious Blood continuously poured out for our sins. In today’s message, the Lord enumerates those special privileges, to encourage us to persevere in praying them, especially in times of special needs.

*Today, let us pray for all those suffering in pain.

Day 8 – 27 July 1997, 9pm

During the Novena prayer, Our Lord appeared to Barnabas in a vision holding a cross, and said, “My children, peace be with you. I am the

Agonizing Jesus Christ. I am the one who loves and died of love. Show love to me and console me always. Believe in the power of My Precious Blood and save your life and that of the whole world. My Precious Blood is an ocean of mercy and compassion. Through my Precious Blood the world will find peace. I say to you any sinner who says “Precious Blood of Jesus Christ –save me and the whole world” will obtain conversion. My children allow sinners to venerate the grace of my Precious Blood. I promise to draw them near to me through the power of My Precious Blood. Offer all your problems to my Precious Blood and set yourself at peace. Be at peace always. Never let the world disturb you. Do this and offer me daily Adoration. My children, happy are all who listen to this warning and obey it. They will rejoice at last. Happy are you who practice this devotion with love and faith. You will conquer the world. Great happiness is for all who practice this devotion and make it known to the whole world. I will be with them always to guard them. I will teach them my ways. And welcome them

with love on the day of judgment. My Father will give them the glorious

crown. They shall eat My Sacred Body and drink My Blood with my

heavenly Hosts. My children pray, pray. I say pray for those who hate this

call. Offer them to my Precious Blood, show them love. I say to you love

them. Believe and they will soon join in this holy Adoration. I say, they will

adore My Precious Blood. My Precious Blood is a healing Blood. Call on My

Precious Blood for the sick and they shall be healed. I say to you invoke My

Blood for them. There will be testimonies. On the last day of this Novena,

bring a few sick people to me. I will heal them, my children. I say a few,

not many. Let them join your Adoration. After the glorious and happy

worship anoint them with the holy oil. Tell them to go and give testimonies.

My Precious Blood will save them. My children, the hour for great and

numerous miracles is coming, I say, pray that my Church will see the hidden

favor in my Precious Blood. Pray that my Church will welcome it. At that

time, I will perform many miracles through my Precious Blood. I will do this

in your sight to make your faith grow and be strong. On the last day of this

Novena, Adoration will start by 3pm on the holy land. Make the day great,

console and adore My Precious Blood on the holy land. Offer Holy Mass for

the whole world and burn the petitions. Then you will spend three hours on

that land. Return here and offer a great Rosary procession to me. Meditate

on your Crucifix and pray the Chaplet of my Precious Blood 3 times, holding

your Cross, I say consecrate yourself to My Blood. Offer a Holy Mass and

give a testimony of my wonderful deeds. Before the day comes, you will

know what to do. The great trial will shake the foundations. Let My Blood

hold firm the foundations. They will speak much against this call. My

children, have faith in what you know and what you believe. This hour is

their hour. Soon their powers will shrink. Many will meet hindrances on the

way and miss this devotion.

I say pray.

I bless you all.”

Immediately the vision ended and Barnabas saw stars falling from heaven.

Day 8 Meditation:

We are in an age where people desire signs and wonders, sightseeing and relaxation, television and videos. But the devotion to the Precious Blood is meant to teach us the way of reflection and penance, prayer and adoration.

Consequently many people will and do hate it. The Lord enjoins us to pray for them. He promised that many miracles will flow from the devotion when the time comes, to reward those who remain faithful.

*Today, let us pray specially for those who hate or persecute this devotion.

Day 9 – 28 July 1997, 9pm

Today, during the novena prayers with Mass and Adoration, Barnabas saw Our Lord in great agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. As Our Lord prayed intently, a bloody sweat covered His Body. A cloud came down and covered the whole place and the Holy Face of Jesus appeared. He calmly said, “My children, the love I have for my people is burning like a flame. But they hate me, thereby crucifying me day and night with sin.

Come to me in Gethsemane and watch with me. Come and pray with me for the renewal of the face of the earth. Come, my loving children, the great suffering is coming. The suffering is so great-who will survive it? Who will endure until the end? That is why I ask you, my loving children, to come to me in Gethsemane. Come in, console and adore me. I say to you, console me, I am in agony.

Children, my Heart is paining me greatly because of the sins of the world. My Heart is greatly sorrowing because of many souls that will be lost forever. Oh my children, I am looking for someone to console me by word. Only that, because your heart is far from me. No one shows me dear love, you do not remember that I am always in agony. In deep sorrow, I come to you for you to console me. You do not recognize me, because your heart is far from me.

I cry in great anguish and grief, you left me and went your way, because you cannot meditate on my agony. Have mercy on me. I love you.

Meditate on my suffering. I will reveal myself to you. Pray and watch always in the midnight of Thursday to Friday. I call that hour the Gethsemane hour. Console me and adore me with this prayer I taught you.

Your prayer will be great during this hour. Any family or individual who practices the Gethsemane hour will be protected from infernal powers. Constant sickness will flee from them. I will constantly wash them with My Precious Blood with love. I will send St. Theresa, who will assist them in their daily works and they will grow in love. My children, hear these words and keep them. Show love to the one who saved all men from sin. Console me and adore the price of your salvation. Say always, ‘Precious Blood and water from the Sacred Side of Jesus Christ-refine the Church and wash us clean.’ The water from my Sacred Side will clean the wound and my Blood will save it.

I love you all.

I bless you all.”

Immediately the vision ended and Barnabas saw the Sacred Side of Jesus.

Precious Blood and water dropped twelve times and then stopped.

Day 9 Meditation:

Today, the visionary sees our Lord in Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. He invites us to join Him in prayer. He recalls the hatred of men towards Him and the neglect of those who love Him. Thus He establishes every Thursday night as the Gethsemane Hour. He invites all who love Him to keep Him company in prayer from the late hour of Thursday night to the early hours of Friday morning. The great promises for observing this Hour of prayer are meant to encourage us to keep it faithfully.

*Today, let us pray for the grace to persevere in the Gethsemane Hour.

NEW MESSAGE
The Blood of Innocent Ones has Filled Heaven Increasing My Agony
29 July 1998, 9:00pm
In our novena prayer, Barnabas saw a vision of the Agonizing Jesus Christ hanging on the cross. There were numerous, innocent unborn babies lying on the ground around the cross and on the cloud above the cross. They were of different sizes due to their ages. They wept in their sorrow to the Agonizing Jesus Christ. Their lamentations were deeply sorrowful and painful. As the noise of their cries increased, a cloud came down and covered the whole place. Then the Holy Face of Jesus Christ appeared and said, “My children, let your hearts be merciful to Him who loves you the most. Have pity on He who comes to save. Fear the ocean of love of the Creator. Make His way known to the whole world. Be sorrowful with Me. I am the Agonizing Jesus Christ.
My children, remember My agony during My birth on earth. It was only because the King of Heaven and earth was born on earth for your salvation and healing, that you men of the world chose to massacre innocent children. My children, their blood disturbed heaven at that time, but today, the blood of innocent children has filled heaven. Their number is too great; too great. The wrath of the Eternal Father is about to fall on mankind. The daily number of aborted babies and innocent children is too large to mention! Their blood disturbs My Agonizing Heart and increases My agony. Console Me through your preaching and teaching of these messages. Baptize them with this prayer. Say always:
PRAYER FOR THE BAPTISM OF ABORTED BABIES
Heavenly Father, Your love is eternal. In Your ocean of love, You saved the world through Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Now look at Your only Son on the cross who is constantly bleeding for love of His people and forgive Your world. Purify and baptize aborted children with the Precious Blood and Water from the Sacred Side of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who hung dead on the cross for their salvation; in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. May they through the holy death of Jesus Christ, gain everlasting life, through His wounds be healed and through His Precious Blood be freed. There to rejoice with the saints in heaven. Amen.
Through this prayer, large numbers of innocent, unborn babies will be saved. Pray it daily and make it known to the whole world. Anyone who teaches it will not be lost. Innocent souls in heaven will not allow that soul to be lost. I with My love and mercy will protect him and not allow him to fall into mortal sin.
Console Me who loves you.
I am the Agonizing Jesus Christ.
I love you.
I bless you.”
Immediately the vision passed.
*Today we pray to Our Lord to save the souls of all unborn children and to convert the hearts of all those who already have or are presently contemplating taking the life of their child.
Day 10 – 30 July 1997, 9pm

*Editors Note: Since no message was given on this day in 1997, we have moved the message of July 30th to July 29th. A very long message was given the last day of the original novena (July 31st) and we split it into two days so you will have a message for each day of this novena.

During today’s novena prayers with Mass and Adoration, Barnabas had a vision of Our Lord hanging on the Cross in great agony. Blood constantly flowed from all His wounds, especially the four major wounds of His hands

and feet. The Holy Face of Jesus, crowned with thorns appeared and said,

“My children, today being the eve of the last day of this Novena, in the great month dedicated to my Precious Blood, let all of you who come here keep his temple holy, live in a complete change of life, a life full of love, humility and faith. Run away from sinful lives and always be charitable to one another.

My children, anyone who destroys his temple by sin will suffer the everlasting hell. I say to you be holy for this call is holy. This call will undergo many trials. The way is a desert way. Only those who want to do the will of their God will join first. You will be shaken and purified so that the steadfast ones and the purified ones will be saved. Many nations will fight against you and this holy call. I say to you, many among you will not reach the new Jerusalem because of their sinful lives. Many will complain and fight their leaders. Many will leave the living God and worship idols. And many shall be killed in battle because of their weak faith. My loving children, pray, pray, pray that your eye will be opened to see the great happiness that awaits you after this great battle. Pray, I will reveal to you hidden mysteries about this call so that your faith will be strong. They will not understand this call, all who live natural lives. I say to you the spiritual things are far from them. Never, I say to you, never abandon your faith. Strive to enter the promised land. Today, listen my children, I have written it in Heaven that no nation will conquer this devotion of my Precious Blood. I promise to defeat many nations because of you. The nations will hear about you and praise the living God. I say, the devotion to my Precious Blood will be known in the world, from one generation to another generation even if my first devotioners abandon their faith. The devotion to my Precious Blood will be known to the world. All who are under my Precious Blood will not fear death any longer. When the hour comes for its canonization, the Church will welcome it and make it known to all men through the power of the Holy Spirit of love. I say to you only obey and fulfill my order. Never give up in prayer. Children, your prayers will make the hour come soon. None of your prayers will ever be fruitless. I will hear them and answer you when the good hour comes. My children, Satan has no power over the obedient, I love you all.

Continue to show me love.

I bless you all.”

The vision passed and Barnabas saw a Host appear in Heaven. Half of it was flesh while the other half was bread.

Day 10 Meditation:

(In the absence of a message for the 29th, we reflect on the message of the 30th today) Today’s message speaks of a complete change of life. A true devotee must “keep his temple holy”, that is to remain pure in heart and mind. Humility and love and obedience are the essential virtues to cultivate. The Lord Himself will see to the spread of this devotion throughout the world if we remain faithful to Him in prayer. When the time comes, the Church will recognize it. This will only come about through the prayers of sincere devotees.

*Today, let us pray for the grace to remain obedient to all Church authorities.

Day 11 – 31 July 1997, 9pm Venue: Mountain Carmel in Olo.

Today being the last day of the last novena of the Great Month of July, Barnabas and all the devotioners were on the mountain consoling and adoring the Agonizing Jesus Christ. In a vision, Barnabas saw a large number of evil spirits (Arch demons) coming from the West to attack them. They came with a great wind and great force. At the same time, he saw the Host of Heavenly angels and archangels coming from the East to attack them. When the evil spirits saw the heavenly armies, they stopped and the great wind stopped too. Archangel Michael and the host of angels flew to attack them. Immediately, a holy Crucifix appeared in the air, blood flowed from the Sacred Head which turned into fire as it fell on them and consumed them. Immediately, a cloud came down from Heaven and covered the whole place. In the cloud appeared the Holy Face of Jesus. Blood was constantly flowing from the wounds caused by the Crown of Thorns. Our Lord calmly said,“Let my Precious Blood cover you all” Immediately blood flowed out from his Sacred Head and covered us.

He continued by saying,“My children, today you are crossing the Great Red

Sea. Happy are those who are chosen to be apostles of my Precious Blood.

Your enemy will not see you again. You are no more slaves in a foreign land. I am leading you back to the promised land through the power of my Precious Blood. You and the chosen ones will adore my Precious Blood in that land. Your children’s children will worship me and adore my Precious Blood forever. I say all nations will acknowledge the value of my Precious Blood and my Holy death. Today, you have passed the second purification and transformation hour. Happy are those who accept all the sufferings. My great promise is waiting for them. Rejoice. Oh, 24 people who were chosen by Heaven because they fulfilled the order I gave, I am sealing with my Holy Wounds and my Precious Blood. The wicked man will not harm you. My Precious Blood will defend you always. I promise to reveal to you my five wounds and my hidden tortures. You and your families will adore the Precious Blood and I will save them. I heard all your prayers.” (continued)

Day 11 Meditation:

(We reflect on the message of July 31st for these last two days of the Novena) In the first of the two visions that precede the message of this day, we are shown the protective power of the holy angels over us, especially when the evil spirits are on the attack. Protection from them is one of the foremost benefits of this devotion. The graces and privileges of this devotion come to us according to our degree of faithfulness.

*Today let us pray for the assistance of the holy angels.

Day 12 – 31 July 1997, 9pm Venue: Mountain Carmel in Olo

(Continued from July 30th) Instantly, Heaven opened. The Holy Trinity appeared. I saw the twenty four people, kneeling behind the Crucifix. The divine light of the Holy Spirit flashed on them and the Son raised up his hand and said, “I bless you all.”

Then Heaven closed. The Holy Face continued by saying, “All who attended the first Novena are blessed. Through my Precious Blood you will be saved. The Heavenly Dominions and Powers will fight for you all. Rejoice all of you who fulfill the second Novena. The Immaculate Heart of my Mother will protect you. Holy Archangel Michael will guard you always. I will hide you in my holy ground, all who fulfill this great last Novena. Your

enemy will not see you. Before your death, I will give you my Precious Blood. My children, anyone who hears my messages and devotionally adores my Precious Blood will get these favors like those who do this great Novena well. My Priest, Your greatest agony has passed. You console me. Now I am going to console you.
Through My Precious Blood I will lift you up. Your terrible days have gone. Receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit and spread this devotion in the whole world. I say fear not. Fear nor for this devotion, the terrible hour has gone.
When the right time comes, my Church will welcome it. I say to you, my humble Priest, minister with my Precious Blood – It shall be done. Command any sickness to be well through the power of my Blood – I promise to heal them. Release the captives through my Precious Blood and tell the righteous to rejoice in my blood. Let Archangel Raphael and twenty heavenly Cherubims be with you and fight for you. If you love me, make this devotion known to the world. I bless you. My first devotioners, the chosen Apostles of my Precious Blood, Heaven is happy with you. Your effort pleases me much. Rejoice because I will keep all my promises to you. Those who hate you will love you. I will bring your people back to you. GO IN PEACE and JOIN YOUR VOCATIONS. The second sorrowful hour has gone. Spread this devotion and pray much. Barnabas, I will change the seat of your vocation and put it in a better form for this call. Nothing will block you and your brethren again. I am with you all. I bless you all. My children, your prayers are answered. One of the women who are here on this mountain will give birth to a baby boy. The boy will be an Apostle of my Precious Blood. A woman came from Owa. Tell her to rejoice for her sickness is cured. My Priest will bless her families and destroy the charm of idols. All the anointed sick people, go and give testimonies, for you all are healed. Many unrepentant sinners will turn back. Adore my Precious Blood when you see them returning to me. My children, do not rejoice for the miracles but rejoice that you are among the first people who witness this call. All who remain faithful until the end, will not lose. Remember me always, I am Agonizing Jesus Christ. Show me love and console me.

I bless you all.”

Immediately, the vision passed and Barnabas saw the great battle against the forces of darkness. Through the power of the Precious Blood, the Archangel Michael defeated the enemy. Then I saw Jesus coming out of

the clouds holding a palm on his hand with the heavenly hosts, singing a song of victory. In the cloud, I heard a loud voice saying, “Through the

Blood of the Spotless Lamb, enemies were defeated. All men, adore the Precious Blood of your salvation.”

Day 12 Meditation:

The second segment of the message continued with the vision of twenty-four people adoring the Most Holy Trinity and receiving the reward for their faithfulness to Our Lords request. This message also presents the generous graces given to all those who devotedly complete the various novenas.

If you complete the first novena, you will have the Heavenly Dominions fighting for you. If you complete the second novena, the Immaculate Heart of Mother Mary will protect you and the Archangel Michael will guard you. If you complete the third novena, you will be shielded from your enemies and will be given the Precious Blood to drink at the hour of death. There are promises of great graces for the priest, the spiritual director of the devotion. We should always rejoice in the graces of this devotion and be careful not to crave for miracles which the Lord promised will follow.

*Today, we shall pray especially for the Holy Father and His intentions and the protection of the Church and our families from all evil.

+The Third Novena ends here +

Brother Barnabas Nwoye

Devotion to precious blood Adoration is at Holy Land Of Adoration And Renewal, Uje, Imezi-olo Ezeagu L.G.A. Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria

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Posted byajayjavalkarJuly 7, 2020Posted inUncategorizedLeave a commenton INVOCATION TO THE NINE CHOIRS OF ANGELS GREAT MONTH OF JULY

Divine Mercy Chaplet in Malayalam

9 Day Novena to Divine Mercy 9 Day Novena to the Divine Mercy Divine Mercy Sunday Celebrations aroundWellington, New Zealand andMelbourne, Australia Please click here.https://centrefordivinemercy.org/divine-mercy-sunday Jesus asked St Faustina that the Feast of the Divine Mercy be preceded by a Novena to the Divine Mercy which would begin on Good Friday, 14 April 2017. JESUS gave St. FaustinaContinue reading “Divine Mercy Chaplet in Malayalam”

by ajayjavalkarFebruary 21, 2021

Psalm of King David Prayers

1 Chronicles 29New International Version Gifts for Building the Temple 29 Then King David said to the whole assembly: “My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is young and inexperienced. The task is great, because this palatial structure is not for man but for the Lord God.  2 With all my resources IContinue reading “Psalm of King David Prayers”

by ajayjavalkarFebruary 15, 2021

1 Chronicles 29New International Version Gifts for Building the Temple 29 Then King David said to the whole assembly: “My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is young and inexperienced. The task is great, because this palatial structure is not for man but for the Lord God.  2 With all my resources IContinue reading 

by ajayjavalkarFebruary 15, 2021

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Posted byajayjavalkarFebruary 26, 2021Posted inPiety1 Commenton

Divine Mercy Chaplet in Malayalam

9 Day Novena to Divine Mercy

9 Day Novena to the Divine Mercy


Divine Mercy Sunday Celebrations around
Wellington, New Zealand and
Melbourne, Australia

Please click here.
https://centrefordivinemercy.org/divine-mercy-sunday


Jesus asked St Faustina that the Feast of the Divine Mercy be preceded by a Novena to the Divine Mercy which would begin on Good Friday, 14 April 2017.


JESUS gave St. Faustina an intention to pray for on each day of the Novena. for instance on the last day, JESUS asked her to pray for ‘lukewarm and indifferent’, of whom He said: “These souls cause Me more suffering than any others;…’ The last hope of salvation for them is to flee to My Mercy.”

In her diary, St. Faustina noted that Jesus told her:

“On each day of the novena you will bring to My heart a different group of souls and you will immerse them in this ocean of My mercy … On each day you will beg My Father, on the strength of My passion, for the graces for these souls.” 

Click here for a printable copy (plain text) of the Nine Day Novena to the Divine Mercy

JESUS HIMSELF disclosed the following intentions to pray for on each day of the Novena.DAY  1 (Good Friday)  – All mankind, especially sinners
DAY  2 (Holy Saturday ) – The souls of priests and religious
DAY  3 (Easter Sunday)  – All devout and faithful souls
DAY  4 (Easter Monday) – Those who do not believe in Jesus & those who do not know Him
DAY  5 (Easter Tuesday) – The souls of separated brethren
DAY  6 (Easter Wednesday) – The meek and humble souls and the souls of children
DAY  7 (Easter Thursday) – The souls who especially venerate and glorify Jesus’ mercy
DAY  8 (Easter Friday) – The souls who are detained in purgatory; 
DAY  9 (Easter Saturday) – The souls who have become lukewarm.The Chaplet of Divine Mercy should be offered each day for the day’s intentions.

Click here for a printable copy (plain text) of the Nine Day Novena to the Divine Mercy




Totus tuus ego sum, et omnia mea tua sunt. I am all yours, and all that I have is yours, O most loving JESUS, through Mary, your most holy Mother


9 DAY DIVINE MERCY NOVENA

Open each day with the Chaplet to the Divine Mercy then say the prayer for the day’s intention:

First Day


Jesus said: “Today bring to me all mankind, especially all sinners, and immerse them in the ocean of my
mercy.

In this way you will console me in the bitter grief into which the loss of souls plunges me.”

Most merciful Jesus, whose very nature it is to have compassion on us to forgive us, do not look upon our
sins, but upon our trust which we place in Your infinite goodness. Receive us all into the abode of
Your Most Compassionate Heart, and never let us escape from it.

We beg this of You by Your love
which unites You to the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Eternal Father, turn Your Merciful gaze upon all mankind and especially upon poor sinners, all enfolded
in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus.

For the sake of His Sorrowful Passion show us Your Mercy, that we may praise the infinite power of Your Mercy, forever and forever.
Amen.”

Second Day


Jesus said: “Today bring to me the souls of Priests and Religious and immerse them in my
unfathomable mercy. It was they who gave me strength to endure my bitter passion.
Through them, as though channels, my mercy flows out upon mankind.”
Most Merciful Jesus, from whom comes all that is good, increase Your grace in men and
women consecrated to Your service that they perform worthy works of mercy, and that all
who see them may glorify the Father of Mercy who is in Heaven. Eternal Father, turn Your
merciful gaze upon the company of chosen ones in Your vineyard – upon the souls of
Priests and Religious – and endow them with the strength of Your Blessing. For the Love of
the Heart of Your Son in which they are enfolded, impart to them Your Power and Light,
that they may be able to guide others in the way of salvation, and with one voice sing
praise to Your boundless Mercy for ages without end. Amen

Third Day

Jesus said: “Today bring to me all devout and faithful souls and immerse them in the ocean
of my mercy. These souls brought me consolation on the Way of the Cross. They were that
drop of consolation in the midst of an ocean of bitterness.”
Most Merciful Jesus, from the treasury of Your Mercy, You impart Your graces in great
abundance to each and all. Receive us into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart
and never let us escape from it. We beg this grace of You by that most wondrous love for
the heavenly Father with which Your Heart burns so fiercely. Eternal Father, turn Your
merciful gaze upon faithful souls, as upon the inheritance of Your Son. For the sake of His
Sorrowful Passion grant them Your blessing and surround them with Your constant
protection. Thus may they never fail in love or lose the treasure of the Holy Faith, but
rather, with all the hosts of Angels and Saints, may they glorify Your boundless Mercy for
endless ages. Amen

Fourth Day

Jesus said: “Today bring to me those who do not believe in God and those who do not yet
know me. I was thinking also of them during my bitter passion, and their future zeal
comforted my heart. Immerse them in the ocean of my mercy.”
Most Compassionate Jesus, You are the Light of the whole world. Receive into the abode
of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who as yet do not believe in You or
do not know You. Let the rays of Your Grace enlighten them that they, too, together with
us, may extol Your wonderful Mercy, and do not let them escape from the abode which is
Your Compassionate Heart. Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls who do
not believe in Your Son, and of those who as yet do not know You, but who are enclosed
in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Draw them to the light of the Gospel. These
souls do not know what great happiness it is to love You. Grant that they, too, may extol
the generosity of Your Mercy for endless ages. Amen

Fifth Day

Jesus said: “Today bring to me the souls who have separated from my Church and immerse
them in the ocean of my mercy. During my bitter passion they tore at my body and Heart,
that is, my Church. As they return to unity with the Church, my wounds heal, and in this
way they alleviate my passion.”
Most Merciful Jesus, Goodness Itself, You do not refuse light to those who seek it of You.
Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who have
separated from Your Church. Draw them by Your Light into the unity of the Church, and
do not let them escape from the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart; but bring it
about that they, too, come to glorify the generosity of Your Mercy. Eternal Father, turn

Your Merciful gaze upon the souls of those who are separated from Your Son’s Church,
especially those who have squandered Your Blessings and misused Your Graces by
obstinately persisting in their errors. Do not look upon their errors, but upon the love of
Your Own Son and upon His Bitter Passion, which He underwent for their sake, since they,
too, are enclosed in His Most Compassionate Heart. Bring it about that they may glorify
Your great Mercy for endless ages. Amen

Sixth Day

P
Jesus said: “Today bring to me the meek and humble souls and the souls of little children
and immerse them in my mercy. These souls most closely resemble my Heart. They
strengthened me during my bitter agony. I saw them as earthly angels, who will keep vigil
at my altars. I pour out upon them whole torrents of grace. Only the humble souls are
capable of receiving my grace. I favour humble souls with my confidence.”
Most Merciful Jesus, You Yourself have said “Learn from Me for I am meek and humble of
heart”. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart all meek and humble
souls and the souls of little children. These souls send all Heaven into ecstasy, and they are
the Heavenly Father’s favourites. They are a sweet-smelling bouquet before the Throne of
God; God Himself takes delight in their fragrance. These souls have a permanent abode in
Your Most Compassionate Heart, O Jesus, and they unceasingly sing out a hymn of love
and mercy. Eternal Father, turn Your Merciful gaze upon meek and humble souls and upon
the souls of little children, who are enfolded in the abode which is the Most Compassionate
Heart of Jesus. These souls bear the closest resemblance to Your Son. Their fragrance rises
from the earth and reaches Your very Throne. Father of Mercy and of all Goodness, I beg
You by the love You bear these souls and by the delight You take in them. Bless the whole
world, that all souls together may sing out the praises of Your Mercy for endless ages.
Amen

Seventh Day

Jesus said: “Today bring to me the souls who especially venerate and glorify my mercy and
immerse them in my mercy. These souls sorrowed most over my passion and entered most
deeply into my spirit. They are living images of my compassionate heart. These souls will
shine with a special brightness in the next life. Not one of them will go into the fire of hell.
I shall particularly defend each one of them at the hour of death.”
Most Merciful Jesus, whose Heart is Love Itself, receive into the abode of Your Most
Compassionate Heart the souls of those who particularly extol and venerate the greatness of
Your Mercy. These souls are mighty with the very power of God Himself. In the midst of
all afflictions and adversities they go forward confident of Your Mercy. These souls are
united to Jesus and carry all mankind on their shoulders. These souls will not be judged
severely, but Your Mercy will embrace them as they depart from this life. Eternal Father,
turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls who glorify and venerate Your greatest attribute,

that of Your fathomless Mercy, and who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of
Jesus. These souls are a living Gospel; their hands are full of deeds of mercy and their
spirits, overflowing with joy, sing a canticle of mercy to You, O Most High! I beg You O
God: show them Your Mercy according to the hope and trust they have placed in You. Let
there be accomplished in them the Promise of Jesus, who said to them that during their
life, but especially at the hour of death, the souls who will venerate this fathomless Mercy
of His, He, Himself, will defend as His Glory. Amen

Eighth Day

Jesus said: “Today bring to me the souls who are detained in purgatory and immerse them
in the abyss of my mercy. Let the torrents of my Blood cool down their scorching flames.
All these souls are really loved by me. They are making retribution to my justice. It is in
your power to bring them relief. Draw all indulgences from the treasury of my Church and
offer them on their behalf. Oh, if you only knew the torments they suffer, you would
continually offer for them the alms of the spirit and pay off their debt for my justice.”
Most Merciful Jesus, You Yourself have said that You desire mercy; so I bring into the
abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls in Purgatory, souls who are very dear
to You, and yet who must make retribution to Your Justice. May the streams of Blood and
Water which gushed forth from Your Heart put out the flames of the purifying fire, that in
that place, too, the Power of Your Mercy may be praised. Eternal Father, turn Your
Merciful gaze upon the souls suffering in Purgatory, who are enfolded in the Most
Compassionate Heart of Jesus. I beg You, by the sorrowful Passion of Jesus Your Son, and
by all the bitterness with which His most Sacred Soul was flooded, manifest Your Mercy to
the souls who are under Your Just Scrutiny. Look upon them in no other way than through
the Wounds of Jesus, Your Dearly Beloved Son; for we firmly believe that there is no limit
to Your Goodness and Compassion. Amen

Ninth Day

Jesus said: “Today bring to me souls who have become lukewarm and immerse them in the
abyss of my mercy. These souls wound my Heart most painfully. My soul suffered the most
dreadful loathing in the Garden of Olives because of lukewarm souls. They were the reason
I cried out: “Father, take this cup away from me, if it be Your will”. For them the last hope
of salvation is to run to my mercy.”
Most Compassionate Jesus, You are Compassion Itself. I bring lukewarm souls into the
abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart. In this fire of Your Pure Love let these tepid
souls, who, like corpses, filled You with such deep loathing, be once again set aflame. O
Most Compassionate Jesus, exercise the omnipotence of Your Mercy and draw them into
the very ardour of Your Love; and bestow upon them the gift of Holy Love, for nothing is
beyond Your power. Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon lukewarm souls who are
nonetheless enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Father of Mercy, I beg You by the bitter passion of Your Son and by His three-hour agony on the Cross, let them
too, glorify the Abyss of Your Mercy. Amen

When you go to confession, to this fountain of mercy, the Blood and Water which came
forth from My Heart always flow down upon your soul…

In the Tribunal of Mercy [the
sacrament of Reconciliation]…the greatest miracles take place and are incessantly
repeated…

Here the misery of the soul meets the God of Mercy..
Come with faith to the feet of My representative…

I myself am waiting there for you.

I am only hidden by the priest…

I Myself act in your soul… Make your confession before Me.

The person of the priest is, for Me, only a screen.

Never analyze what sort of a priest it is that I am making use of; open your soul in confession as you would to Me, and I will fill it
with My light…

Were a soul like a decaying corpse, so that from a human standpoint, there would be no hope of restoration and everything would already be lost, it is not so with God.

The miracle of Divine Mercy restores that soul in full… From this fount of mercy souls draw graces solely worth the vessel of trust. If their trust is great, there is no limit to My
generosity.

Our Lord has made the reception of the Eucharist and Reconciliation necessary for obtaining His promise of complete forgiveness of sins and punishment for those observing
the Feast of Mercy. And Pope John Paul II, who has repeatedly stressed the importance of God’s message of mercy, has exhorted us that,

“The Church of the new Advent…must be
the Church of the Eucharist and of Penance” (Redemptor Hominis).

Prayer of consecration to the Divine Mercy Jesus, the Divine Mercy, I consecrate my entire life,
from this day on, to You without reserve Into Your hands I abandon my past, my present and my future
from this day forward, make me a true follower of Your teaching
Let Your Divine Mercy Image, protect my home
and my family from all the powers of evil in this world today.
May all who venerate it never perish,
may it be their joy in life, their hope in death,
and their glory in eternity. Amen.
Prayer to Divine Mercy for the unborno
For all helpless, little children who die in the womb of their mother, I pray that all of these
little souls will be given eternal life by Our Lord, Jesus Christ, through his Divine Mercy
and I beg Jesus that He shows His Mercy also to the parents of these children, especially to
the mothers, who don’t know what they are doing. Lord, enlighten them and give them a

6
deeper understanding of the value and beauty of life. May Your Divine Mercy forgive them
all the hurt they have caused and show them the way of eternal life. Amen.

THE CHAPLET OF THE DIVINE MERCY

Opening Prayer

You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed for souls, and
an ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world.

O Fount of
Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and
empty yourself out upon us.
O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of
Jesus as a fount of mercy for us. I trust in You!

Begin with the
Sign of the Cross,
1 Our Father,
1 Hail Mary
The Apostles Creed.


Then on the Our Father Beads say the following:


Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved
Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.

On the 10 Hail Mary Beads say the following:
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
(Repeat step 2 and 3 for all five decades).


Conclude with (three times):


Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole
world.

Closing Prayer

Eternal God, in whom Mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion inexhaustible, look
kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not
despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your Holy
Will, which is Love and Mercy itself.

St. Faustina’s Praises of God’s Mercy

Saint Faustina’s Praises of the Mercy of GodThe love of God is the flower – Mercy the fruit. Let the doubting soul read these considerations on Divine Mercy and become trusting:Divine Mercy, gushing forth from the bosom of the Father,
I trust in You.Divine Mercy, greatest attribute of God,
I trust in You.Divine Mercy, incomprehensible mystery,
I trust in You.Divine Mercy, fount gushing forth from the mystery of the Most Blessed Trinity
I trust in You.Divine Mercy, unfathomable by any intellect human or angelic,
I trust in You.Divine Mercy, from which wells forth all life and happiness,
I trust in You.Divine Mercy, better than the heavens,
I trust in You.Divine Mercy, source of miracles and wonders,
I trust in You.Divine Mercy, encompassing the whole universe,
I trust in You.Divine Mercy, descending to earth in the Person of the Incarnate Word,
I trust in You.Divine Mercy which flowed out from the open wound of the Heart of Jesus,
I trust in You.Divine Mercy enclosed in the Heart of Jesus for us and especially for sinners,
I trust in You.Divine Mercy unfathomed in the institution of the Sacred Heart,
I trust in You.

Divine Mercy, in the founding of the Holy Church,
I trust in You.Divine Mercy, in the sacrament of Holy Baptism,
I trust in You.Divine Mercy, in our justification through Jesus Christ,
I trust in You.Divine Mercy, accompanying us through our whole life,
I trust in You.Divine Mercy, embracing us especially at the hour of death,
I trust in You.Divine Mercy, endowing us with immortal life,
I trust in You.Divine Mercy, accompanying us every moment of our life,
I trust in You.Divine Mercy, shielding us from the fire of hell,
I trust in You.Divine Mercy, in the conversion of hardened sinners,
I trust in You.Divine Mercy, astonishment for angels, incomprehensible to saints,
I trust in You.Divine Mercy, unfathomed in all the mysteries of God,
I trust in You.Divine Mercy, lifting us out of every misery,
I trust in You.Divine Mercy, source of our happiness and joy,
I trust in You.Divine Mercy, in calling us forth from nothingness to existence,
I trust in You.Divine Mercy, embracing all the works of His hands,
I trust in You.Divine Mercy, crown of all God’s handy work,
I trust in You.Divine Mercy, in which we are all immersed,
I trust in You.Divine Mercy, sweet relief for anguished hearts,
I trust in You.Divine Mercy, only hope of despairing souls,
I trust in You.Divine Mercy, repose of hearts, peace amidst fear,
I trust in You.Divine Mercy, delight and ecstasy of holy souls,
I trust in You.Divine Mercy, inspiring hope against all hope,
I trust in You.Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your Holy Will, which is Love and Mercy itself.

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Posted byajayjavalkarFebruary 21, 2021Posted inPietyLeave a commenton Divine Mercy Chaplet in Malayalam

Psalm of King David Prayers

1 Chronicles 29New International Version

Gifts for Building the Temple

29 Then King David said to the whole assembly: “My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is young and inexperienced. The task is great, because this palatial structure is not for man but for the Lord God.

 2 With all my resources I have provided for the temple of my God—gold for the gold work, silver for the silver, bronze for the bronze, iron for the iron and wood for the wood, as well as onyx for the settings, turquoise,[a] stones of various colors, and all kinds of fine stone and marble—all of these in large quantities.

3 Besides, in my devotion to the temple of my God I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver for the temple of my God, over and above everything I have provided for this holy temple:

4 three thousand talents[b] of gold (gold of Ophir) and seven thousand talents[c] of refined silver, for the overlaying of the walls of the buildings,

 5 for the gold work and the silver work, and for all the work to be done by the craftsmen. Now, who is willing to consecrate themselves to the Lord today?”

6 Then the leaders of families, the officers of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of the king’s work gave willingly.

7 They gave toward the work on the temple of God five thousand talents[d] and ten thousand darics[e] of gold, ten thousand talents[f] of silver, eighteen thousand talents[g] of bronze and a hundred thousand talents[h] of iron.

8 Anyone who had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the temple of the Lord in the custody of Jehiel the Gershonite.

9 The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly.

David’s Prayer

10 David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying,

“Praise be to you, Lord,
the God of our father Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.
11 Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power
and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, Lord, is the kingdom;
you are exalted as head over all.
12 Wealth and honor come from you;
you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power
to exalt and give strength to all.
13 Now, our God, we give you thanks,
and praise your glorious name.

14 “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.

15 We are foreigners and strangers in your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope.

16 Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you.

17 I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you.

18 Lord, the God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep these desires and thoughts in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you.

 19 And give my son Solomon the wholehearted devotion to keep your commands, statutes and decrees and to do everything to build the palatial structure for which I have provided.”

20 Then David said to the whole assembly, “Praise the Lord your God.” So they all praised the Lord, the God of their fathers; they bowed down, prostrating themselves before the Lord and the king

4 Ways God Protected David (And Might Protect You)

God offers protection to His people, often in the form of other people.

As a young hero David quickly became despised by the jealous King Saul.

His victory over Goliath had propelled him into the minds of Israel, a reality Saul grew increasingly uncomfortable with.

This, of course, culminated with Saul’s attempts at taking David’s life.

Psalm 59 is a beautiful song where David recounts God’s faithfulness in protecting him from the hand of Saul during a time when Saul tried to kill him in his own house.

Over and over again in that simple song David credits God as His protector. He concluded the song by singing, “You, O God, are my fortress” (Psalm 59:17).

1 Samuel 19 is a wonderful chapter that gives us the background to David’s song (Psalm 59).

It is here we discover that, while God was the ultimate one to protect David, He offered that protection through people He had placed in David’s life. Here is a list of who protected David, along with how they protected him.

I believe God longs to use similar relationships to protect us today.

1 A Friend – Jonathan

Jonathan first protected David by giving him wise counsel. Good Christians will wisely select their friends, friends who are able to counsel them from the Scripture.

“The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray” (Proverbs 12:26).

Jonathan also protected David by going to his father and pleading on David’s behalf. This type of action is often called intercession in the Bible. Intercession is, of course, a wonderful picture of prayer. It is good for Christians to select friends in their lives who will pray and intercede for them before God.

2 A Wife – Michal

David had a far from perfect relationship with his first wife, Michal, but in this story she protects him wonderfully. She does this first by honoring her husband. Instead of siding with her father, Saul, by delivering David into his hand, she sides with her new husband.

She also helped David escape. She let him down through a window. She took an image and some goats hair and made it look like David was in his bed sleeping. She even made excuses for David when the messengers of Saul arrived. She helped her husband. Good men will allow their wives to help them become better men.See this form in the original post

3 A Mentor – Samuel

David, in fleeing, ran directly to Samuel. Samuel was the old prophet and priest of Israel. He had anointed David as its future King. Samuel would provide spiritual counsel and advice to David. Samuel could speak into David’s life like no one else could.

It is good, as a Christian, to have spiritual leaders in our lives who are willing to tell us the difficult things. Samuel could provide something for David that Jonathan and Michal couldn’t.

4 The Supernatural – The Spirit

At the end of 1 Samuel 19 we discover a wild story where the Spirit of God intercedes and protects David. It is not a stretch to say that this protection was both spiritual and supernatural. When we cry out to God for his protection, we are open to the idea that, as we are spiritual men and women, God may provide and protect us in very supernatural ways, seen and unseen. We do not, after all, “wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers of darkness,” so it should come as no surprise that we look to God’s unseen protection in that spiritual realm (Ephesians 6:12).

To David, all of this was from God. In reflecting upon this chapter in his life, he could only confess “God is my defense.” (Psalm 59:17, NKJV). Let us allow God to protect us through the people He has placed in our lives

God offers protection to His people, often in the form of other people.

As a young hero David quickly became despised by the jealous King Saul. His victory over Goliath had propelled him into the minds of Israel, a reality Saul grew increasingly uncomfortable with. This, of course, culminated with Saul’s attempts at taking David’s life.

Psalm 59 is a beautiful song where David recounts God’s faithfulness in protecting him from the hand of Saul during a time when Saul tried to kill him in his own house. Over and over again in that simple song David credits God as His protector. He concluded the song by singing, “You, O God, are my fortress” (Psalm 59:17).

1 Samuel 19 is a wonderful chapter that gives us the background to David’s song (Psalm 59). It is here we discover that, while God was the ultimate one to protect David, He offered that protection through people He had placed in David’s life. Here is a list of who protected David, along with how they protected him.

I believe God longs to use similar relationships to protect us today.

1 A Friend – Jonathan

Jonathan first protected David by giving him wise counsel. Good Christians will wisely select their friends, friends who are able to counsel them from the Scripture. “The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray” (Proverbs 12:26).

Jonathan also protected David by going to his father and pleading on David’s behalf. This type of action is often called intercession in the Bible. Intercession is, of course, a wonderful picture of prayer. It is good for Christians to select friends in their lives who will pray and intercede for them before God.

2 A Wife – Michal

David had a far from perfect relationship with his first wife, Michal, but in this story she protects him wonderfully. She does this first by honoring her husband. Instead of siding with her father, Saul, by delivering David into his hand, she sides with her new husband.

She also helped David escape. She let him down through a window. She took an image and some goats hair and made it look like David was in his bed sleeping. She even made excuses for David when the messengers of Saul arrived. She helped her husband. Good men will allow their wives to help them become better men.See this form in the original post

3 A Mentor – Samuel

David, in fleeing, ran directly to Samuel. Samuel was the old prophet and priest of Israel. He had anointed David as its future King. Samuel would provide spiritual counsel and advice to David. Samuel could speak into David’s life like no one else could.

It is good, as a Christian, to have spiritual leaders in our lives who are willing to tell us the difficult things. Samuel could provide something for David that Jonathan and Michal couldn’t.

4 The Supernatural – The Spirit

At the end of 1 Samuel 19 we discover a wild story where the Spirit of God intercedes and protects David. It is not a stretch to say that this protection was both spiritual and supernatural. When we cry out to God for his protection, we are open to the idea that, as we are spiritual men and women, God may provide and protect us in very supernatural ways, seen and unseen. We do not, after all, “wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers of darkness,” so it should come as no surprise that we look to God’s unseen protection in that spiritual realm (Ephesians 6:12).

To David, all of this was from God. In reflecting upon this chapter in his life, he could only confess “God is my defense.” (Psalm 59:17, NKJV). Let us allow God to protect us through the people He has placed in our lives

God offers protection to His people, often in the form of other people.

As a young hero David quickly became despised by the jealous King Saul. His victory over Goliath had propelled him into the minds of Israel, a reality Saul grew increasingly uncomfortable with. This, of course, culminated with Saul’s attempts at taking David’s life.

Psalm 59 is a beautiful song where David recounts God’s faithfulness in protecting him from the hand of Saul during a time when Saul tried to kill him in his own house. Over and over again in that simple song David credits God as His protector. He concluded the song by singing, “You, O God, are my fortress” (Psalm 59:17).

1 Samuel 19 is a wonderful chapter that gives us the background to David’s song (Psalm 59). It is here we discover that, while God was the ultimate one to protect David, He offered that protection through people He had placed in David’s life. Here is a list of who protected David, along with how they protected him.

I believe God longs to use similar relationships to protect us today.

1 A Friend – Jonathan

Jonathan first protected David by giving him wise counsel. Good Christians will wisely select their friends, friends who are able to counsel them from the Scripture. “The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray” (Proverbs 12:26).

Jonathan also protected David by going to his father and pleading on David’s behalf. This type of action is often called intercession in the Bible. Intercession is, of course, a wonderful picture of prayer. It is good for Christians to select friends in their lives who will pray and intercede for them before God.

2 A Wife – Michal

David had a far from perfect relationship with his first wife, Michal, but in this story she protects him wonderfully. She does this first by honoring her husband. Instead of siding with her father, Saul, by delivering David into his hand, she sides with her new husband.

She also helped David escape. She let him down through a window. She took an image and some goats hair and made it look like David was in his bed sleeping. She even made excuses for David when the messengers of Saul arrived. She helped her husband. Good men will allow their wives to help them become better men.See this form in the original post

3 A Mentor – Samuel

David, in fleeing, ran directly to Samuel. Samuel was the old prophet and priest of Israel. He had anointed David as its future King. Samuel would provide spiritual counsel and advice to David. Samuel could speak into David’s life like no one else could.

It is good, as a Christian, to have spiritual leaders in our lives who are willing to tell us the difficult things. Samuel could provide something for David that Jonathan and Michal couldn’t.

4 The Supernatural – The Spirit

At the end of 1 Samuel 19 we discover a wild story where the Spirit of God intercedes and protects David. It is not a stretch to say that this protection was both spiritual and supernatural. When we cry out to God for his protection, we are open to the idea that, as we are spiritual men and women, God may provide and protect us in very supernatural ways, seen and unseen. We do not, after all, “wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers of darkness,” so it should come as no surprise that we look to God’s unseen protection in that spiritual realm (Ephesians 6:12).

To David, all of this was from God. In reflecting upon this chapter in his life, he could only confess “God is my defense.” (Psalm 59:17, NKJV). Let us allow God to protect us through the people He has placed in our lives

There are nine prayers in the book of First Chronicles. Covering the time from Adam through King David, all of the prayers but one occur during David’s kingship.

Two things stand out about these prayers. First, unless many of the prayers in previous books, these are mainly prayers of praise and thanksgiving. The author wishes to emphasize the goodness of God towards David and Israel, and choosing praise that does so is part of that theme.

Second, the prayers are good examples of how to mix the various types of prayers in a meaningful and purposeful way. They help us to think through how and what we prayer, and contribute to the richness of our prayer lives.

The first prayer appears in the extensive genealogy, during a description of the leaders of the tribe of Gad (“What is “Success” in Prayer and Faith? (1 Chron 5.20b)”). They are victorious because they petitioned God and trusted him.

Like the history of David in First and Second Kings, David often turns to God in prayer. His first prayer is a petition, during the time of his battles against the Philistines. He turns to God to ask if and when he should attack. (“Finding Victory in Seeking and Following God (1 Chron 14.10, 14)”).

Another prayer of David is a long prayer of thanksgiving, offered in response to God’s promise to make David a successful king and to bless his descendants and Israel. (“How to Pray a Prayer of Praise #1 (1 Chron 16.8-36)” and “How to Pray a Prayer of Praise #2 (1 Chron 16.8-36)”).

Unlike many of the prayers of the Old Testament that we have studied so far, David’s prayers are often combinations of types of prayer:

He appoints Levites offer praises and a thanksgiving before the Ark of the Covenant (“God of Fear? Or God of Compassion? (1 Chron 16.4)”.)
He offers a praise and then a petition when God tells him that his son will build a Temple. (“Responding to God’s Goodness with Prayer (1 Chron 17.16-27)”).
He offers a prayer of confession and praise when God rebukes him for trusting in the power of his army rather than God. (“What to pray when God makes others suffer for my sin (1 Chron 21.8, 17)”).
A thanksgiving and praise in is order when David organizes the temple musicians to lead in worship. (“Seeking a rich prayer life? Combine it with music! (1 Chron 25.3)”).
Finally, David offers a prayer of praise, intercession, and thanksgiving after the people of Israel give generously for the building of the Temple. (“How to praise, thank, and ask God (1 Chron 29.10-19, 20)”).

These prayers demonstrate the richness of prayer in how we offer them, how we structure them, and when we offer them. Along the way, we have learned about faithfulness, success in prayer, responses to God’s goodness (and judgment), and even how to use music in prayer

Most of the recorded prayers of David, except for his Psalms of prayer, are very short and specific. They teach us how to pray definitely and specifically.

1 Samuel 23: 2-4

Therefore David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” And the LORD said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines, and save Keilah.” 3 But David’s men said to him, “Look, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?” (Continue reading from your Bible.)

1 Samuel 23: 9-12

When David knew that Saul plotted evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.” 10 Then David said, “O LORD God of Israel, Your servant has certainly heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah to destroy the city for my sake. (Continue reading from your Bible.)

In the above prayers David and his men were being hunted down by Saul and his troops, and were in danger of their lives. Here David demonstrates his humility by putting aside his own fears as he sought to help his neighbors—the people in the city of Keilah. For the Philistines had attacked their city and were plundering their threshing floors.

So David, disregarding his own needs and fears, thought more about what God wanted him to do—whether he should go and try to deliver the people of Keilah, or not. And so he inquired of the Lord, saying, “‘Shall I go and attack these Philistines?’ And the Lord said to David, ‘Go and attack the Philistines, and deliver Keilah.’”

Notice how direct and specific David’s prayer was, and also how clear God’s answer was. But notice also that God did not guarantee that he would be victorious. He simply directed him to attack the Philistines and deliver (or try to deliver) Keilah. He gave a direct answer to David’s direct prayer—no more. In other words, David didn’t ask God if he would be victorious, so God didn’t tell him.

But we see in verse three that when David’s men indicated that they were afraid, David inquired of the Lord again, and this time God gave David assurance that He and his men would be victorious.

Well, as it happened, David went and delivered Keilah. And when Saul found out that David and his men were in the city, he began to plot against him, thinking that he would trap him in the city.

When David discovered that Saul was plotting against him, he didn’t know exactly what to do, because he didn’t know what Saul was thinking and he wasn’t sure what the people of Keilah would do if Saul came. So he prayed and asked God the two questions that were on his mind (vv. 10-12): (1) Will Saul come down after me? And (2) will the men of Keilah surrender me into Saul’s hands?

Here we see David’s very direct and bold prayer—for he asked God to tell him the future! Well, God answered his prayer. He told him that Saul would certainly come down, and that the men of Keilah were intending to surrender him over to Saul. So, with that answer, David and his men departed from Keilah and escaped from Saul’s pursuit.

INTRODUCTION

David was the eighth and youngest son of Jesse the Bethlehemite and as Alexander Maclaren remarks, “It was a prophetic instinct which made Jesse call his youngest boy by a name apparently before unused – David, Beloved” for down the ages the shepherd lad who became king has indeed been beloved by the people of God everywhere.

It may seem a rather cold thing to try to analyse the prayers of the sweet psalmist of Israel and perhaps an in-depth consideration of this good man’s prayers would read almost like another commentary on his many psalms. Indeed so many of David’s psalms have the character of a prayer that it would be, in the space of this short meditation, a practical impossibility to consider them all. Yet, since so many of his prayers have been recorded in other places too, and preserved for us, there must be a reason. There must be some spiritual guidance and profit for us in the reading and consideration of David’s prayers so that we are surely justified in this present exercise.

The expression which heads this article, “the prayers of David”, is found only once in Scripture, in Ps.72.20, which, significantly, is not only the closing verse of this delightful millennial Psalm but also the closing verse of the Second Book of Psalms (Psalms 42-72). Psalm 72 is the ultimate, a companion to Psalm 24, a crescendo in which are foretold the glories of the coming reign of Messiah, the greater Son of David, and when the conditions here described are realised David has nothing more to pray for. The end of all his prayers is the enthronement and rule of the Son of David on the very earth in which He was once rejected and crucified. In anticipation, the Psalmist has sung of these days and when once they come to pass “the prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended”. He can ask no more; he desires no more.

THE SCOPE OF DAVID’S PRAYERS

In a letter to Timothy, Paul writes “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men” 1Tim.2.1. Most expositors will admit to a difficulty in defining any major difference between these four words, supplications, prayers, intercessions, giving of thanks. Perhaps there is an overlapping but they do intimate different aspects of prayer. “Supplication” suggests an earnest pleading in view of some particular need. “Prayers” appears to be a more general word signifying a communing with God concerning matters of all kinds. “Intercessions”, as the prefix “inter” indicates, is a making of request on behalf of others, intervening for them in prayer. “Giving of thanks” needs no explanation.

It has been helpfully suggested that prayer is a man upon his knees; supplication is a man upon his face; intercession is a man upon his feet with hands upraised to heaven; giving of thanks is a man seated, with head bowed in sincere gratitude before God. Some have seen in the four words a suggestion of the four ingredients of the holy incense of Ex.30.34, where galbanum, stacte, onycha and frankincense combine in a sweet fragrance for God’s pleasure.

David knew all of these exercises, and more besides. Some of his prayers were personal, some were prophetical; some were practical, and some were devotional; others, sadly, had to be confessional or penitential, acknowledging shortcoming and sin. Some were for himself or his family, especially for Solomon, some were for his friends, and some for the nation. Then at times David’s prayers were, like some of his psalms, imprecatory, calling for judgment on his many enemies. The “man after God’s own heart” Acts 13.22, seemed to be constantly in communion with the Lord about some matter, anxious to do God’s will, and his psalms are permeated with his prayers. His prayers were not sporadic for as he says himself, “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice” Ps.55.17. How very like that other man of prayer, Daniel, of whom it is written, “his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God” Dan.6.10. What examples!

DAVID’S FIRST RECORDED PRAYER

Perhaps it is not without significance that David’s earliest recorded prayers concern conflict with his enemies the Philistines. “Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors. Therefore David inquired of the LORD saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines?” 1Sam.23.1,2. Two verses later we read “Then David inquired of the LORD yet again”. David was indeed “a man of war” 1Sam.16.18, and sadly, while he fought so valiantly for Israel, it was this very thing that denied him the privilege of building the temple. As he himself records, “God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for My name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood” 1Chron.28.3. Ever after, so many of David’s prayers have this character, asking for help and guidance in conflict. A similar prayer is recorded in 2Sam.5.19, “And David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt Thou deliver them into mine hand?” And the LORD said unto David, “Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.”” Again and again we read that David enquired of the LORD. At times he was answered immediately, and at times, as it is with ourselves, perhaps the answer was not what David expected, or wanted. When later the Philistines had come against him again we read, “When David inquired of the LORD, He said, “Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees”” 2Sam.5.23. How good to obey, even when the directions may seem strange to us.

INTELLIGENCE AND REVERENCE

Every exercised believer must surely desire to be both intelligent and reverent in drawing near to God, and such features are very evident in David’s address to Divine persons. His intelligent use of appropriate Divine titles does, in fact, indicate reverence and in our modern age we can certainly learn from David’s example in this respect.

Elohim

How often does he exclaim “O God” as he approaches in prayer. “God” is, in the Hebrew, Elohim. It is the first Divine name used in our Bible, Gen.1.1. It is a plural name signifying One Who is not only mighty but almighty, absolutely supreme in His might. More than one hundred and forty times in the Psalms does David employ this great name. How this should engender confidence in us, to know that in prayer we come to the supreme and all-powerful Elohim. Of course we know that He is our Father, and this brings Him very near to us, but nevertheless, our Father is the mighty Elohim, Creator of the universe. How we should trust Him, as David did. And then, again, David often exclaims “O my God”. The personal pronoun “my” made Elohim very relevant to him and we can almost feel the pathos when he cries, again and again, “O my God [my Elohim]”.

Jehovah

Whether David actually and literally pronounced the great name “Jehovah” we cannot tell. Today Jews regard it as the unpronounceable name. Neither will they even write it in its fullness, but certainly David did in some way use or imply the great name and he employs it several hundred times in his psalms. And again, as with Elohim, he at times prefixes the name with the pronoun and cries “O my Jehovah“. As we contemplate David’s intelligent and reverent use of Divine titles in a past dispensation, how grateful we ought to be who sing, with greater light than David,

So near to God, so very near,

Nearer we cannot be,

For in the Person of His Son

We are as near as He.

 (C. Paget)

For believers of the present age Elohim is not distant! Jehovah is not remote! Remembering our privilege, we draw near with boldness, but remembering Divine greatness we draw near with becoming reverence.

Jehovah El

This title emphasises David’s intelligence in his prayers when, again and again he appeals to, “LORD God”, as for example in Ps.31.5. Here “LORD” is Jehovah and God is El (see Strong 410). This combination of titles conveys both the all-sufficiency and the strength of David’s God. We cannot believe that he used these titles indiscriminately, or at random, but with reverent intelligence, and it is touching to remember that the verse referred to above, Ps.31.5, was that used by the Lord Jesus in His last breath at Golgotha when He said “Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit” Lk.23.46, and was it in the mind of Stephen too in the hour of his stoning, Acts 7.59? David did not know God as Father for that relationship came later with the resurrection of Christ and the coming of the indwelling Spirit. Calvary and Pentecost have made such a difference! Nevertheless, David did know a Fatherly care. He appreciated that but addressed His prayers to Jehovah, to Elohim, or to El.

THE PRAYER OF THE PENITENT

It is difficult to imagine a greater extreme than that between the prayers of the man of war and the prayers and confession of David the penitent. What a difference in the atmosphere, the language and the heartfelt appeal. David had sinned grievously. He had broken the tenth, the seventh, and the sixth commandments in that order. The man who had subdued Philistines, Syrians, Amalekites, Ammonites, Moabites, and Edomites, could not subdue his own passions. Idleness and sloth had led to covetousness, adultery, pretence, hypocrisy and murder. The man who had slain a lion, a bear, and a giant, had now been slain himself by his own unbridled lust. Poor David! The nation was singing his psalms but he was sobbing out his remorse. Let those who would be judgmental and critical of him first read Psalm 51 before voicing any cruel criticism. This is the sad prayer of a thoroughly repentant David and what an example for any believer with sin to confess.

David unreservedly acknowledges his sin. He acknowledges too the enormity of it. Of course he had sinned against Uriah, against Bathsheba, against his family and against the nation, but such is the enormity of his sin that he exclaims, “Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned” Ps.51.4. His sin was a deliberate transgression of Jehovah’s known law. It was not a sin of ignorance. It was rebellion and was therefore primarily a sin against God. If others were affected by his sin, and they were, that was grievous, but sinning against the God Whom he knew was the ultimate wrong. He uses the three great terms to describe his sin, calling it “my transgressions, my sin, my iniquity”. His confession is completely unreserved.

The prophet Nathan has reproved him and he bows to the reproof. He offers no excuse and makes no request for leniency. He desires deliverance from bloodguiltiness and pleads only the loving kindness and tender mercies of God as he asks “wash me; cleanse me; purge me”. Notice the relative absence of Divine names and titles in the penitential Psalm 51. Only six times in nineteen verses does David use the title Elohim and once only he uses the title Adonai. This is simply “Lord”, and is the title that Jews will use in their liturgies as a substitute for Jehovah. Do we sense an estrangement from his God here? How he dreads being left in his guilt. If the joy of salvation is not restored to him it will affect his testimony to sinners and will affect also the blessing of Zion. His only hope is in the magnanimity of the God of his salvation. If He in the great goodness of His heart would hear the confession of His servant and pardon his sin then all would be restored to what it had been.

Note that David confesses “I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me” Ps.51.5. He had been born in sin and had inherited a sinful nature but he does not use this as an excuse for what he had done. He had sinned wilfully and his sin weighed upon his conscience; it was ever before him. He pleads “Wash me; cleanse me; purge me” because he feels like an unclean leper or like a soiled garment. He was stained and broken, but he prays what the believer in this age cannot pray when he pleads, “Take not Thy Holy Spirit from me” v.11. We have an indwelling gracious Spirit Who will never leave us. Otherwise, what an example for us when we sin! Let us bring a full, frank and sincere acknowledgement of the wrong, casting ourselves unreservedly upon Him Who is not only faithful in His judgment of sin but faithful also in forgiving the true penitent. In the blessings of our salvation in this New Testament era we do not need to beg for forgiveness, for “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” 1Jn.1.9, and in the Lord Jesus we have an Advocate, a Comforter Who will assist us back into communion with the Father Whom we have grieved, 1Jn.2.1. But when we remember that the man after God’s own heart could sin so grievously how it behoves us to pray as he did, “Preserve me, O God: for in Thee do I put my trust” Ps.16.1.

Psalm 32 is an associate Psalm with Psalm 51, believed to have been written after David’s restoration following his sin with Bathsheba. This is one of thirteen Maschil Psalms, which word means “instruction”, and who better to give instruction regarding sin, confession and restoration than the man who has been there. David reminisces. He remembers the pain of those days subsequent to his sin and prior to his forgiveness. Alternatively he suffered in pained silence or else groaned aloud in anguish under the hand of God. Inwardly his conscience was heavily burdened and outwardly his very physical frame was affected. Day and night he suffered in deep conviction about what he had done, until, as he says, “I acknowledged my sin unto Thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin” Ps.32.5. How sincere was his confession, for there followed immediately the “Selah”. There was pardon, peace and praise and he cries “Thou art my hiding place”. Now he can revel in the blessedness of forgiveness, for his transgression is forgiven and his sin is covered. This is blessedness indeed, true happiness. Now there are songs of deliverance and the psalm ends with shouts of joy.

David would teach us, from painful experience, the cost of sinning against the Lord, and the foolishness, when we have sinned, of trying to conceal it, or of remaining in silence and in stubborn refusal to freely acknowledge our sin. Still today there is blessedness in that true confession which is the prelude to forgiveness and restoration into the joy of communion. How instructive are David’s prayers!

THE PRAYERS OF THE FUGITIVE

David had two periods in his life when he was an exile and a fugitive. He was of course a fugitive from the jealous Saul who lived in fear of David’s accession to the throne. Saul hunted David “as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains” 1Sam.26.20. David sojourned in the wilderness of Ziph, several miles south-east of Hebron, where on more than one occasion he spared Saul’s life when he could very easily have slain him. Most honourably he refused to harm him whom he called “the LORD’S anointed” v.11.

But undoubtedly David’s most painful period of exile was when he had to flee Jerusalem from his own son Absalom. Absalom was a usurper, a rebel, assuming the throne which belonged to his father. With his life in danger David fled and with head covered and feet bare he crossed the brook Kidron over to the mount of Olives with some faithful followers. He sent the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem and began his sad exile in the Judean wilderness. He was, as Maclaren says, a “discrowned King”, and it was during this period that several of his psalms were born, incorporating in them some touching prayers of the fugitive.

The first of these is Psalm 3, where the superscription distinctly tells us that it was composed “when he fled from Absalom his son”. It commences with a heartfelt cry to Jehovah, “LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! Many are they that rise up against me.” Absalom had, by guile, gathered so many around him and such was David’s position now that they said “There is no help for him in God”. But in his lament there is hope too and he could exclaim “But Thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head”. He confidently believed that the Lord would protect him like a shield, so that he would yet lift up his bowed head and be returned to his former glory. Confident that the Lord would both preserve and deliver him, he could lie down and sleep. He could not trust and fear at the same time so he says calmly, “I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me … I will not be afraid” Ps.3.5,6. Jehovah was mightier than his foes.

Psalms 3 and 4 form a pair. Continuing his confession in Psalm 4 David now pleads “Hear me when I call”, and his appeal is to Him Whom he calls “O God of my righteousness”. He recognises his own unrighteousness. In his distress he freely acknowledges this and his plea is to the righteous One by Whom righteousness can be restored. David has been sore pressed by the remembrance of his sin and the trauma of his conviction and confession, and he now says, in Mr. Darby’s beautiful rendering of Ps.4.1, “In pressure Thou hast enlarged me”. Pressure usually constricts and suppresses but the pressure of all that he has been through since the prophet Nathan challenged him has had the effect of enlarging David’s thoughts of God. He can only ask for mercy and grace but such is his confidence as to Jehovah’s mercy that he concludes his prayer saying, “Thou hast put gladness in my heart” and yet again he declares, “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for Thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety” vv.7,8. Jehovah is his strength and in Him he can rest in confidence, and sleep in safety from those who hunt him.

CONFESSION AND MEDITATION

Although it is not specifically stated in the psalm it is generally believed that Psalm 25 is also related to David’s sin and confession. As in the great penitential Psalm 51, David again appeals to “the God of my salvation”. He speaks of pardon and preservation, of tender mercies and loving kindnesses, and he asks for leading and guiding. He professes his trust in Him Who can deliver him from his enemies. There are many, he says, who hate him without a cause, and he appeals to his God for necessary help in his affliction. How fully submissive he is in his contrition as he appeals to Jehovah, “Show me … lead me … teach me … I trust in Thee”. How relevant are these requests for present day believers. If, however, the requests are really genuine then the suppliant must be prepared to accept and act upon the Divine answers. Whatever He may show me; wherever He may lead me; whatever truth He may teach me, I must trust and be willing to accept His plan for me. It is the way to blessing and as believers often sing:

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way

To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

 (J. H. Sammis)

MY STRENGTH; MY SHIELD; MY SONG

In Psalm 28 David’s plea continues and he now dreads the awful consequence if Jehovah does not answer. “Unto Thee will I cry, O LORD my rock”. Already, in Psalm 18 David has used this great title of God, “My Rock”, and associated with that title so many other titles of Jehovah, so comforting to a fugitive, as he then was, “The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in Whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.” What strength is depicted in all of these reverent descriptions of God and what comfort for a fugitive.

But what a tragedy if Jehovah failed to answer! “Be not silent to me: lest, if Thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit”. What a tragedy indeed it would be for any saint if Jehovah remained silent and did not answer! David fears that in such circumstances he would become just like the masses. They are workers of iniquity who with their tongues speak peace but in their hearts devise mischief. It is pretence; it is hypocrisy, and he has had enough of that. He had behaved exactly as the workers of iniquity “which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts” Ps.28.3. David had indeed spoken of peace to Uriah while at the same time he was devising mischief in his heart towards him. “Shalom”, he had said to Uriah while plotting his death. “And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him how Joab did (shalom), and how the people did (shalom), and how the war prospered (shalom)” 2Sam.11.7. It cost him the joy of his salvation and his usefulness as a testimony for God. David sinned in his weakness but the Lord was his strength and he will go to Him.

Now, forgiven, David can sincerely pray for his people, whom he calls “Thy people, Thine inheritance”. “Save them”, he prays; “bless them; feed them; lift them up.” “The LORD is my strength” he has just said, v.7, and now he says, “The LORD is their strength” v.8. Being now himself right with God, David’s concern is for the nation.

THE FUGITIVE IN THE WILDERNESS

Psalm 63 was born during David’s exile in the wilderness and his physical condition and surroundings were but a reflection of his inner feelings. Waking early in the morning in a dry and thirsty land he had strong desires and longings. Physically he must have yearned for water and for food but his physical desires were little compared with his longing to see the power and the glory of the sanctuary which now must have seemed so far away. But the loving kindness of the mighty Elohim was better than life itself and he would never cease to offer praise. While he lived he would daily bless the Lord. Early in the morning he would offer his praises and even upon his bed in the night watches he would meditate on the Lord. In spite of his unfavourable circumstances in this inhospitable wilderness he could say: “Because Thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of Thy wings will I rejoice.” Like a little bird he could nestle in the shadow of Jehovah’s wings. There he was assured of safety and shelter, and there he could rest, protected, contented, and satisfied. What an exhilarating example David has left us. Most of us live in much better conditions than this poor fugitive, but even in our days of darkness and sorrow or in our seasons of loneliness we do well to imitate this good man and keep on praising.

For a moment he thinks of his enemies. They will go into judgment. They will fall by the sword, but he will rejoice. He remembers, even in his imposed exile, that he is the king, and that the right hand of the Lord will uphold him. Let us, like David, fill our prayers with praises and keep on rejoicing.

While many of David’s prayers have the kingdom, and the nation, in view, yet he also does pray much for himself. In Psalm 31 he speaks of “my trust; my trouble: my times”. He recognises that his times are in the hand of the Lord, but even in such times, ordered by Jehovah, there are troubles, and in such troublous circumstances he must trust. “Be Thou my strong rock” he cries again, and once more he introduces a lovely title of his God saying, “Thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth”. Jehovah Elohim was indeed a God of truth. He could be trusted by His people. All that He planned for them, all that He did, all that He said, was in keeping with this character. There was nothing devious in Him and no vacillation. With this James concurs in the New Testament, calling Him “the Father of lights, with Whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” Jms.1.17, and He had begotten His people by the Word of truth. So, like David of old, we can trust the Lord God of truth, and rest.

PRAYERS OF THE SUFFERER

It has been said that poets learn in suffering what they teach in song and this is certainly true of David. So many of those psalms of his which incorporate his prayers, have been conceived in suffering and are now greatly blessed in the comforting of other sufferers.

Whether David was fully aware of it or not, some of his prayers, arising out of his sorrows, were anticipative and prophetic of the suffering Messiah and perhaps also of a persecuted remnant of a day to come. Of these, Psalms 22 and 69 are supreme examples.

In Psalm 22, he compares himself to the hind of the dawn, for such is the meaning of the Hebrew words in the title Aijeleth-Shahar. The hind of the dawn, so called because as a gentle creature it was hunted even as it came to drink, and nibble grass by the water’s edge in the early morning. Only at dawn did it have any rest at all but soon after daybreak it was encompassed by enemies. David knew the experience and so it was too with our blessed Lord. Strong bulls and fierce dogs gathered about Him, proud Jewish leaders and merciless Gentile mercenaries. They gaped upon Him with their mouths and stared upon Him in His weakness. David could not have known the details of Christ’s sufferings but these are portrayed in Psalm 22. These details are now recorded in the gospels for His people’s wonder, and for their adoration and appreciation of One Who was indeed the Man of Sorrows.

That faithful remnant of a coming day, suffering under the tyrannical reign of the man of sin will likely use the language of David’s Psalm 22 as they maintain a testimony to the Lord. Surrounded and hunted by enemies as He was, they may well take comfort in the language of this and other psalms of the sufferer.

Psalm 69 is also a prayer of the sufferer. One commentator calls it a “Prayer of the Suffering Servant of God” (W. T. Davison1). A Jewish writer calls it a “Prayer of the Persecuted” (Dr. Cohen2). There are perhaps six references to reproach in the psalm. David cries, “Save me, O God”, and at once proceeds to enlarge upon his deep suffering. Soon he will cry, “Deliver me”, and more than once he cries, “Answer me, O Jehovah”. He feels as if he is sinking in deep mire, and then compares his sorrow to floods of waters which threaten to overflow him.1 Davidson, W.T. “The Psalms (I-LXXII)”. The Century Bible, T.C & E.C. Jack, Edinburgh.
2 Cohen, Dr. A. “The Psalms”. The Soncino Press, London, 1945

The entire burden and theme of Psalm 69 is suffering and the psalmist just longs for relief. It is, from beginning to end, a prayer for Divine intervention in his distress and yet, as in Psalm 22 there shines through at times that assurance that Jehovah does hear the cry of the needy and will indeed save. So there can be cause for praise, even in sorrow. “I will praise the name of God with a song” v.30.

Then, in Ps.4.1, as has already been mentioned, David says to the God of righteousness, “In pressure Thou hast enlarged me”(J.N.D.). David has learned that the pressure of suffering will but enlarge him, not only in his thoughts of God but in his attitude and ministry to his fellow-men. So it is still, that suffering saints who understand that there is a reason for their suffering often exhibit a sweetness which many others do not have.

LOVE AND TRUST

Like all men, David had his faults and failings, some of them grave indeed, but there can be no doubt whatever of his deep love for Jehovah. In prayer, throughout his psalms he expresses this affection freely. Although Psalm 116 is anonymous yet the opening words “I LOVE the LORD” may well have been on David’s lips often and the psalm continues with a multitude of reasons for the psalmist’s love, to all of which David could have added a sincere and hearty “Amen”. Jehovah was gracious and merciful; He inclined His ear to His people; He heard and answered their prayers and dealt bountifully with them; He saved them and kept them so that it all demanded a “Hallelujah” v.19.

David’s love for the Lord engendered a corresponding trust in Him and this is expressed in many of his psalms. How beautiful in this respect is Ps.18.1,2 “I will love Thee, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in Whom I will trust”.

It is at times difficult to disentangle the prayers and praises in David’s psalms. Sometimes he will make sincere and earnest request and then, almost immediately, burst into paeans of praise as if he already had the desired answer. This is love and trust combined. Love for Jehovah encourages him to come and make his request and trust enables him to believe that his prayer is heard and will indeed be answered. It is as though he lived in the enjoyment of that assurance written for a people of another age, “before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear” Isa.65.24.

PRAYERS OF THE PILGRIM

Although in his later years David knew much of opulence and wealth, with every creature comfort available to him, yet still he considered himself a pilgrim. His early years had perhaps been simple and frugal enough as he watched over his father’s few sheep in the wilderness, 1Sam.17.28, but he was destined to be called from the sheepcotes to the throne and that brought the luxury of those latter years. But in the spirit of his great predecessors he knew that this was all temporary. They “looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” Heb.11.10.

As a shepherd himself David knew the value, indeed the necessity, of being safely led along the way. There were many problems and dangers, both seen and unseen, and the shepherd’s rod and staff were a comfort for guidance, protection, and correction. How often David prayed for that guidance along his pilgrim pathway. Here is just a selection, from the Psalms, of his pleas for the Lord’s guidance that will be evidence of the sincerity and constancy of his desire to be led.

5.8, “Lead me, O LORD … make Thy way straight before my face”;

25.5, “Lead me in Thy truth, and teach me”;

27.11, “Lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies”;

31.3, “Lead me, and guide me”;

61.2, “Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I”;

139.24, “Lead me in the way everlasting”;

143.10, “Lead me into the land of uprightness”.

Then, in testimony to Jehovah he can say, “He leadeth me beside the still waters … He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness” Ps.23.2,3. How applicable is all this to present-day pilgrims, who ever need to be encouraged along the way.

PRAYERS THAT ARE PROPHETICAL

As there were two psalms that were pre-eminently psalms of suffering, Psalms 22 and 69, so there are two psalms which stand out as psalms of coming Kingdom glory, Psalms 24 and 110. Psalm 110 concludes with the words quoted earlier in this paper, “The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended”. Prophetically David envisages the reign of the greater Son of David and when that comes to pass and the whole earth is filled with Messiah’s glory, David has nothing more to pray for. His prayers are ended.

Psalm 24 is full of praise for the glory of the Creator but there is implicit in the psalm a spirit of prayerful anticipation. Historically the psalm is believed to have been composed for, and sung at, the bringing back of the holy Ark of the Covenant to Zion after its long exile. By interpretation, some commentators, including the respected Spurgeon, see in the psalm a picture of Christ’s ascension into the heavens after His resurrection. This might indeed be a fine application of the psalm but the ultimate true interpretation is of the entrance of the King of Glory through the gates and into the millennial Jerusalem. The King of Glory is none other than Jesus, Who with clean hands and a pure heart, strong and mighty in the battle of Armageddon, takes His rightful place on the throne.

This psalm is a majestic and fitting prelude to Psalm 110 which, as has already been noted, is the great millennial psalm anticipating the glorious reign of Messiah, the Son of David. It may be objected that this psalm is not, essentially, a prayer, and yet several times in the psalm David does address the Lord and His Anointed, so that the spirit of prayer and praise does pervade the seven verses. The psalm is pure, poetic prophecy, unique in all literature, and even in the Psalter.

PRAYERS OF THE WORSHIPPER

David knew how to worship. It would not be possible or practical, in the bounds of one short paper, to refer to every instance of David’s worship. Intelligent worship requires some knowledge of, and experience with, the Lord, and it is evident that when David was but a shepherd boy he had a knowledge of God above many of his contemporaries. In his challenge to Goliath he could say “I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel” 1Sam.17.45. Several times then he used the great name Jehovah (Strong 3068) as well as Elohim, (Strong 430) saying so confidently, “All this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’S, and He will give you into our hands” 1Sam.17.47. With such knowledge David indeed became a worshipper and this reveals itself in many of his psalms. One has said that “Worship is the honour and adoration rendered to God for what He is in Himself and for what He means to those who render it” (J.N.D.). All this was true of David.

As early as the lovely eighth Psalm David’s worship is manifested. Psalm 8 both begins and ends with a rather majestic outburst of praise and worship. “O LORD our Lord, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth! Who hast set Thy glory above the heavens” Ps.8.1,9. Excellence in the earth and glory above the heavens demands worship! Expressions of worship are enclosed between the identical first and last verses of this psalm just as a jewel might be encased in golden clasps. David recognises the greatness of the Creator and worships. And again there is a spirit of prophecy in the psalm relating as it does to Messiah, the Man Who will one day rule and reign in the creation, Heb.2.6-8.

Being a worshipper himself David many times exhorts others to worship too, saying “Give unto the LORD the glory due unto His name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness” Ps.29.2. “O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our Maker” Ps.95.6. And again, “O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness” Ps.96.9. “Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at His footstool; for He is holy. Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at His holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy” Ps.99.5,9.

David finds other reasons too to worship, apart from the creatorial power and glory of Jehovah, and in what is perhaps his last reference to worship in the Psalter he says, “I will worship toward Thy holy temple, and praise Thy name for Thy lovingkindness and for Thy truth: for Thou hast magnified Thy word above all Thy name” Ps.138.2. That the mighty Creator should show loving kindness, mercy, pity, toward His creatures was a cause for worship, as was His truth and the greatness of His Word. All this is true for present-day worshippers who have indeed more light than David had and an access into the Lord’s immediate presence which David never had. We may come boldly, but with becoming reverence, into that very presence with our prayers, and our expressions of praise and worship.

THE MOURNER

David had much in his life to make him a mourner but there were three occasions in particular when he shed bitter tears, in a sad mingling of prayer and lamentation. He wept at the deaths of Saul and Jonathan, at the treacherous death of Abner, and at the death of his son Absalom.

In 2 Samuel chapter 1 the news came to David that Saul and Jonathan were both dead, slain on Mount Gilboa in a battle with the Philistines. “And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son.” Saul had been an enemy of David in his jealousy. Jonathan had been a close companion and friend, but it is a testimony to the noble spirit of David that he lamented over both. His lament was both a prayer and an elegy as he said “The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen! Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil. From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty. Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel. How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places. I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!” 2Sam.1.19-27. What a prayerful lamentation was this, recorded forever in the sacred record.

Abner was Saul’s uncle, and the general of his armies, 1Sam.14.50. For seven years after Saul’s death, he was a supporter of Ish-bosheth; Saul’s son, in his assumption of the throne while David reigned at Hebron. But after a sharp disagreement with Ish-bosheth he then undertook to unite the whole kingdom under David. He was, however, treacherously slain by Joab, either to revenge the death of Asahel, Joab’s brother, whom Abner had formerly killed, or perhaps more probably from jealousy. David abhorred this treacherous act, and composed an elegy on his death, 2Sam.2.8; 3.33.

“And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier. And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept. And the king lamented over Abner. And they buried Abner in Hebron: and

INTRODUCTION

David was the eighth and youngest son of Jesse the Bethlehemite and as Alexander Maclaren remarks, “It was a prophetic instinct which made Jesse call his youngest boy by a name apparently before unused – David, Beloved” for down the ages the shepherd lad who became king has indeed been beloved by the people of God everywhere.

It may seem a rather cold thing to try to analyse the prayers of the sweet psalmist of Israel and perhaps an in-depth consideration of this good man’s prayers would read almost like another commentary on his many psalms. Indeed so many of David’s psalms have the character of a prayer that it would be, in the space of this short meditation, a practical impossibility to consider them all. Yet, since so many of his prayers have been recorded in other places too, and preserved for us, there must be a reason. There must be some spiritual guidance and profit for us in the reading and consideration of David’s prayers so that we are surely justified in this present exercise.

The expression which heads this article, “the prayers of David”, is found only once in Scripture, in Ps.72.20, which, significantly, is not only the closing verse of this delightful millennial Psalm but also the closing verse of the Second Book of Psalms (Psalms 42-72). Psalm 72 is the ultimate, a companion to Psalm 24, a crescendo in which are foretold the glories of the coming reign of Messiah, the greater Son of David, and when the conditions here described are realised David has nothing more to pray for. The end of all his prayers is the enthronement and rule of the Son of David on the very earth in which He was once rejected and crucified. In anticipation, the Psalmist has sung of these days and when once they come to pass “the prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended”. He can ask no more; he desires no more.

THE SCOPE OF DAVID’S PRAYERS

In a letter to Timothy, Paul writes “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men” 1Tim.2.1. Most expositors will admit to a difficulty in defining any major difference between these four words, supplications, prayers, intercessions, giving of thanks. Perhaps there is an overlapping but they do intimate different aspects of prayer. “Supplication” suggests an earnest pleading in view of some particular need. “Prayers” appears to be a more general word signifying a communing with God concerning matters of all kinds. “Intercessions”, as the prefix “inter” indicates, is a making of request on behalf of others, intervening for them in prayer. “Giving of thanks” needs no explanation.

It has been helpfully suggested that prayer is a man upon his knees; supplication is a man upon his face; intercession is a man upon his feet with hands upraised to heaven; giving of thanks is a man seated, with head bowed in sincere gratitude before God. Some have seen in the four words a suggestion of the four ingredients of the holy incense of Ex.30.34, where galbanum, stacte, onycha and frankincense combine in a sweet fragrance for God’s pleasure.

David knew all of these exercises, and more besides. Some of his prayers were personal, some were prophetical; some were practical, and some were devotional; others, sadly, had to be confessional or penitential, acknowledging shortcoming and sin. Some were for himself or his family, especially for Solomon, some were for his friends, and some for the nation. Then at times David’s prayers were, like some of his psalms, imprecatory, calling for judgment on his many enemies. The “man after God’s own heart” Acts 13.22, seemed to be constantly in communion with the Lord about some matter, anxious to do God’s will, and his psalms are permeated with his prayers. His prayers were not sporadic for as he says himself, “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice” Ps.55.17. How very like that other man of prayer, Daniel, of whom it is written, “his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God” Dan.6.10. What examples!

DAVID’S FIRST RECORDED PRAYER

Perhaps it is not without significance that David’s earliest recorded prayers concern conflict with his enemies the Philistines. “Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors. Therefore David inquired of the LORD saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines?” 1Sam.23.1,2. Two verses later we read “Then David inquired of the LORD yet again”. David was indeed “a man of war” 1Sam.16.18, and sadly, while he fought so valiantly for Israel, it was this very thing that denied him the privilege of building the temple. As he himself records, “God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for My name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood” 1Chron.28.3. Ever after, so many of David’s prayers have this character, asking for help and guidance in conflict. A similar prayer is recorded in 2Sam.5.19, “And David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt Thou deliver them into mine hand?” And the LORD said unto David, “Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.”” Again and again we read that David enquired of the LORD. At times he was answered immediately, and at times, as it is with ourselves, perhaps the answer was not what David expected, or wanted. When later the Philistines had come against him again we read, “When David inquired of the LORD, He said, “Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees”” 2Sam.5.23. How good to obey, even when the directions may seem strange to us.

INTELLIGENCE AND REVERENCE

Every exercised believer must surely desire to be both intelligent and reverent in drawing near to God, and such features are very evident in David’s address to Divine persons. His intelligent use of appropriate Divine titles does, in fact, indicate reverence and in our modern age we can certainly learn from David’s example in this respect.

Elohim

How often does he exclaim “O God” as he approaches in prayer. “God” is, in the Hebrew, Elohim. It is the first Divine name used in our Bible, Gen.1.1. It is a plural name signifying One Who is not only mighty but almighty, absolutely supreme in His might. More than one hundred and forty times in the Psalms does David employ this great name. How this should engender confidence in us, to know that in prayer we come to the supreme and all-powerful Elohim. Of course we know that He is our Father, and this brings Him very near to us, but nevertheless, our Father is the mighty Elohim, Creator of the universe. How we should trust Him, as David did. And then, again, David often exclaims “O my God”. The personal pronoun “my” made Elohim very relevant to him and we can almost feel the pathos when he cries, again and again, “O my God [my Elohim]”.

Jehovah

Whether David actually and literally pronounced the great name “Jehovah” we cannot tell. Today Jews regard it as the unpronounceable name. Neither will they even write it in its fullness, but certainly David did in some way use or imply the great name and he employs it several hundred times in his psalms. And again, as with Elohim, he at times prefixes the name with the pronoun and cries “O my Jehovah“. As we contemplate David’s intelligent and reverent use of Divine titles in a past dispensation, how grateful we ought to be who sing, with greater light than David,

So near to God, so very near,

Nearer we cannot be,

For in the Person of His Son

We are as near as He.

 (C. Paget)

For believers of the present age Elohim is not distant! Jehovah is not remote! Remembering our privilege, we draw near with boldness, but remembering Divine greatness we draw near with becoming reverence.

Jehovah El

This title emphasises David’s intelligence in his prayers when, again and again he appeals to, “LORD God”, as for example in Ps.31.5. Here “LORD” is Jehovah and God is El (see Strong 410). This combination of titles conveys both the all-sufficiency and the strength of David’s God. We cannot believe that he used these titles indiscriminately, or at random, but with reverent intelligence, and it is touching to remember that the verse referred to above, Ps.31.5, was that used by the Lord Jesus in His last breath at Golgotha when He said “Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit” Lk.23.46, and was it in the mind of Stephen too in the hour of his stoning, Acts 7.59? David did not know God as Father for that relationship came later with the resurrection of Christ and the coming of the indwelling Spirit. Calvary and Pentecost have made such a difference! Nevertheless, David did know a Fatherly care. He appreciated that but addressed His prayers to Jehovah, to Elohim, or to El.

THE PRAYER OF THE PENITENT

It is difficult to imagine a greater extreme than that between the prayers of the man of war and the prayers and confession of David the penitent. What a difference in the atmosphere, the language and the heartfelt appeal. David had sinned grievously. He had broken the tenth, the seventh, and the sixth commandments in that order. The man who had subdued Philistines, Syrians, Amalekites, Ammonites, Moabites, and Edomites, could not subdue his own passions. Idleness and sloth had led to covetousness, adultery, pretence, hypocrisy and murder. The man who had slain a lion, a bear, and a giant, had now been slain himself by his own unbridled lust. Poor David! The nation was singing his psalms but he was sobbing out his remorse. Let those who would be judgmental and critical of him first read Psalm 51 before voicing any cruel criticism. This is the sad prayer of a thoroughly repentant David and what an example for any believer with sin to confess.

David unreservedly acknowledges his sin. He acknowledges too the enormity of it. Of course he had sinned against Uriah, against Bathsheba, against his family and against the nation, but such is the enormity of his sin that he exclaims, “Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned” Ps.51.4. His sin was a deliberate transgression of Jehovah’s known law. It was not a sin of ignorance. It was rebellion and was therefore primarily a sin against God. If others were affected by his sin, and they were, that was grievous, but sinning against the God Whom he knew was the ultimate wrong. He uses the three great terms to describe his sin, calling it “my transgressions, my sin, my iniquity”. His confession is completely unreserved.

The prophet Nathan has reproved him and he bows to the reproof. He offers no excuse and makes no request for leniency. He desires deliverance from bloodguiltiness and pleads only the loving kindness and tender mercies of God as he asks “wash me; cleanse me; purge me”. Notice the relative absence of Divine names and titles in the penitential Psalm 51. Only six times in nineteen verses does David use the title Elohim and once only he uses the title Adonai. This is simply “Lord”, and is the title that Jews will use in their liturgies as a substitute for Jehovah. Do we sense an estrangement from his God here? How he dreads being left in his guilt. If the joy of salvation is not restored to him it will affect his testimony to sinners and will affect also the blessing of Zion. His only hope is in the magnanimity of the God of his salvation. If He in the great goodness of His heart would hear the confession of His servant and pardon his sin then all would be restored to what it had been.

Note that David confesses “I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me” Ps.51.5. He had been born in sin and had inherited a sinful nature but he does not use this as an excuse for what he had done. He had sinned wilfully and his sin weighed upon his conscience; it was ever before him. He pleads “Wash me; cleanse me; purge me” because he feels like an unclean leper or like a soiled garment. He was stained and broken, but he prays what the believer in this age cannot pray when he pleads, “Take not Thy Holy Spirit from me” v.11. We have an indwelling gracious Spirit Who will never leave us. Otherwise, what an example for us when we sin! Let us bring a full, frank and sincere acknowledgement of the wrong, casting ourselves unreservedly upon Him Who is not only faithful in His judgment of sin but faithful also in forgiving the true penitent. In the blessings of our salvation in this New Testament era we do not need to beg for forgiveness, for “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” 1Jn.1.9, and in the Lord Jesus we have an Advocate, a Comforter Who will assist us back into communion with the Father Whom we have grieved, 1Jn.2.1. But when we remember that the man after God’s own heart could sin so grievously how it behoves us to pray as he did, “Preserve me, O God: for in Thee do I put my trust” Ps.16.1.

Psalm 32 is an associate Psalm with Psalm 51, believed to have been written after David’s restoration following his sin with Bathsheba. This is one of thirteen Maschil Psalms, which word means “instruction”, and who better to give instruction regarding sin, confession and restoration than the man who has been there. David reminisces. He remembers the pain of those days subsequent to his sin and prior to his forgiveness. Alternatively he suffered in pained silence or else groaned aloud in anguish under the hand of God. Inwardly his conscience was heavily burdened and outwardly his very physical frame was affected. Day and night he suffered in deep conviction about what he had done, until, as he says, “I acknowledged my sin unto Thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin” Ps.32.5. How sincere was his confession, for there followed immediately the “Selah”. There was pardon, peace and praise and he cries “Thou art my hiding place”. Now he can revel in the blessedness of forgiveness, for his transgression is forgiven and his sin is covered. This is blessedness indeed, true happiness. Now there are songs of deliverance and the psalm ends with shouts of joy.

David would teach us, from painful experience, the cost of sinning against the Lord, and the foolishness, when we have sinned, of trying to conceal it, or of remaining in silence and in stubborn refusal to freely acknowledge our sin. Still today there is blessedness in that true confession which is the prelude to forgiveness and restoration into the joy of communion. How instructive are David’s prayers!

THE PRAYERS OF THE FUGITIVE

David had two periods in his life when he was an exile and a fugitive. He was of course a fugitive from the jealous Saul who lived in fear of David’s accession to the throne. Saul hunted David “as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains” 1Sam.26.20. David sojourned in the wilderness of Ziph, several miles south-east of Hebron, where on more than one occasion he spared Saul’s life when he could very easily have slain him. Most honourably he refused to harm him whom he called “the LORD’S anointed” v.11.

But undoubtedly David’s most painful period of exile was when he had to flee Jerusalem from his own son Absalom. Absalom was a usurper, a rebel, assuming the throne which belonged to his father. With his life in danger David fled and with head covered and feet bare he crossed the brook Kidron over to the mount of Olives with some faithful followers. He sent the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem and began his sad exile in the Judean wilderness. He was, as Maclaren says, a “discrowned King”, and it was during this period that several of his psalms were born, incorporating in them some touching prayers of the fugitive.

The first of these is Psalm 3, where the superscription distinctly tells us that it was composed “when he fled from Absalom his son”. It commences with a heartfelt cry to Jehovah, “LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! Many are they that rise up against me.” Absalom had, by guile, gathered so many around him and such was David’s position now that they said “There is no help for him in God”. But in his lament there is hope too and he could exclaim “But Thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head”. He confidently believed that the Lord would protect him like a shield, so that he would yet lift up his bowed head and be returned to his former glory. Confident that the Lord would both preserve and deliver him, he could lie down and sleep. He could not trust and fear at the same time so he says calmly, “I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me … I will not be afraid” Ps.3.5,6. Jehovah was mightier than his foes.

Psalms 3 and 4 form a pair. Continuing his confession in Psalm 4 David now pleads “Hear me when I call”, and his appeal is to Him Whom he calls “O God of my righteousness”. He recognises his own unrighteousness. In his distress he freely acknowledges this and his plea is to the righteous One by Whom righteousness can be restored. David has been sore pressed by the remembrance of his sin and the trauma of his conviction and confession, and he now says, in Mr. Darby’s beautiful rendering of Ps.4.1, “In pressure Thou hast enlarged me”. Pressure usually constricts and suppresses but the pressure of all that he has been through since the prophet Nathan challenged him has had the effect of enlarging David’s thoughts of God. He can only ask for mercy and grace but such is his confidence as to Jehovah’s mercy that he concludes his prayer saying, “Thou hast put gladness in my heart” and yet again he declares, “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for Thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety” vv.7,8. Jehovah is his strength and in Him he can rest in confidence, and sleep in safety from those who hunt him.

CONFESSION AND MEDITATION

Although it is not specifically stated in the psalm it is generally believed that Psalm 25 is also related to David’s sin and confession. As in the great penitential Psalm 51, David again appeals to “the God of my salvation”. He speaks of pardon and preservation, of tender mercies and loving kindnesses, and he asks for leading and guiding. He professes his trust in Him Who can deliver him from his enemies. There are many, he says, who hate him without a cause, and he appeals to his God for necessary help in his affliction. How fully submissive he is in his contrition as he appeals to Jehovah, “Show me … lead me … teach me … I trust in Thee”. How relevant are these requests for present day believers. If, however, the requests are really genuine then the suppliant must be prepared to accept and act upon the Divine answers. Whatever He may show me; wherever He may lead me; whatever truth He may teach me, I must trust and be willing to accept His plan for me. It is the way to blessing and as believers often sing:

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way

To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

 (J. H. Sammis)

MY STRENGTH; MY SHIELD; MY SONG

In Psalm 28 David’s plea continues and he now dreads the awful consequence if Jehovah does not answer. “Unto Thee will I cry, O LORD my rock”. Already, in Psalm 18 David has used this great title of God, “My Rock”, and associated with that title so many other titles of Jehovah, so comforting to a fugitive, as he then was, “The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in Whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.” What strength is depicted in all of these reverent descriptions of God and what comfort for a fugitive.

But what a tragedy if Jehovah failed to answer! “Be not silent to me: lest, if Thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit”. What a tragedy indeed it would be for any saint if Jehovah remained silent and did not answer! David fears that in such circumstances he would become just like the masses. They are workers of iniquity who with their tongues speak peace but in their hearts devise mischief. It is pretence; it is hypocrisy, and he has had enough of that. He had behaved exactly as the workers of iniquity “which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts” Ps.28.3. David had indeed spoken of peace to Uriah while at the same time he was devising mischief in his heart towards him. “Shalom”, he had said to Uriah while plotting his death. “And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him how Joab did (shalom), and how the people did (shalom), and how the war prospered (shalom)” 2Sam.11.7. It cost him the joy of his salvation and his usefulness as a testimony for God. David sinned in his weakness but the Lord was his strength and he will go to Him.

Now, forgiven, David can sincerely pray for his people, whom he calls “Thy people, Thine inheritance”. “Save them”, he prays; “bless them; feed them; lift them up.” “The LORD is my strength” he has just said, v.7, and now he says, “The LORD is their strength” v.8. Being now himself right with God, David’s concern is for the nation.

THE FUGITIVE IN THE WILDERNESS

Psalm 63 was born during David’s exile in the wilderness and his physical condition and surroundings were but a reflection of his inner feelings. Waking early in the morning in a dry and thirsty land he had strong desires and longings. Physically he must have yearned for water and for food but his physical desires were little compared with his longing to see the power and the glory of the sanctuary which now must have seemed so far away. But the loving kindness of the mighty Elohim was better than life itself and he would never cease to offer praise. While he lived he would daily bless the Lord. Early in the morning he would offer his praises and even upon his bed in the night watches he would meditate on the Lord. In spite of his unfavourable circumstances in this inhospitable wilderness he could say: “Because Thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of Thy wings will I rejoice.” Like a little bird he could nestle in the shadow of Jehovah’s wings. There he was assured of safety and shelter, and there he could rest, protected, contented, and satisfied. What an exhilarating example David has left us. Most of us live in much better conditions than this poor fugitive, but even in our days of darkness and sorrow or in our seasons of loneliness we do well to imitate this good man and keep on praising.

For a moment he thinks of his enemies. They will go into judgment. They will fall by the sword, but he will rejoice. He remembers, even in his imposed exile, that he is the king, and that the right hand of the Lord will uphold him. Let us, like David, fill our prayers with praises and keep on rejoicing.

While many of David’s prayers have the kingdom, and the nation, in view, yet he also does pray much for himself. In Psalm 31 he speaks of “my trust; my trouble: my times”. He recognises that his times are in the hand of the Lord, but even in such times, ordered by Jehovah, there are troubles, and in such troublous circumstances he must trust. “Be Thou my strong rock” he cries again, and once more he introduces a lovely title of his God saying, “Thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth”. Jehovah Elohim was indeed a God of truth. He could be trusted by His people. All that He planned for them, all that He did, all that He said, was in keeping with this character. There was nothing devious in Him and no vacillation. With this James concurs in the New Testament, calling Him “the Father of lights, with Whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” Jms.1.17, and He had begotten His people by the Word of truth. So, like David of old, we can trust the Lord God of truth, and rest.

PRAYERS OF THE SUFFERER

It has been said that poets learn in suffering what they teach in song and this is certainly true of David. So many of those psalms of his which incorporate his prayers, have been conceived in suffering and are now greatly blessed in the comforting of other sufferers.

Whether David was fully aware of it or not, some of his prayers, arising out of his sorrows, were anticipative and prophetic of the suffering Messiah and perhaps also of a persecuted remnant of a day to come. Of these, Psalms 22 and 69 are supreme examples.

In Psalm 22, he compares himself to the hind of the dawn, for such is the meaning of the Hebrew words in the title Aijeleth-Shahar. The hind of the dawn, so called because as a gentle creature it was hunted even as it came to drink, and nibble grass by the water’s edge in the early morning. Only at dawn did it have any rest at all but soon after daybreak it was encompassed by enemies. David knew the experience and so it was too with our blessed Lord. Strong bulls and fierce dogs gathered about Him, proud Jewish leaders and merciless Gentile mercenaries. They gaped upon Him with their mouths and stared upon Him in His weakness. David could not have known the details of Christ’s sufferings but these are portrayed in Psalm 22. These details are now recorded in the gospels for His people’s wonder, and for their adoration and appreciation of One Who was indeed the Man of Sorrows.

That faithful remnant of a coming day, suffering under the tyrannical reign of the man of sin will likely use the language of David’s Psalm 22 as they maintain a testimony to the Lord. Surrounded and hunted by enemies as He was, they may well take comfort in the language of this and other psalms of the sufferer.

Psalm 69 is also a prayer of the sufferer. One commentator calls it a “Prayer of the Suffering Servant of God” (W. T. Davison1). A Jewish writer calls it a “Prayer of the Persecuted” (Dr. Cohen2). There are perhaps six references to reproach in the psalm. David cries, “Save me, O God”, and at once proceeds to enlarge upon his deep suffering. Soon he will cry, “Deliver me”, and more than once he cries, “Answer me, O Jehovah”. He feels as if he is sinking in deep mire, and then compares his sorrow to floods of waters which threaten to overflow him.1 Davidson, W.T. “The Psalms (I-LXXII)”. The Century Bible, T.C & E.C. Jack, Edinburgh.
2 Cohen, Dr. A. “The Psalms”. The Soncino Press, London, 1945

The entire burden and theme of Psalm 69 is suffering and the psalmist just longs for relief. It is, from beginning to end, a prayer for Divine intervention in his distress and yet, as in Psalm 22 there shines through at times that assurance that Jehovah does hear the cry of the needy and will indeed save. So there can be cause for praise, even in sorrow. “I will praise the name of God with a song” v.30.

Then, in Ps.4.1, as has already been mentioned, David says to the God of righteousness, “In pressure Thou hast enlarged me”(J.N.D.). David has learned that the pressure of suffering will but enlarge him, not only in his thoughts of God but in his attitude and ministry to his fellow-men. So it is still, that suffering saints who understand that there is a reason for their suffering often exhibit a sweetness which many others do not have.

LOVE AND TRUST

Like all men, David had his faults and failings, some of them grave indeed, but there can be no doubt whatever of his deep love for Jehovah. In prayer, throughout his psalms he expresses this affection freely. Although Psalm 116 is anonymous yet the opening words “I LOVE the LORD” may well have been on David’s lips often and the psalm continues with a multitude of reasons for the psalmist’s love, to all of which David could have added a sincere and hearty “Amen”. Jehovah was gracious and merciful; He inclined His ear to His people; He heard and answered their prayers and dealt bountifully with them; He saved them and kept them so that it all demanded a “Hallelujah” v.19.

David’s love for the Lord engendered a corresponding trust in Him and this is expressed in many of his psalms. How beautiful in this respect is Ps.18.1,2 “I will love Thee, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in Whom I will trust”.

It is at times difficult to disentangle the prayers and praises in David’s psalms. Sometimes he will make sincere and earnest request and then, almost immediately, burst into paeans of praise as if he already had the desired answer. This is love and trust combined. Love for Jehovah encourages him to come and make his request and trust enables him to believe that his prayer is heard and will indeed be answered. It is as though he lived in the enjoyment of that assurance written for a people of another age, “before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear” Isa.65.24.

PRAYERS OF THE PILGRIM

Although in his later years David knew much of opulence and wealth, with every creature comfort available to him, yet still he considered himself a pilgrim. His early years had perhaps been simple and frugal enough as he watched over his father’s few sheep in the wilderness, 1Sam.17.28, but he was destined to be called from the sheepcotes to the throne and that brought the luxury of those latter years. But in the spirit of his great predecessors he knew that this was all temporary. They “looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” Heb.11.10.

As a shepherd himself David knew the value, indeed the necessity, of being safely led along the way. There were many problems and dangers, both seen and unseen, and the shepherd’s rod and staff were a comfort for guidance, protection, and correction. How often David prayed for that guidance along his pilgrim pathway. Here is just a selection, from the Psalms, of his pleas for the Lord’s guidance that will be evidence of the sincerity and constancy of his desire to be led.

5.8, “Lead me, O LORD … make Thy way straight before my face”;

25.5, “Lead me in Thy truth, and teach me”;

27.11, “Lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies”;

31.3, “Lead me, and guide me”;

61.2, “Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I”;

139.24, “Lead me in the way everlasting”;

143.10, “Lead me into the land of uprightness”.

Then, in testimony to Jehovah he can say, “He leadeth me beside the still waters … He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness” Ps.23.2,3. How applicable is all this to present-day pilgrims, who ever need to be encouraged along the way.

PRAYERS THAT ARE PROPHETICAL

As there were two psalms that were pre-eminently psalms of suffering, Psalms 22 and 69, so there are two psalms which stand out as psalms of coming Kingdom glory, Psalms 24 and 110. Psalm 110 concludes with the words quoted earlier in this paper, “The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended”. Prophetically David envisages the reign of the greater Son of David and when that comes to pass and the whole earth is filled with Messiah’s glory, David has nothing more to pray for. His prayers are ended.

Psalm 24 is full of praise for the glory of the Creator but there is implicit in the psalm a spirit of prayerful anticipation. Historically the psalm is believed to have been composed for, and sung at, the bringing back of the holy Ark of the Covenant to Zion after its long exile. By interpretation, some commentators, including the respected Spurgeon, see in the psalm a picture of Christ’s ascension into the heavens after His resurrection.

This might indeed be a fine application of the psalm but the ultimate true interpretation is of the entrance of the King of Glory through the gates and into the millennial Jerusalem.
The King of Glory is none other than Jesus, Who with clean hands and a pure heart, strong and mighty in the battle of Armageddon, takes His rightful place on the throne.

This psalm is a majestic and fitting prelude to Psalm 110 which, as has already been noted, is the great millennial psalm anticipating the glorious reign of Messiah, the Son of David.

It may be objected that this psalm is not, essentially, a prayer, and yet several times in the psalm David does address the Lord and His Anointed, so that the spirit of prayer and praise does pervade the seven verses. The psalm is pure, poetic prophecy, unique in all literature, and even in the Psalter.

PRAYERS OF THE WORSHIPPER

David knew how to worship. It would not be possible or practical, in the bounds of one short paper, to refer to every instance of David’s worship. Intelligent worship requires some knowledge of, and experience with, the Lord, and it is evident that when David was but a shepherd boy he had a knowledge of God above many of his contemporaries.

his challenge to Goliath he could say

“I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel”

1Sam.17.45. Several times then he used the great name Jehovah (Strong 3068) as well as Elohim, (Strong 430) saying so confidently,
say

: for the battle is the LORD’S, and He will give you into our hands”

1Sam.17.47. With such knowledge David indeed became a worshipper and this reveals itself in many of his psalms. One has said that

“Worship is the honour and adoration rendered to God for what He is in Himself and for what He means to those who render it” (J.N.D.). All this was true of David.

As early as the lovely eighth Psalm David’s worship is manifested.

Psalm 8 both begins and ends with a rather majestic outburst of praise and worship.
“O LORD our Lord, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth! Who hast set Thy glory above the heavens”
PSalm.8.1,9.

Excellence in the earth and glory above the heavens demands worship!

Expressions of worship are enclosed between the identical first and last verses of this psalm just as a jewel might be encased in golden clasps.

David recognises the greatness of the Creator and worships. And again there is a spirit of prophecy in the psalm relating as it does to Messiah, the Man Who will one day rule and reign in the creation, Heb.2.6-8.

Being a worshipper himself David many times exhorts others to worship too, saying

“Give unto the LORD the glory due unto His name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness” Ps.29.2.

“O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our Maker”

Ps.95.6. And again,

“O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness” Ps.96.9.

“Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at His footstool; for He is holy. Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at His holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy” Ps.99.5,9.

David finds other reasons too to worship, apart from the creatorial power and glory of Jehovah, and in what is perhaps his last reference to worship in the Psalter he says,

I will worship toward Thy holy temple, and praise Thy name for Thy lovingkindness and for Thy truth: for Thou hast magnified Thy word above all Thy name” Ps.138.2. That the mighty Creator should show loving kindness, mercy, pity, toward His creatures was a cause for worship, as was His truth and the greatness of His Word.

All this is true for present-day worshippers who have indeed more light than David had and an access into the Lord’s immediate presence which David never had.

We may come boldly, but with becoming reverence, into that very presence with our prayers, and our expressions of praise and worship.

THE MOURNER

David had much in his life to make him a mourner but there were three occasions in particular when he shed bitter tears, in a sad mingling of prayer and lamentation.

He wept at the deaths of Saul and Jonathan, at the treacherous death of Abner, and at the death of his son Absalom.

In 2 Samuel chapter 1 the news came to David that Saul and Jonathan were both dead, slain on Mount Gilboa in a battle with the Philistines.

“And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son.”

Saul had been an enemy of David in his jealousy.

Jonathan had been a close companion and friend, but it is a testimony to the noble spirit of David that he lamented over both.

His lament was both a prayer and an elegy as he said

“The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen! Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings:

for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.

From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.

Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.

How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places. I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!”

2Sam.1.19-27. What a prayerful lamentation was this, recorded forever in the sacred record.

Abner was Saul’s uncle, and the general of his armies, 1Sam.14.50. For seven years after Saul’s death, he was a supporter of Ish-bosheth; Saul’s son, in his assumption of the throne while David reigned at Hebron.

But after a sharp disagreement with Ish-bosheth he then undertook to unite the whole kingdom under David.

He was, however, treacherously slain by Joab, either to revenge the death of Asahel, Joab’s brother, whom Abner had formerly killed, or perhaps more probably from jealousy. David abhorred this treacherous act, and composed an elegy on his death, 2Sam.2.8; 3.33.

“And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.

And king David himself followed the bier. And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept. And the king lamented over Abner. And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.

And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth? Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters:

as a man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou. And all the people wept again over him” 2Sam.3.32-34.

In 2 Samuel chapter 15 David’s estranged son Absalom was crowned king in Hebron as a usurper.

David knew that his own life and the lives of those who were faithful to him would be in danger and he decided that they must flee Jerusalem.

It was with heavy hearts that they left the city to cross the Kidron valley to the mount of Olives and over to the wilderness.

“And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up” 2Sam.15.30.

It was a hard thing for him to have to flee from his own son and Psalm 3 records his prayers and feelings on the occasion. How sadly the psalm commences,

“LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! Many are they that rise up against me.

Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God”.

Yet, he can soon say that with confidence in Jehovah he can lie down and sleep, and awake sustained so that he need not fear though he be surrounded by tens of thousands of hostile people.

It was but a short time after this that there was occasion again for David to mourn.

 News had come that his beloved but wayward son Absalom was dead.

It wrings from his heart a pathetic dirge of a prayer. “And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!” 2Sam.18.33.

LAST WORDS

How touching the account is of the last words of David in 2 Samuel chapter 23. “Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and His word was in my tongue.

The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, he that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.

And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.

Although my house be not so with God; yet He hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire” 2Sam.23.1-5.

May the prayers of David, the shepherd, the king, the warrior, the worshipper, the sufferer, the pilgrim, the penitent and the mourner be an example to us all in our times of need, whether they be of joy, or of sorrow.

David had disappointments in the nation, in his family, and in himself, but he was indeed a man after God’s own heart and we may well treasure his memory and follow his example.

What a holy blending of prayer and praise, of suffering and solace, of worship and weeping, of remorse, restoration, and rejoicing, of tears, triumphs and tragedies.

the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept. And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth? Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou. And all the people wept again over him” 2Sam.3.32-34.

In 2 Samuel chapter 15 David’s estranged son Absalom was crowned king in Hebron as a usurper.

David knew that his own life and the lives of those who were faithful to him would be in danger and he decided that they must flee Jerusalem. It was with heavy hearts that they left the city to cross the Kidron valley to the mount of Olives and over to the wilderness.

“And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up”

2Sam.15.30.

It was a hard thing for him to have to flee from his own son and Psalm 3 records his prayers and feelings on the occasion. How sadly the psalm commences,

“LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! Many are they that rise up against me. Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God”.

Yet, he can soon say that with confidence in Jehovah he can lie down and sleep, and awake sustained so that he need not fear though he be surrounded by tens of thousands of hostile people.

It was but a short time after this that there was occasion again for David to mourn. News had come that his beloved but wayward son Absalom was dead. It wrings from his heart a pathetic dirge of a prayer.

“And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!” 2Sam.18.33.

LAST WORDS

How touching the account is of the last words of David in 2 Samuel chapter 23. “Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and His word was in my tongue. The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, he that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain. Although my house be not so with God; yet He hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire” 2Sam.23.1-5.

May the prayers of David, the shepherd, the king, the warrior, the worshipper, the sufferer, the pilgrim, the penitent and the mourner be an example to us all in our times of need, whether they be of joy, or of sorrow.

David had disappointments in the nation, in his family, and in himself, but he was indeed a man after God’s own heart and we may well treasure his memory and follow his example. What a holy blending of prayer and praise, of suffering and solace, of worship and weeping, of remorse, restoration, and rejoicing, of tears, triumphs and tragedies.

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Posted byajayjavalkarFebruary 15, 2021Posted inPietyLeave a commenton Psalm of King David Prayers

1 Chronicles 29New International Version

Gifts for Building the Temple

29 Then King David said to the whole assembly: “My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is young and inexperienced. The task is great, because this palatial structure is not for man but for the Lord God.

 2 With all my resources I have provided for the temple of my God—gold for the gold work, silver for the silver, bronze for the bronze, iron for the iron and wood for the wood, as well as onyx for the settings, turquoise,[a] stones of various colors, and all kinds of fine stone and marble—all of these in large quantities.

3 Besides, in my devotion to the temple of my God I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver for the temple of my God, over and above everything I have provided for this holy temple:

4 three thousand talents[b] of gold (gold of Ophir) and seven thousand talents[c] of refined silver, for the overlaying of the walls of the buildings,

 5 for the gold work and the silver work, and for all the work to be done by the craftsmen. Now, who is willing to consecrate themselves to the Lord today?”

6 Then the leaders of families, the officers of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of the king’s work gave willingly.

7 They gave toward the work on the temple of God five thousand talents[d] and ten thousand darics[e] of gold, ten thousand talents[f] of silver, eighteen thousand talents[g] of bronze and a hundred thousand talents[h] of iron.

8 Anyone who had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the temple of the Lord in the custody of Jehiel the Gershonite.

9 The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly.

David’s Prayer

10 David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying,

“Praise be to you, Lord,
the God of our father Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.
11 Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power
and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, Lord, is the kingdom;
you are exalted as head over all.
12 Wealth and honor come from you;
you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power
to exalt and give strength to all.
13 Now, our God, we give you thanks,
and praise your glorious name.

14 “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.

15 We are foreigners and strangers in your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope.

16 Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you.

17 I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you.

18 Lord, the God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep these desires and thoughts in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you.

 19 And give my son Solomon the wholehearted devotion to keep your commands, statutes and decrees and to do everything to build the palatial structure for which I have provided.”

20 Then David said to the whole assembly, “Praise the Lord your God.” So they all praised the Lord, the God of their fathers; they bowed down, prostrating themselves before the Lord and the king

4 Ways God Protected David (And Might Protect You)

God offers protection to His people, often in the form of other people.

As a young hero David quickly became despised by the jealous King Saul.

His victory over Goliath had propelled him into the minds of Israel, a reality Saul grew increasingly uncomfortable with.

This, of course, culminated with Saul’s attempts at taking David’s life.

Psalm 59 is a beautiful song where David recounts God’s faithfulness in protecting him from the hand of Saul during a time when Saul tried to kill him in his own house.

Over and over again in that simple song David credits God as His protector. He concluded the song by singing, “You, O God, are my fortress” (Psalm 59:17).

1 Samuel 19 is a wonderful chapter that gives us the background to David’s song (Psalm 59).

It is here we discover that, while God was the ultimate one to protect David, He offered that protection through people He had placed in David’s life. Here is a list of who protected David, along with how they protected him.

I believe God longs to use similar relationships to protect us today.

1 A Friend – Jonathan

Jonathan first protected David by giving him wise counsel. Good Christians will wisely select their friends, friends who are able to counsel them from the Scripture.

“The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray” (Proverbs 12:26).

Jonathan also protected David by going to his father and pleading on David’s behalf. This type of action is often called intercession in the Bible. Intercession is, of course, a wonderful picture of prayer. It is good for Christians to select friends in their lives who will pray and intercede for them before God.

2 A Wife – Michal

David had a far from perfect relationship with his first wife, Michal, but in this story she protects him wonderfully. She does this first by honoring her husband. Instead of siding with her father, Saul, by delivering David into his hand, she sides with her new husband.

She also helped David escape. She let him down through a window. She took an image and some goats hair and made it look like David was in his bed sleeping. She even made excuses for David when the messengers of Saul arrived. She helped her husband. Good men will allow their wives to help them become better men.See this form in the original post

3 A Mentor – Samuel

David, in fleeing, ran directly to Samuel. Samuel was the old prophet and priest of Israel. He had anointed David as its future King. Samuel would provide spiritual counsel and advice to David. Samuel could speak into David’s life like no one else could.

It is good, as a Christian, to have spiritual leaders in our lives who are willing to tell us the difficult things. Samuel could provide something for David that Jonathan and Michal couldn’t.

4 The Supernatural – The Spirit

At the end of 1 Samuel 19 we discover a wild story where the Spirit of God intercedes and protects David. It is not a stretch to say that this protection was both spiritual and supernatural. When we cry out to God for his protection, we are open to the idea that, as we are spiritual men and women, God may provide and protect us in very supernatural ways, seen and unseen. We do not, after all, “wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers of darkness,” so it should come as no surprise that we look to God’s unseen protection in that spiritual realm (Ephesians 6:12).

To David, all of this was from God. In reflecting upon this chapter in his life, he could only confess “God is my defense.” (Psalm 59:17, NKJV). Let us allow God to protect us through the people He has placed in our lives

God offers protection to His people, often in the form of other people.

As a young hero David quickly became despised by the jealous King Saul. His victory over Goliath had propelled him into the minds of Israel, a reality Saul grew increasingly uncomfortable with. This, of course, culminated with Saul’s attempts at taking David’s life.

Psalm 59 is a beautiful song where David recounts God’s faithfulness in protecting him from the hand of Saul during a time when Saul tried to kill him in his own house. Over and over again in that simple song David credits God as His protector. He concluded the song by singing, “You, O God, are my fortress” (Psalm 59:17).

1 Samuel 19 is a wonderful chapter that gives us the background to David’s song (Psalm 59). It is here we discover that, while God was the ultimate one to protect David, He offered that protection through people He had placed in David’s life. Here is a list of who protected David, along with how they protected him.

I believe God longs to use similar relationships to protect us today.

1 A Friend – Jonathan

Jonathan first protected David by giving him wise counsel. Good Christians will wisely select their friends, friends who are able to counsel them from the Scripture. “The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray” (Proverbs 12:26).

Jonathan also protected David by going to his father and pleading on David’s behalf. This type of action is often called intercession in the Bible. Intercession is, of course, a wonderful picture of prayer. It is good for Christians to select friends in their lives who will pray and intercede for them before God.

2 A Wife – Michal

David had a far from perfect relationship with his first wife, Michal, but in this story she protects him wonderfully. She does this first by honoring her husband. Instead of siding with her father, Saul, by delivering David into his hand, she sides with her new husband.

She also helped David escape. She let him down through a window. She took an image and some goats hair and made it look like David was in his bed sleeping. She even made excuses for David when the messengers of Saul arrived. She helped her husband. Good men will allow their wives to help them become better men.See this form in the original post

3 A Mentor – Samuel

David, in fleeing, ran directly to Samuel. Samuel was the old prophet and priest of Israel. He had anointed David as its future King. Samuel would provide spiritual counsel and advice to David. Samuel could speak into David’s life like no one else could.

It is good, as a Christian, to have spiritual leaders in our lives who are willing to tell us the difficult things. Samuel could provide something for David that Jonathan and Michal couldn’t.

4 The Supernatural – The Spirit

At the end of 1 Samuel 19 we discover a wild story where the Spirit of God intercedes and protects David. It is not a stretch to say that this protection was both spiritual and supernatural. When we cry out to God for his protection, we are open to the idea that, as we are spiritual men and women, God may provide and protect us in very supernatural ways, seen and unseen. We do not, after all, “wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers of darkness,” so it should come as no surprise that we look to God’s unseen protection in that spiritual realm (Ephesians 6:12).

To David, all of this was from God. In reflecting upon this chapter in his life, he could only confess “God is my defense.” (Psalm 59:17, NKJV). Let us allow God to protect us through the people He has placed in our lives

God offers protection to His people, often in the form of other people.

As a young hero David quickly became despised by the jealous King Saul. His victory over Goliath had propelled him into the minds of Israel, a reality Saul grew increasingly uncomfortable with. This, of course, culminated with Saul’s attempts at taking David’s life.

Psalm 59 is a beautiful song where David recounts God’s faithfulness in protecting him from the hand of Saul during a time when Saul tried to kill him in his own house. Over and over again in that simple song David credits God as His protector. He concluded the song by singing, “You, O God, are my fortress” (Psalm 59:17).

1 Samuel 19 is a wonderful chapter that gives us the background to David’s song (Psalm 59). It is here we discover that, while God was the ultimate one to protect David, He offered that protection through people He had placed in David’s life. Here is a list of who protected David, along with how they protected him.

I believe God longs to use similar relationships to protect us today.

1 A Friend – Jonathan

Jonathan first protected David by giving him wise counsel. Good Christians will wisely select their friends, friends who are able to counsel them from the Scripture. “The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray” (Proverbs 12:26).

Jonathan also protected David by going to his father and pleading on David’s behalf. This type of action is often called intercession in the Bible. Intercession is, of course, a wonderful picture of prayer. It is good for Christians to select friends in their lives who will pray and intercede for them before God.

2 A Wife – Michal

David had a far from perfect relationship with his first wife, Michal, but in this story she protects him wonderfully. She does this first by honoring her husband. Instead of siding with her father, Saul, by delivering David into his hand, she sides with her new husband.

She also helped David escape. She let him down through a window. She took an image and some goats hair and made it look like David was in his bed sleeping. She even made excuses for David when the messengers of Saul arrived. She helped her husband. Good men will allow their wives to help them become better men.See this form in the original post

3 A Mentor – Samuel

David, in fleeing, ran directly to Samuel. Samuel was the old prophet and priest of Israel. He had anointed David as its future King. Samuel would provide spiritual counsel and advice to David. Samuel could speak into David’s life like no one else could.

It is good, as a Christian, to have spiritual leaders in our lives who are willing to tell us the difficult things. Samuel could provide something for David that Jonathan and Michal couldn’t.

4 The Supernatural – The Spirit

At the end of 1 Samuel 19 we discover a wild story where the Spirit of God intercedes and protects David. It is not a stretch to say that this protection was both spiritual and supernatural. When we cry out to God for his protection, we are open to the idea that, as we are spiritual men and women, God may provide and protect us in very supernatural ways, seen and unseen. We do not, after all, “wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers of darkness,” so it should come as no surprise that we look to God’s unseen protection in that spiritual realm (Ephesians 6:12).

To David, all of this was from God. In reflecting upon this chapter in his life, he could only confess “God is my defense.” (Psalm 59:17, NKJV). Let us allow God to protect us through the people He has placed in our lives

There are nine prayers in the book of First Chronicles. Covering the time from Adam through King David, all of the prayers but one occur during David’s kingship.

Two things stand out about these prayers. First, unless many of the prayers in previous books, these are mainly prayers of praise and thanksgiving. The author wishes to emphasize the goodness of God towards David and Israel, and choosing praise that does so is part of that theme.

Second, the prayers are good examples of how to mix the various types of prayers in a meaningful and purposeful way. They help us to think through how and what we prayer, and contribute to the richness of our prayer lives.

The first prayer appears in the extensive genealogy, during a description of the leaders of the tribe of Gad (“What is “Success” in Prayer and Faith? (1 Chron 5.20b)”). They are victorious because they petitioned God and trusted him.

Like the history of David in First and Second Kings, David often turns to God in prayer. His first prayer is a petition, during the time of his battles against the Philistines. He turns to God to ask if and when he should attack. (“Finding Victory in Seeking and Following God (1 Chron 14.10, 14)”).

Another prayer of David is a long prayer of thanksgiving, offered in response to God’s promise to make David a successful king and to bless his descendants and Israel. (“How to Pray a Prayer of Praise #1 (1 Chron 16.8-36)” and “How to Pray a Prayer of Praise #2 (1 Chron 16.8-36)”).

Unlike many of the prayers of the Old Testament that we have studied so far, David’s prayers are often combinations of types of prayer:

He appoints Levites offer praises and a thanksgiving before the Ark of the Covenant (“God of Fear? Or God of Compassion? (1 Chron 16.4)”.)
He offers a praise and then a petition when God tells him that his son will build a Temple. (“Responding to God’s Goodness with Prayer (1 Chron 17.16-27)”).
He offers a prayer of confession and praise when God rebukes him for trusting in the power of his army rather than God. (“What to pray when God makes others suffer for my sin (1 Chron 21.8, 17)”).
A thanksgiving and praise in is order when David organizes the temple musicians to lead in worship. (“Seeking a rich prayer life? Combine it with music! (1 Chron 25.3)”).
Finally, David offers a prayer of praise, intercession, and thanksgiving after the people of Israel give generously for the building of the Temple. (“How to praise, thank, and ask God (1 Chron 29.10-19, 20)”).

These prayers demonstrate the richness of prayer in how we offer them, how we structure them, and when we offer them. Along the way, we have learned about faithfulness, success in prayer, responses to God’s goodness (and judgment), and even how to use music in prayer

Most of the recorded prayers of David, except for his Psalms of prayer, are very short and specific. They teach us how to pray definitely and specifically.

1 Samuel 23: 2-4

Therefore David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” And the LORD said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines, and save Keilah.” 3 But David’s men said to him, “Look, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?” (Continue reading from your Bible.)

1 Samuel 23: 9-12

When David knew that Saul plotted evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.” 10 Then David said, “O LORD God of Israel, Your servant has certainly heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah to destroy the city for my sake. (Continue reading from your Bible.)

In the above prayers David and his men were being hunted down by Saul and his troops, and were in danger of their lives. Here David demonstrates his humility by putting aside his own fears as he sought to help his neighbors—the people in the city of Keilah. For the Philistines had attacked their city and were plundering their threshing floors.

So David, disregarding his own needs and fears, thought more about what God wanted him to do—whether he should go and try to deliver the people of Keilah, or not. And so he inquired of the Lord, saying, “‘Shall I go and attack these Philistines?’ And the Lord said to David, ‘Go and attack the Philistines, and deliver Keilah.’”

Notice how direct and specific David’s prayer was, and also how clear God’s answer was. But notice also that God did not guarantee that he would be victorious. He simply directed him to attack the Philistines and deliver (or try to deliver) Keilah. He gave a direct answer to David’s direct prayer—no more. In other words, David didn’t ask God if he would be victorious, so God didn’t tell him.

But we see in verse three that when David’s men indicated that they were afraid, David inquired of the Lord again, and this time God gave David assurance that He and his men would be victorious.

Well, as it happened, David went and delivered Keilah. And when Saul found out that David and his men were in the city, he began to plot against him, thinking that he would trap him in the city.

When David discovered that Saul was plotting against him, he didn’t know exactly what to do, because he didn’t know what Saul was thinking and he wasn’t sure what the people of Keilah would do if Saul came. So he prayed and asked God the two questions that were on his mind (vv. 10-12): (1) Will Saul come down after me? And (2) will the men of Keilah surrender me into Saul’s hands?

Here we see David’s very direct and bold prayer—for he asked God to tell him the future! Well, God answered his prayer. He told him that Saul would certainly come down, and that the men of Keilah were intending to surrender him over to Saul. So, with that answer, David and his men departed from Keilah and escaped from Saul’s pursuit.

INTRODUCTION

David was the eighth and youngest son of Jesse the Bethlehemite and as Alexander Maclaren remarks, “It was a prophetic instinct which made Jesse call his youngest boy by a name apparently before unused – David, Beloved” for down the ages the shepherd lad who became king has indeed been beloved by the people of God everywhere.

It may seem a rather cold thing to try to analyse the prayers of the sweet psalmist of Israel and perhaps an in-depth consideration of this good man’s prayers would read almost like another commentary on his many psalms. Indeed so many of David’s psalms have the character of a prayer that it would be, in the space of this short meditation, a practical impossibility to consider them all. Yet, since so many of his prayers have been recorded in other places too, and preserved for us, there must be a reason. There must be some spiritual guidance and profit for us in the reading and consideration of David’s prayers so that we are surely justified in this present exercise.

The expression which heads this article, “the prayers of David”, is found only once in Scripture, in Ps.72.20, which, significantly, is not only the closing verse of this delightful millennial Psalm but also the closing verse of the Second Book of Psalms (Psalms 42-72). Psalm 72 is the ultimate, a companion to Psalm 24, a crescendo in which are foretold the glories of the coming reign of Messiah, the greater Son of David, and when the conditions here described are realised David has nothing more to pray for. The end of all his prayers is the enthronement and rule of the Son of David on the very earth in which He was once rejected and crucified. In anticipation, the Psalmist has sung of these days and when once they come to pass “the prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended”. He can ask no more; he desires no more.

THE SCOPE OF DAVID’S PRAYERS

In a letter to Timothy, Paul writes “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men” 1Tim.2.1. Most expositors will admit to a difficulty in defining any major difference between these four words, supplications, prayers, intercessions, giving of thanks. Perhaps there is an overlapping but they do intimate different aspects of prayer. “Supplication” suggests an earnest pleading in view of some particular need. “Prayers” appears to be a more general word signifying a communing with God concerning matters of all kinds. “Intercessions”, as the prefix “inter” indicates, is a making of request on behalf of others, intervening for them in prayer. “Giving of thanks” needs no explanation.

It has been helpfully suggested that prayer is a man upon his knees; supplication is a man upon his face; intercession is a man upon his feet with hands upraised to heaven; giving of thanks is a man seated, with head bowed in sincere gratitude before God. Some have seen in the four words a suggestion of the four ingredients of the holy incense of Ex.30.34, where galbanum, stacte, onycha and frankincense combine in a sweet fragrance for God’s pleasure.

David knew all of these exercises, and more besides. Some of his prayers were personal, some were prophetical; some were practical, and some were devotional; others, sadly, had to be confessional or penitential, acknowledging shortcoming and sin. Some were for himself or his family, especially for Solomon, some were for his friends, and some for the nation. Then at times David’s prayers were, like some of his psalms, imprecatory, calling for judgment on his many enemies. The “man after God’s own heart” Acts 13.22, seemed to be constantly in communion with the Lord about some matter, anxious to do God’s will, and his psalms are permeated with his prayers. His prayers were not sporadic for as he says himself, “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice” Ps.55.17. How very like that other man of prayer, Daniel, of whom it is written, “his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God” Dan.6.10. What examples!

DAVID’S FIRST RECORDED PRAYER

Perhaps it is not without significance that David’s earliest recorded prayers concern conflict with his enemies the Philistines. “Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors. Therefore David inquired of the LORD saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines?” 1Sam.23.1,2. Two verses later we read “Then David inquired of the LORD yet again”. David was indeed “a man of war” 1Sam.16.18, and sadly, while he fought so valiantly for Israel, it was this very thing that denied him the privilege of building the temple. As he himself records, “God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for My name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood” 1Chron.28.3. Ever after, so many of David’s prayers have this character, asking for help and guidance in conflict. A similar prayer is recorded in 2Sam.5.19, “And David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt Thou deliver them into mine hand?” And the LORD said unto David, “Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.”” Again and again we read that David enquired of the LORD. At times he was answered immediately, and at times, as it is with ourselves, perhaps the answer was not what David expected, or wanted. When later the Philistines had come against him again we read, “When David inquired of the LORD, He said, “Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees”” 2Sam.5.23. How good to obey, even when the directions may seem strange to us.

INTELLIGENCE AND REVERENCE

Every exercised believer must surely desire to be both intelligent and reverent in drawing near to God, and such features are very evident in David’s address to Divine persons. His intelligent use of appropriate Divine titles does, in fact, indicate reverence and in our modern age we can certainly learn from David’s example in this respect.

Elohim

How often does he exclaim “O God” as he approaches in prayer. “God” is, in the Hebrew, Elohim. It is the first Divine name used in our Bible, Gen.1.1. It is a plural name signifying One Who is not only mighty but almighty, absolutely supreme in His might. More than one hundred and forty times in the Psalms does David employ this great name. How this should engender confidence in us, to know that in prayer we come to the supreme and all-powerful Elohim. Of course we know that He is our Father, and this brings Him very near to us, but nevertheless, our Father is the mighty Elohim, Creator of the universe. How we should trust Him, as David did. And then, again, David often exclaims “O my God”. The personal pronoun “my” made Elohim very relevant to him and we can almost feel the pathos when he cries, again and again, “O my God [my Elohim]”.

Jehovah

Whether David actually and literally pronounced the great name “Jehovah” we cannot tell. Today Jews regard it as the unpronounceable name. Neither will they even write it in its fullness, but certainly David did in some way use or imply the great name and he employs it several hundred times in his psalms. And again, as with Elohim, he at times prefixes the name with the pronoun and cries “O my Jehovah“. As we contemplate David’s intelligent and reverent use of Divine titles in a past dispensation, how grateful we ought to be who sing, with greater light than David,

So near to God, so very near,

Nearer we cannot be,

For in the Person of His Son

We are as near as He.

 (C. Paget)

For believers of the present age Elohim is not distant! Jehovah is not remote! Remembering our privilege, we draw near with boldness, but remembering Divine greatness we draw near with becoming reverence.

Jehovah El

This title emphasises David’s intelligence in his prayers when, again and again he appeals to, “LORD God”, as for example in Ps.31.5. Here “LORD” is Jehovah and God is El (see Strong 410). This combination of titles conveys both the all-sufficiency and the strength of David’s God. We cannot believe that he used these titles indiscriminately, or at random, but with reverent intelligence, and it is touching to remember that the verse referred to above, Ps.31.5, was that used by the Lord Jesus in His last breath at Golgotha when He said “Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit” Lk.23.46, and was it in the mind of Stephen too in the hour of his stoning, Acts 7.59? David did not know God as Father for that relationship came later with the resurrection of Christ and the coming of the indwelling Spirit. Calvary and Pentecost have made such a difference! Nevertheless, David did know a Fatherly care. He appreciated that but addressed His prayers to Jehovah, to Elohim, or to El.

THE PRAYER OF THE PENITENT

It is difficult to imagine a greater extreme than that between the prayers of the man of war and the prayers and confession of David the penitent. What a difference in the atmosphere, the language and the heartfelt appeal. David had sinned grievously. He had broken the tenth, the seventh, and the sixth commandments in that order. The man who had subdued Philistines, Syrians, Amalekites, Ammonites, Moabites, and Edomites, could not subdue his own passions. Idleness and sloth had led to covetousness, adultery, pretence, hypocrisy and murder. The man who had slain a lion, a bear, and a giant, had now been slain himself by his own unbridled lust. Poor David! The nation was singing his psalms but he was sobbing out his remorse. Let those who would be judgmental and critical of him first read Psalm 51 before voicing any cruel criticism. This is the sad prayer of a thoroughly repentant David and what an example for any believer with sin to confess.

David unreservedly acknowledges his sin. He acknowledges too the enormity of it. Of course he had sinned against Uriah, against Bathsheba, against his family and against the nation, but such is the enormity of his sin that he exclaims, “Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned” Ps.51.4. His sin was a deliberate transgression of Jehovah’s known law. It was not a sin of ignorance. It was rebellion and was therefore primarily a sin against God. If others were affected by his sin, and they were, that was grievous, but sinning against the God Whom he knew was the ultimate wrong. He uses the three great terms to describe his sin, calling it “my transgressions, my sin, my iniquity”. His confession is completely unreserved.

The prophet Nathan has reproved him and he bows to the reproof. He offers no excuse and makes no request for leniency. He desires deliverance from bloodguiltiness and pleads only the loving kindness and tender mercies of God as he asks “wash me; cleanse me; purge me”. Notice the relative absence of Divine names and titles in the penitential Psalm 51. Only six times in nineteen verses does David use the title Elohim and once only he uses the title Adonai. This is simply “Lord”, and is the title that Jews will use in their liturgies as a substitute for Jehovah. Do we sense an estrangement from his God here? How he dreads being left in his guilt. If the joy of salvation is not restored to him it will affect his testimony to sinners and will affect also the blessing of Zion. His only hope is in the magnanimity of the God of his salvation. If He in the great goodness of His heart would hear the confession of His servant and pardon his sin then all would be restored to what it had been.

Note that David confesses “I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me” Ps.51.5. He had been born in sin and had inherited a sinful nature but he does not use this as an excuse for what he had done. He had sinned wilfully and his sin weighed upon his conscience; it was ever before him. He pleads “Wash me; cleanse me; purge me” because he feels like an unclean leper or like a soiled garment. He was stained and broken, but he prays what the believer in this age cannot pray when he pleads, “Take not Thy Holy Spirit from me” v.11. We have an indwelling gracious Spirit Who will never leave us. Otherwise, what an example for us when we sin! Let us bring a full, frank and sincere acknowledgement of the wrong, casting ourselves unreservedly upon Him Who is not only faithful in His judgment of sin but faithful also in forgiving the true penitent. In the blessings of our salvation in this New Testament era we do not need to beg for forgiveness, for “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” 1Jn.1.9, and in the Lord Jesus we have an Advocate, a Comforter Who will assist us back into communion with the Father Whom we have grieved, 1Jn.2.1. But when we remember that the man after God’s own heart could sin so grievously how it behoves us to pray as he did, “Preserve me, O God: for in Thee do I put my trust” Ps.16.1.

Psalm 32 is an associate Psalm with Psalm 51, believed to have been written after David’s restoration following his sin with Bathsheba. This is one of thirteen Maschil Psalms, which word means “instruction”, and who better to give instruction regarding sin, confession and restoration than the man who has been there. David reminisces. He remembers the pain of those days subsequent to his sin and prior to his forgiveness. Alternatively he suffered in pained silence or else groaned aloud in anguish under the hand of God. Inwardly his conscience was heavily burdened and outwardly his very physical frame was affected. Day and night he suffered in deep conviction about what he had done, until, as he says, “I acknowledged my sin unto Thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin” Ps.32.5. How sincere was his confession, for there followed immediately the “Selah”. There was pardon, peace and praise and he cries “Thou art my hiding place”. Now he can revel in the blessedness of forgiveness, for his transgression is forgiven and his sin is covered. This is blessedness indeed, true happiness. Now there are songs of deliverance and the psalm ends with shouts of joy.

David would teach us, from painful experience, the cost of sinning against the Lord, and the foolishness, when we have sinned, of trying to conceal it, or of remaining in silence and in stubborn refusal to freely acknowledge our sin. Still today there is blessedness in that true confession which is the prelude to forgiveness and restoration into the joy of communion. How instructive are David’s prayers!

THE PRAYERS OF THE FUGITIVE

David had two periods in his life when he was an exile and a fugitive. He was of course a fugitive from the jealous Saul who lived in fear of David’s accession to the throne. Saul hunted David “as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains” 1Sam.26.20. David sojourned in the wilderness of Ziph, several miles south-east of Hebron, where on more than one occasion he spared Saul’s life when he could very easily have slain him. Most honourably he refused to harm him whom he called “the LORD’S anointed” v.11.

But undoubtedly David’s most painful period of exile was when he had to flee Jerusalem from his own son Absalom. Absalom was a usurper, a rebel, assuming the throne which belonged to his father. With his life in danger David fled and with head covered and feet bare he crossed the brook Kidron over to the mount of Olives with some faithful followers. He sent the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem and began his sad exile in the Judean wilderness. He was, as Maclaren says, a “discrowned King”, and it was during this period that several of his psalms were born, incorporating in them some touching prayers of the fugitive.

The first of these is Psalm 3, where the superscription distinctly tells us that it was composed “when he fled from Absalom his son”. It commences with a heartfelt cry to Jehovah, “LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! Many are they that rise up against me.” Absalom had, by guile, gathered so many around him and such was David’s position now that they said “There is no help for him in God”. But in his lament there is hope too and he could exclaim “But Thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head”. He confidently believed that the Lord would protect him like a shield, so that he would yet lift up his bowed head and be returned to his former glory. Confident that the Lord would both preserve and deliver him, he could lie down and sleep. He could not trust and fear at the same time so he says calmly, “I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me … I will not be afraid” Ps.3.5,6. Jehovah was mightier than his foes.

Psalms 3 and 4 form a pair. Continuing his confession in Psalm 4 David now pleads “Hear me when I call”, and his appeal is to Him Whom he calls “O God of my righteousness”. He recognises his own unrighteousness. In his distress he freely acknowledges this and his plea is to the righteous One by Whom righteousness can be restored. David has been sore pressed by the remembrance of his sin and the trauma of his conviction and confession, and he now says, in Mr. Darby’s beautiful rendering of Ps.4.1, “In pressure Thou hast enlarged me”. Pressure usually constricts and suppresses but the pressure of all that he has been through since the prophet Nathan challenged him has had the effect of enlarging David’s thoughts of God. He can only ask for mercy and grace but such is his confidence as to Jehovah’s mercy that he concludes his prayer saying, “Thou hast put gladness in my heart” and yet again he declares, “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for Thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety” vv.7,8. Jehovah is his strength and in Him he can rest in confidence, and sleep in safety from those who hunt him.

CONFESSION AND MEDITATION

Although it is not specifically stated in the psalm it is generally believed that Psalm 25 is also related to David’s sin and confession. As in the great penitential Psalm 51, David again appeals to “the God of my salvation”. He speaks of pardon and preservation, of tender mercies and loving kindnesses, and he asks for leading and guiding. He professes his trust in Him Who can deliver him from his enemies. There are many, he says, who hate him without a cause, and he appeals to his God for necessary help in his affliction. How fully submissive he is in his contrition as he appeals to Jehovah, “Show me … lead me … teach me … I trust in Thee”. How relevant are these requests for present day believers. If, however, the requests are really genuine then the suppliant must be prepared to accept and act upon the Divine answers. Whatever He may show me; wherever He may lead me; whatever truth He may teach me, I must trust and be willing to accept His plan for me. It is the way to blessing and as believers often sing:

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way

To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

 (J. H. Sammis)

MY STRENGTH; MY SHIELD; MY SONG

In Psalm 28 David’s plea continues and he now dreads the awful consequence if Jehovah does not answer. “Unto Thee will I cry, O LORD my rock”. Already, in Psalm 18 David has used this great title of God, “My Rock”, and associated with that title so many other titles of Jehovah, so comforting to a fugitive, as he then was, “The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in Whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.” What strength is depicted in all of these reverent descriptions of God and what comfort for a fugitive.

But what a tragedy if Jehovah failed to answer! “Be not silent to me: lest, if Thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit”. What a tragedy indeed it would be for any saint if Jehovah remained silent and did not answer! David fears that in such circumstances he would become just like the masses. They are workers of iniquity who with their tongues speak peace but in their hearts devise mischief. It is pretence; it is hypocrisy, and he has had enough of that. He had behaved exactly as the workers of iniquity “which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts” Ps.28.3. David had indeed spoken of peace to Uriah while at the same time he was devising mischief in his heart towards him. “Shalom”, he had said to Uriah while plotting his death. “And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him how Joab did (shalom), and how the people did (shalom), and how the war prospered (shalom)” 2Sam.11.7. It cost him the joy of his salvation and his usefulness as a testimony for God. David sinned in his weakness but the Lord was his strength and he will go to Him.

Now, forgiven, David can sincerely pray for his people, whom he calls “Thy people, Thine inheritance”. “Save them”, he prays; “bless them; feed them; lift them up.” “The LORD is my strength” he has just said, v.7, and now he says, “The LORD is their strength” v.8. Being now himself right with God, David’s concern is for the nation.

THE FUGITIVE IN THE WILDERNESS

Psalm 63 was born during David’s exile in the wilderness and his physical condition and surroundings were but a reflection of his inner feelings. Waking early in the morning in a dry and thirsty land he had strong desires and longings. Physically he must have yearned for water and for food but his physical desires were little compared with his longing to see the power and the glory of the sanctuary which now must have seemed so far away. But the loving kindness of the mighty Elohim was better than life itself and he would never cease to offer praise. While he lived he would daily bless the Lord. Early in the morning he would offer his praises and even upon his bed in the night watches he would meditate on the Lord. In spite of his unfavourable circumstances in this inhospitable wilderness he could say: “Because Thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of Thy wings will I rejoice.” Like a little bird he could nestle in the shadow of Jehovah’s wings. There he was assured of safety and shelter, and there he could rest, protected, contented, and satisfied. What an exhilarating example David has left us. Most of us live in much better conditions than this poor fugitive, but even in our days of darkness and sorrow or in our seasons of loneliness we do well to imitate this good man and keep on praising.

For a moment he thinks of his enemies. They will go into judgment. They will fall by the sword, but he will rejoice. He remembers, even in his imposed exile, that he is the king, and that the right hand of the Lord will uphold him. Let us, like David, fill our prayers with praises and keep on rejoicing.

While many of David’s prayers have the kingdom, and the nation, in view, yet he also does pray much for himself. In Psalm 31 he speaks of “my trust; my trouble: my times”. He recognises that his times are in the hand of the Lord, but even in such times, ordered by Jehovah, there are troubles, and in such troublous circumstances he must trust. “Be Thou my strong rock” he cries again, and once more he introduces a lovely title of his God saying, “Thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth”. Jehovah Elohim was indeed a God of truth. He could be trusted by His people. All that He planned for them, all that He did, all that He said, was in keeping with this character. There was nothing devious in Him and no vacillation. With this James concurs in the New Testament, calling Him “the Father of lights, with Whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” Jms.1.17, and He had begotten His people by the Word of truth. So, like David of old, we can trust the Lord God of truth, and rest.

PRAYERS OF THE SUFFERER

It has been said that poets learn in suffering what they teach in song and this is certainly true of David. So many of those psalms of his which incorporate his prayers, have been conceived in suffering and are now greatly blessed in the comforting of other sufferers.

Whether David was fully aware of it or not, some of his prayers, arising out of his sorrows, were anticipative and prophetic of the suffering Messiah and perhaps also of a persecuted remnant of a day to come. Of these, Psalms 22 and 69 are supreme examples.

In Psalm 22, he compares himself to the hind of the dawn, for such is the meaning of the Hebrew words in the title Aijeleth-Shahar. The hind of the dawn, so called because as a gentle creature it was hunted even as it came to drink, and nibble grass by the water’s edge in the early morning. Only at dawn did it have any rest at all but soon after daybreak it was encompassed by enemies. David knew the experience and so it was too with our blessed Lord. Strong bulls and fierce dogs gathered about Him, proud Jewish leaders and merciless Gentile mercenaries. They gaped upon Him with their mouths and stared upon Him in His weakness. David could not have known the details of Christ’s sufferings but these are portrayed in Psalm 22. These details are now recorded in the gospels for His people’s wonder, and for their adoration and appreciation of One Who was indeed the Man of Sorrows.

That faithful remnant of a coming day, suffering under the tyrannical reign of the man of sin will likely use the language of David’s Psalm 22 as they maintain a testimony to the Lord. Surrounded and hunted by enemies as He was, they may well take comfort in the language of this and other psalms of the sufferer.

Psalm 69 is also a prayer of the sufferer. One commentator calls it a “Prayer of the Suffering Servant of God” (W. T. Davison1). A Jewish writer calls it a “Prayer of the Persecuted” (Dr. Cohen2). There are perhaps six references to reproach in the psalm. David cries, “Save me, O God”, and at once proceeds to enlarge upon his deep suffering. Soon he will cry, “Deliver me”, and more than once he cries, “Answer me, O Jehovah”. He feels as if he is sinking in deep mire, and then compares his sorrow to floods of waters which threaten to overflow him.1 Davidson, W.T. “The Psalms (I-LXXII)”. The Century Bible, T.C & E.C. Jack, Edinburgh.
2 Cohen, Dr. A. “The Psalms”. The Soncino Press, London, 1945

The entire burden and theme of Psalm 69 is suffering and the psalmist just longs for relief. It is, from beginning to end, a prayer for Divine intervention in his distress and yet, as in Psalm 22 there shines through at times that assurance that Jehovah does hear the cry of the needy and will indeed save. So there can be cause for praise, even in sorrow. “I will praise the name of God with a song” v.30.

Then, in Ps.4.1, as has already been mentioned, David says to the God of righteousness, “In pressure Thou hast enlarged me”(J.N.D.). David has learned that the pressure of suffering will but enlarge him, not only in his thoughts of God but in his attitude and ministry to his fellow-men. So it is still, that suffering saints who understand that there is a reason for their suffering often exhibit a sweetness which many others do not have.

LOVE AND TRUST

Like all men, David had his faults and failings, some of them grave indeed, but there can be no doubt whatever of his deep love for Jehovah. In prayer, throughout his psalms he expresses this affection freely. Although Psalm 116 is anonymous yet the opening words “I LOVE the LORD” may well have been on David’s lips often and the psalm continues with a multitude of reasons for the psalmist’s love, to all of which David could have added a sincere and hearty “Amen”. Jehovah was gracious and merciful; He inclined His ear to His people; He heard and answered their prayers and dealt bountifully with them; He saved them and kept them so that it all demanded a “Hallelujah” v.19.

David’s love for the Lord engendered a corresponding trust in Him and this is expressed in many of his psalms. How beautiful in this respect is Ps.18.1,2 “I will love Thee, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in Whom I will trust”.

It is at times difficult to disentangle the prayers and praises in David’s psalms. Sometimes he will make sincere and earnest request and then, almost immediately, burst into paeans of praise as if he already had the desired answer. This is love and trust combined. Love for Jehovah encourages him to come and make his request and trust enables him to believe that his prayer is heard and will indeed be answered. It is as though he lived in the enjoyment of that assurance written for a people of another age, “before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear” Isa.65.24.

PRAYERS OF THE PILGRIM

Although in his later years David knew much of opulence and wealth, with every creature comfort available to him, yet still he considered himself a pilgrim. His early years had perhaps been simple and frugal enough as he watched over his father’s few sheep in the wilderness, 1Sam.17.28, but he was destined to be called from the sheepcotes to the throne and that brought the luxury of those latter years. But in the spirit of his great predecessors he knew that this was all temporary. They “looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” Heb.11.10.

As a shepherd himself David knew the value, indeed the necessity, of being safely led along the way. There were many problems and dangers, both seen and unseen, and the shepherd’s rod and staff were a comfort for guidance, protection, and correction. How often David prayed for that guidance along his pilgrim pathway. Here is just a selection, from the Psalms, of his pleas for the Lord’s guidance that will be evidence of the sincerity and constancy of his desire to be led.

5.8, “Lead me, O LORD … make Thy way straight before my face”;

25.5, “Lead me in Thy truth, and teach me”;

27.11, “Lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies”;

31.3, “Lead me, and guide me”;

61.2, “Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I”;

139.24, “Lead me in the way everlasting”;

143.10, “Lead me into the land of uprightness”.

Then, in testimony to Jehovah he can say, “He leadeth me beside the still waters … He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness” Ps.23.2,3. How applicable is all this to present-day pilgrims, who ever need to be encouraged along the way.

PRAYERS THAT ARE PROPHETICAL

As there were two psalms that were pre-eminently psalms of suffering, Psalms 22 and 69, so there are two psalms which stand out as psalms of coming Kingdom glory, Psalms 24 and 110. Psalm 110 concludes with the words quoted earlier in this paper, “The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended”. Prophetically David envisages the reign of the greater Son of David and when that comes to pass and the whole earth is filled with Messiah’s glory, David has nothing more to pray for. His prayers are ended.

Psalm 24 is full of praise for the glory of the Creator but there is implicit in the psalm a spirit of prayerful anticipation. Historically the psalm is believed to have been composed for, and sung at, the bringing back of the holy Ark of the Covenant to Zion after its long exile. By interpretation, some commentators, including the respected Spurgeon, see in the psalm a picture of Christ’s ascension into the heavens after His resurrection. This might indeed be a fine application of the psalm but the ultimate true interpretation is of the entrance of the King of Glory through the gates and into the millennial Jerusalem. The King of Glory is none other than Jesus, Who with clean hands and a pure heart, strong and mighty in the battle of Armageddon, takes His rightful place on the throne.

This psalm is a majestic and fitting prelude to Psalm 110 which, as has already been noted, is the great millennial psalm anticipating the glorious reign of Messiah, the Son of David. It may be objected that this psalm is not, essentially, a prayer, and yet several times in the psalm David does address the Lord and His Anointed, so that the spirit of prayer and praise does pervade the seven verses. The psalm is pure, poetic prophecy, unique in all literature, and even in the Psalter.

PRAYERS OF THE WORSHIPPER

David knew how to worship. It would not be possible or practical, in the bounds of one short paper, to refer to every instance of David’s worship. Intelligent worship requires some knowledge of, and experience with, the Lord, and it is evident that when David was but a shepherd boy he had a knowledge of God above many of his contemporaries. In his challenge to Goliath he could say “I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel” 1Sam.17.45. Several times then he used the great name Jehovah (Strong 3068) as well as Elohim, (Strong 430) saying so confidently, “All this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’S, and He will give you into our hands” 1Sam.17.47. With such knowledge David indeed became a worshipper and this reveals itself in many of his psalms. One has said that “Worship is the honour and adoration rendered to God for what He is in Himself and for what He means to those who render it” (J.N.D.). All this was true of David.

As early as the lovely eighth Psalm David’s worship is manifested. Psalm 8 both begins and ends with a rather majestic outburst of praise and worship. “O LORD our Lord, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth! Who hast set Thy glory above the heavens” Ps.8.1,9. Excellence in the earth and glory above the heavens demands worship! Expressions of worship are enclosed between the identical first and last verses of this psalm just as a jewel might be encased in golden clasps. David recognises the greatness of the Creator and worships. And again there is a spirit of prophecy in the psalm relating as it does to Messiah, the Man Who will one day rule and reign in the creation, Heb.2.6-8.

Being a worshipper himself David many times exhorts others to worship too, saying “Give unto the LORD the glory due unto His name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness” Ps.29.2. “O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our Maker” Ps.95.6. And again, “O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness” Ps.96.9. “Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at His footstool; for He is holy. Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at His holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy” Ps.99.5,9.

David finds other reasons too to worship, apart from the creatorial power and glory of Jehovah, and in what is perhaps his last reference to worship in the Psalter he says, “I will worship toward Thy holy temple, and praise Thy name for Thy lovingkindness and for Thy truth: for Thou hast magnified Thy word above all Thy name” Ps.138.2. That the mighty Creator should show loving kindness, mercy, pity, toward His creatures was a cause for worship, as was His truth and the greatness of His Word. All this is true for present-day worshippers who have indeed more light than David had and an access into the Lord’s immediate presence which David never had. We may come boldly, but with becoming reverence, into that very presence with our prayers, and our expressions of praise and worship.

THE MOURNER

David had much in his life to make him a mourner but there were three occasions in particular when he shed bitter tears, in a sad mingling of prayer and lamentation. He wept at the deaths of Saul and Jonathan, at the treacherous death of Abner, and at the death of his son Absalom.

In 2 Samuel chapter 1 the news came to David that Saul and Jonathan were both dead, slain on Mount Gilboa in a battle with the Philistines. “And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son.” Saul had been an enemy of David in his jealousy. Jonathan had been a close companion and friend, but it is a testimony to the noble spirit of David that he lamented over both. His lament was both a prayer and an elegy as he said “The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen! Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil. From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty. Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel. How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places. I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!” 2Sam.1.19-27. What a prayerful lamentation was this, recorded forever in the sacred record.

Abner was Saul’s uncle, and the general of his armies, 1Sam.14.50. For seven years after Saul’s death, he was a supporter of Ish-bosheth; Saul’s son, in his assumption of the throne while David reigned at Hebron. But after a sharp disagreement with Ish-bosheth he then undertook to unite the whole kingdom under David. He was, however, treacherously slain by Joab, either to revenge the death of Asahel, Joab’s brother, whom Abner had formerly killed, or perhaps more probably from jealousy. David abhorred this treacherous act, and composed an elegy on his death, 2Sam.2.8; 3.33.

“And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier. And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept. And the king lamented over Abner. And they buried Abner in Hebron: and

INTRODUCTION

David was the eighth and youngest son of Jesse the Bethlehemite and as Alexander Maclaren remarks, “It was a prophetic instinct which made Jesse call his youngest boy by a name apparently before unused – David, Beloved” for down the ages the shepherd lad who became king has indeed been beloved by the people of God everywhere.

It may seem a rather cold thing to try to analyse the prayers of the sweet psalmist of Israel and perhaps an in-depth consideration of this good man’s prayers would read almost like another commentary on his many psalms. Indeed so many of David’s psalms have the character of a prayer that it would be, in the space of this short meditation, a practical impossibility to consider them all. Yet, since so many of his prayers have been recorded in other places too, and preserved for us, there must be a reason. There must be some spiritual guidance and profit for us in the reading and consideration of David’s prayers so that we are surely justified in this present exercise.

The expression which heads this article, “the prayers of David”, is found only once in Scripture, in Ps.72.20, which, significantly, is not only the closing verse of this delightful millennial Psalm but also the closing verse of the Second Book of Psalms (Psalms 42-72). Psalm 72 is the ultimate, a companion to Psalm 24, a crescendo in which are foretold the glories of the coming reign of Messiah, the greater Son of David, and when the conditions here described are realised David has nothing more to pray for. The end of all his prayers is the enthronement and rule of the Son of David on the very earth in which He was once rejected and crucified. In anticipation, the Psalmist has sung of these days and when once they come to pass “the prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended”. He can ask no more; he desires no more.

THE SCOPE OF DAVID’S PRAYERS

In a letter to Timothy, Paul writes “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men” 1Tim.2.1. Most expositors will admit to a difficulty in defining any major difference between these four words, supplications, prayers, intercessions, giving of thanks. Perhaps there is an overlapping but they do intimate different aspects of prayer. “Supplication” suggests an earnest pleading in view of some particular need. “Prayers” appears to be a more general word signifying a communing with God concerning matters of all kinds. “Intercessions”, as the prefix “inter” indicates, is a making of request on behalf of others, intervening for them in prayer. “Giving of thanks” needs no explanation.

It has been helpfully suggested that prayer is a man upon his knees; supplication is a man upon his face; intercession is a man upon his feet with hands upraised to heaven; giving of thanks is a man seated, with head bowed in sincere gratitude before God. Some have seen in the four words a suggestion of the four ingredients of the holy incense of Ex.30.34, where galbanum, stacte, onycha and frankincense combine in a sweet fragrance for God’s pleasure.

David knew all of these exercises, and more besides. Some of his prayers were personal, some were prophetical; some were practical, and some were devotional; others, sadly, had to be confessional or penitential, acknowledging shortcoming and sin. Some were for himself or his family, especially for Solomon, some were for his friends, and some for the nation. Then at times David’s prayers were, like some of his psalms, imprecatory, calling for judgment on his many enemies. The “man after God’s own heart” Acts 13.22, seemed to be constantly in communion with the Lord about some matter, anxious to do God’s will, and his psalms are permeated with his prayers. His prayers were not sporadic for as he says himself, “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice” Ps.55.17. How very like that other man of prayer, Daniel, of whom it is written, “his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God” Dan.6.10. What examples!

DAVID’S FIRST RECORDED PRAYER

Perhaps it is not without significance that David’s earliest recorded prayers concern conflict with his enemies the Philistines. “Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors. Therefore David inquired of the LORD saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines?” 1Sam.23.1,2. Two verses later we read “Then David inquired of the LORD yet again”. David was indeed “a man of war” 1Sam.16.18, and sadly, while he fought so valiantly for Israel, it was this very thing that denied him the privilege of building the temple. As he himself records, “God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for My name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood” 1Chron.28.3. Ever after, so many of David’s prayers have this character, asking for help and guidance in conflict. A similar prayer is recorded in 2Sam.5.19, “And David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt Thou deliver them into mine hand?” And the LORD said unto David, “Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.”” Again and again we read that David enquired of the LORD. At times he was answered immediately, and at times, as it is with ourselves, perhaps the answer was not what David expected, or wanted. When later the Philistines had come against him again we read, “When David inquired of the LORD, He said, “Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees”” 2Sam.5.23. How good to obey, even when the directions may seem strange to us.

INTELLIGENCE AND REVERENCE

Every exercised believer must surely desire to be both intelligent and reverent in drawing near to God, and such features are very evident in David’s address to Divine persons. His intelligent use of appropriate Divine titles does, in fact, indicate reverence and in our modern age we can certainly learn from David’s example in this respect.

Elohim

How often does he exclaim “O God” as he approaches in prayer. “God” is, in the Hebrew, Elohim. It is the first Divine name used in our Bible, Gen.1.1. It is a plural name signifying One Who is not only mighty but almighty, absolutely supreme in His might. More than one hundred and forty times in the Psalms does David employ this great name. How this should engender confidence in us, to know that in prayer we come to the supreme and all-powerful Elohim. Of course we know that He is our Father, and this brings Him very near to us, but nevertheless, our Father is the mighty Elohim, Creator of the universe. How we should trust Him, as David did. And then, again, David often exclaims “O my God”. The personal pronoun “my” made Elohim very relevant to him and we can almost feel the pathos when he cries, again and again, “O my God [my Elohim]”.

Jehovah

Whether David actually and literally pronounced the great name “Jehovah” we cannot tell. Today Jews regard it as the unpronounceable name. Neither will they even write it in its fullness, but certainly David did in some way use or imply the great name and he employs it several hundred times in his psalms. And again, as with Elohim, he at times prefixes the name with the pronoun and cries “O my Jehovah“. As we contemplate David’s intelligent and reverent use of Divine titles in a past dispensation, how grateful we ought to be who sing, with greater light than David,

So near to God, so very near,

Nearer we cannot be,

For in the Person of His Son

We are as near as He.

 (C. Paget)

For believers of the present age Elohim is not distant! Jehovah is not remote! Remembering our privilege, we draw near with boldness, but remembering Divine greatness we draw near with becoming reverence.

Jehovah El

This title emphasises David’s intelligence in his prayers when, again and again he appeals to, “LORD God”, as for example in Ps.31.5. Here “LORD” is Jehovah and God is El (see Strong 410). This combination of titles conveys both the all-sufficiency and the strength of David’s God. We cannot believe that he used these titles indiscriminately, or at random, but with reverent intelligence, and it is touching to remember that the verse referred to above, Ps.31.5, was that used by the Lord Jesus in His last breath at Golgotha when He said “Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit” Lk.23.46, and was it in the mind of Stephen too in the hour of his stoning, Acts 7.59? David did not know God as Father for that relationship came later with the resurrection of Christ and the coming of the indwelling Spirit. Calvary and Pentecost have made such a difference! Nevertheless, David did know a Fatherly care. He appreciated that but addressed His prayers to Jehovah, to Elohim, or to El.

THE PRAYER OF THE PENITENT

It is difficult to imagine a greater extreme than that between the prayers of the man of war and the prayers and confession of David the penitent. What a difference in the atmosphere, the language and the heartfelt appeal. David had sinned grievously. He had broken the tenth, the seventh, and the sixth commandments in that order. The man who had subdued Philistines, Syrians, Amalekites, Ammonites, Moabites, and Edomites, could not subdue his own passions. Idleness and sloth had led to covetousness, adultery, pretence, hypocrisy and murder. The man who had slain a lion, a bear, and a giant, had now been slain himself by his own unbridled lust. Poor David! The nation was singing his psalms but he was sobbing out his remorse. Let those who would be judgmental and critical of him first read Psalm 51 before voicing any cruel criticism. This is the sad prayer of a thoroughly repentant David and what an example for any believer with sin to confess.

David unreservedly acknowledges his sin. He acknowledges too the enormity of it. Of course he had sinned against Uriah, against Bathsheba, against his family and against the nation, but such is the enormity of his sin that he exclaims, “Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned” Ps.51.4. His sin was a deliberate transgression of Jehovah’s known law. It was not a sin of ignorance. It was rebellion and was therefore primarily a sin against God. If others were affected by his sin, and they were, that was grievous, but sinning against the God Whom he knew was the ultimate wrong. He uses the three great terms to describe his sin, calling it “my transgressions, my sin, my iniquity”. His confession is completely unreserved.

The prophet Nathan has reproved him and he bows to the reproof. He offers no excuse and makes no request for leniency. He desires deliverance from bloodguiltiness and pleads only the loving kindness and tender mercies of God as he asks “wash me; cleanse me; purge me”. Notice the relative absence of Divine names and titles in the penitential Psalm 51. Only six times in nineteen verses does David use the title Elohim and once only he uses the title Adonai. This is simply “Lord”, and is the title that Jews will use in their liturgies as a substitute for Jehovah. Do we sense an estrangement from his God here? How he dreads being left in his guilt. If the joy of salvation is not restored to him it will affect his testimony to sinners and will affect also the blessing of Zion. His only hope is in the magnanimity of the God of his salvation. If He in the great goodness of His heart would hear the confession of His servant and pardon his sin then all would be restored to what it had been.

Note that David confesses “I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me” Ps.51.5. He had been born in sin and had inherited a sinful nature but he does not use this as an excuse for what he had done. He had sinned wilfully and his sin weighed upon his conscience; it was ever before him. He pleads “Wash me; cleanse me; purge me” because he feels like an unclean leper or like a soiled garment. He was stained and broken, but he prays what the believer in this age cannot pray when he pleads, “Take not Thy Holy Spirit from me” v.11. We have an indwelling gracious Spirit Who will never leave us. Otherwise, what an example for us when we sin! Let us bring a full, frank and sincere acknowledgement of the wrong, casting ourselves unreservedly upon Him Who is not only faithful in His judgment of sin but faithful also in forgiving the true penitent. In the blessings of our salvation in this New Testament era we do not need to beg for forgiveness, for “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” 1Jn.1.9, and in the Lord Jesus we have an Advocate, a Comforter Who will assist us back into communion with the Father Whom we have grieved, 1Jn.2.1. But when we remember that the man after God’s own heart could sin so grievously how it behoves us to pray as he did, “Preserve me, O God: for in Thee do I put my trust” Ps.16.1.

Psalm 32 is an associate Psalm with Psalm 51, believed to have been written after David’s restoration following his sin with Bathsheba. This is one of thirteen Maschil Psalms, which word means “instruction”, and who better to give instruction regarding sin, confession and restoration than the man who has been there. David reminisces. He remembers the pain of those days subsequent to his sin and prior to his forgiveness. Alternatively he suffered in pained silence or else groaned aloud in anguish under the hand of God. Inwardly his conscience was heavily burdened and outwardly his very physical frame was affected. Day and night he suffered in deep conviction about what he had done, until, as he says, “I acknowledged my sin unto Thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin” Ps.32.5. How sincere was his confession, for there followed immediately the “Selah”. There was pardon, peace and praise and he cries “Thou art my hiding place”. Now he can revel in the blessedness of forgiveness, for his transgression is forgiven and his sin is covered. This is blessedness indeed, true happiness. Now there are songs of deliverance and the psalm ends with shouts of joy.

David would teach us, from painful experience, the cost of sinning against the Lord, and the foolishness, when we have sinned, of trying to conceal it, or of remaining in silence and in stubborn refusal to freely acknowledge our sin. Still today there is blessedness in that true confession which is the prelude to forgiveness and restoration into the joy of communion. How instructive are David’s prayers!

THE PRAYERS OF THE FUGITIVE

David had two periods in his life when he was an exile and a fugitive. He was of course a fugitive from the jealous Saul who lived in fear of David’s accession to the throne. Saul hunted David “as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains” 1Sam.26.20. David sojourned in the wilderness of Ziph, several miles south-east of Hebron, where on more than one occasion he spared Saul’s life when he could very easily have slain him. Most honourably he refused to harm him whom he called “the LORD’S anointed” v.11.

But undoubtedly David’s most painful period of exile was when he had to flee Jerusalem from his own son Absalom. Absalom was a usurper, a rebel, assuming the throne which belonged to his father. With his life in danger David fled and with head covered and feet bare he crossed the brook Kidron over to the mount of Olives with some faithful followers. He sent the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem and began his sad exile in the Judean wilderness. He was, as Maclaren says, a “discrowned King”, and it was during this period that several of his psalms were born, incorporating in them some touching prayers of the fugitive.

The first of these is Psalm 3, where the superscription distinctly tells us that it was composed “when he fled from Absalom his son”. It commences with a heartfelt cry to Jehovah, “LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! Many are they that rise up against me.” Absalom had, by guile, gathered so many around him and such was David’s position now that they said “There is no help for him in God”. But in his lament there is hope too and he could exclaim “But Thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head”. He confidently believed that the Lord would protect him like a shield, so that he would yet lift up his bowed head and be returned to his former glory. Confident that the Lord would both preserve and deliver him, he could lie down and sleep. He could not trust and fear at the same time so he says calmly, “I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me … I will not be afraid” Ps.3.5,6. Jehovah was mightier than his foes.

Psalms 3 and 4 form a pair. Continuing his confession in Psalm 4 David now pleads “Hear me when I call”, and his appeal is to Him Whom he calls “O God of my righteousness”. He recognises his own unrighteousness. In his distress he freely acknowledges this and his plea is to the righteous One by Whom righteousness can be restored. David has been sore pressed by the remembrance of his sin and the trauma of his conviction and confession, and he now says, in Mr. Darby’s beautiful rendering of Ps.4.1, “In pressure Thou hast enlarged me”. Pressure usually constricts and suppresses but the pressure of all that he has been through since the prophet Nathan challenged him has had the effect of enlarging David’s thoughts of God. He can only ask for mercy and grace but such is his confidence as to Jehovah’s mercy that he concludes his prayer saying, “Thou hast put gladness in my heart” and yet again he declares, “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for Thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety” vv.7,8. Jehovah is his strength and in Him he can rest in confidence, and sleep in safety from those who hunt him.

CONFESSION AND MEDITATION

Although it is not specifically stated in the psalm it is generally believed that Psalm 25 is also related to David’s sin and confession. As in the great penitential Psalm 51, David again appeals to “the God of my salvation”. He speaks of pardon and preservation, of tender mercies and loving kindnesses, and he asks for leading and guiding. He professes his trust in Him Who can deliver him from his enemies. There are many, he says, who hate him without a cause, and he appeals to his God for necessary help in his affliction. How fully submissive he is in his contrition as he appeals to Jehovah, “Show me … lead me … teach me … I trust in Thee”. How relevant are these requests for present day believers. If, however, the requests are really genuine then the suppliant must be prepared to accept and act upon the Divine answers. Whatever He may show me; wherever He may lead me; whatever truth He may teach me, I must trust and be willing to accept His plan for me. It is the way to blessing and as believers often sing:

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way

To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

 (J. H. Sammis)

MY STRENGTH; MY SHIELD; MY SONG

In Psalm 28 David’s plea continues and he now dreads the awful consequence if Jehovah does not answer. “Unto Thee will I cry, O LORD my rock”. Already, in Psalm 18 David has used this great title of God, “My Rock”, and associated with that title so many other titles of Jehovah, so comforting to a fugitive, as he then was, “The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in Whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.” What strength is depicted in all of these reverent descriptions of God and what comfort for a fugitive.

But what a tragedy if Jehovah failed to answer! “Be not silent to me: lest, if Thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit”. What a tragedy indeed it would be for any saint if Jehovah remained silent and did not answer! David fears that in such circumstances he would become just like the masses. They are workers of iniquity who with their tongues speak peace but in their hearts devise mischief. It is pretence; it is hypocrisy, and he has had enough of that. He had behaved exactly as the workers of iniquity “which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts” Ps.28.3. David had indeed spoken of peace to Uriah while at the same time he was devising mischief in his heart towards him. “Shalom”, he had said to Uriah while plotting his death. “And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him how Joab did (shalom), and how the people did (shalom), and how the war prospered (shalom)” 2Sam.11.7. It cost him the joy of his salvation and his usefulness as a testimony for God. David sinned in his weakness but the Lord was his strength and he will go to Him.

Now, forgiven, David can sincerely pray for his people, whom he calls “Thy people, Thine inheritance”. “Save them”, he prays; “bless them; feed them; lift them up.” “The LORD is my strength” he has just said, v.7, and now he says, “The LORD is their strength” v.8. Being now himself right with God, David’s concern is for the nation.

THE FUGITIVE IN THE WILDERNESS

Psalm 63 was born during David’s exile in the wilderness and his physical condition and surroundings were but a reflection of his inner feelings. Waking early in the morning in a dry and thirsty land he had strong desires and longings. Physically he must have yearned for water and for food but his physical desires were little compared with his longing to see the power and the glory of the sanctuary which now must have seemed so far away. But the loving kindness of the mighty Elohim was better than life itself and he would never cease to offer praise. While he lived he would daily bless the Lord. Early in the morning he would offer his praises and even upon his bed in the night watches he would meditate on the Lord. In spite of his unfavourable circumstances in this inhospitable wilderness he could say: “Because Thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of Thy wings will I rejoice.” Like a little bird he could nestle in the shadow of Jehovah’s wings. There he was assured of safety and shelter, and there he could rest, protected, contented, and satisfied. What an exhilarating example David has left us. Most of us live in much better conditions than this poor fugitive, but even in our days of darkness and sorrow or in our seasons of loneliness we do well to imitate this good man and keep on praising.

For a moment he thinks of his enemies. They will go into judgment. They will fall by the sword, but he will rejoice. He remembers, even in his imposed exile, that he is the king, and that the right hand of the Lord will uphold him. Let us, like David, fill our prayers with praises and keep on rejoicing.

While many of David’s prayers have the kingdom, and the nation, in view, yet he also does pray much for himself. In Psalm 31 he speaks of “my trust; my trouble: my times”. He recognises that his times are in the hand of the Lord, but even in such times, ordered by Jehovah, there are troubles, and in such troublous circumstances he must trust. “Be Thou my strong rock” he cries again, and once more he introduces a lovely title of his God saying, “Thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth”. Jehovah Elohim was indeed a God of truth. He could be trusted by His people. All that He planned for them, all that He did, all that He said, was in keeping with this character. There was nothing devious in Him and no vacillation. With this James concurs in the New Testament, calling Him “the Father of lights, with Whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” Jms.1.17, and He had begotten His people by the Word of truth. So, like David of old, we can trust the Lord God of truth, and rest.

PRAYERS OF THE SUFFERER

It has been said that poets learn in suffering what they teach in song and this is certainly true of David. So many of those psalms of his which incorporate his prayers, have been conceived in suffering and are now greatly blessed in the comforting of other sufferers.

Whether David was fully aware of it or not, some of his prayers, arising out of his sorrows, were anticipative and prophetic of the suffering Messiah and perhaps also of a persecuted remnant of a day to come. Of these, Psalms 22 and 69 are supreme examples.

In Psalm 22, he compares himself to the hind of the dawn, for such is the meaning of the Hebrew words in the title Aijeleth-Shahar. The hind of the dawn, so called because as a gentle creature it was hunted even as it came to drink, and nibble grass by the water’s edge in the early morning. Only at dawn did it have any rest at all but soon after daybreak it was encompassed by enemies. David knew the experience and so it was too with our blessed Lord. Strong bulls and fierce dogs gathered about Him, proud Jewish leaders and merciless Gentile mercenaries. They gaped upon Him with their mouths and stared upon Him in His weakness. David could not have known the details of Christ’s sufferings but these are portrayed in Psalm 22. These details are now recorded in the gospels for His people’s wonder, and for their adoration and appreciation of One Who was indeed the Man of Sorrows.

That faithful remnant of a coming day, suffering under the tyrannical reign of the man of sin will likely use the language of David’s Psalm 22 as they maintain a testimony to the Lord. Surrounded and hunted by enemies as He was, they may well take comfort in the language of this and other psalms of the sufferer.

Psalm 69 is also a prayer of the sufferer. One commentator calls it a “Prayer of the Suffering Servant of God” (W. T. Davison1). A Jewish writer calls it a “Prayer of the Persecuted” (Dr. Cohen2). There are perhaps six references to reproach in the psalm. David cries, “Save me, O God”, and at once proceeds to enlarge upon his deep suffering. Soon he will cry, “Deliver me”, and more than once he cries, “Answer me, O Jehovah”. He feels as if he is sinking in deep mire, and then compares his sorrow to floods of waters which threaten to overflow him.1 Davidson, W.T. “The Psalms (I-LXXII)”. The Century Bible, T.C & E.C. Jack, Edinburgh.
2 Cohen, Dr. A. “The Psalms”. The Soncino Press, London, 1945

The entire burden and theme of Psalm 69 is suffering and the psalmist just longs for relief. It is, from beginning to end, a prayer for Divine intervention in his distress and yet, as in Psalm 22 there shines through at times that assurance that Jehovah does hear the cry of the needy and will indeed save. So there can be cause for praise, even in sorrow. “I will praise the name of God with a song” v.30.

Then, in Ps.4.1, as has already been mentioned, David says to the God of righteousness, “In pressure Thou hast enlarged me”(J.N.D.). David has learned that the pressure of suffering will but enlarge him, not only in his thoughts of God but in his attitude and ministry to his fellow-men. So it is still, that suffering saints who understand that there is a reason for their suffering often exhibit a sweetness which many others do not have.

LOVE AND TRUST

Like all men, David had his faults and failings, some of them grave indeed, but there can be no doubt whatever of his deep love for Jehovah. In prayer, throughout his psalms he expresses this affection freely. Although Psalm 116 is anonymous yet the opening words “I LOVE the LORD” may well have been on David’s lips often and the psalm continues with a multitude of reasons for the psalmist’s love, to all of which David could have added a sincere and hearty “Amen”. Jehovah was gracious and merciful; He inclined His ear to His people; He heard and answered their prayers and dealt bountifully with them; He saved them and kept them so that it all demanded a “Hallelujah” v.19.

David’s love for the Lord engendered a corresponding trust in Him and this is expressed in many of his psalms. How beautiful in this respect is Ps.18.1,2 “I will love Thee, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in Whom I will trust”.

It is at times difficult to disentangle the prayers and praises in David’s psalms. Sometimes he will make sincere and earnest request and then, almost immediately, burst into paeans of praise as if he already had the desired answer. This is love and trust combined. Love for Jehovah encourages him to come and make his request and trust enables him to believe that his prayer is heard and will indeed be answered. It is as though he lived in the enjoyment of that assurance written for a people of another age, “before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear” Isa.65.24.

PRAYERS OF THE PILGRIM

Although in his later years David knew much of opulence and wealth, with every creature comfort available to him, yet still he considered himself a pilgrim. His early years had perhaps been simple and frugal enough as he watched over his father’s few sheep in the wilderness, 1Sam.17.28, but he was destined to be called from the sheepcotes to the throne and that brought the luxury of those latter years. But in the spirit of his great predecessors he knew that this was all temporary. They “looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” Heb.11.10.

As a shepherd himself David knew the value, indeed the necessity, of being safely led along the way. There were many problems and dangers, both seen and unseen, and the shepherd’s rod and staff were a comfort for guidance, protection, and correction. How often David prayed for that guidance along his pilgrim pathway. Here is just a selection, from the Psalms, of his pleas for the Lord’s guidance that will be evidence of the sincerity and constancy of his desire to be led.

5.8, “Lead me, O LORD … make Thy way straight before my face”;

25.5, “Lead me in Thy truth, and teach me”;

27.11, “Lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies”;

31.3, “Lead me, and guide me”;

61.2, “Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I”;

139.24, “Lead me in the way everlasting”;

143.10, “Lead me into the land of uprightness”.

Then, in testimony to Jehovah he can say, “He leadeth me beside the still waters … He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness” Ps.23.2,3. How applicable is all this to present-day pilgrims, who ever need to be encouraged along the way.

PRAYERS THAT ARE PROPHETICAL

As there were two psalms that were pre-eminently psalms of suffering, Psalms 22 and 69, so there are two psalms which stand out as psalms of coming Kingdom glory, Psalms 24 and 110. Psalm 110 concludes with the words quoted earlier in this paper, “The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended”. Prophetically David envisages the reign of the greater Son of David and when that comes to pass and the whole earth is filled with Messiah’s glory, David has nothing more to pray for. His prayers are ended.

Psalm 24 is full of praise for the glory of the Creator but there is implicit in the psalm a spirit of prayerful anticipation. Historically the psalm is believed to have been composed for, and sung at, the bringing back of the holy Ark of the Covenant to Zion after its long exile. By interpretation, some commentators, including the respected Spurgeon, see in the psalm a picture of Christ’s ascension into the heavens after His resurrection.

This might indeed be a fine application of the psalm but the ultimate true interpretation is of the entrance of the King of Glory through the gates and into the millennial Jerusalem.
The King of Glory is none other than Jesus, Who with clean hands and a pure heart, strong and mighty in the battle of Armageddon, takes His rightful place on the throne.

This psalm is a majestic and fitting prelude to Psalm 110 which, as has already been noted, is the great millennial psalm anticipating the glorious reign of Messiah, the Son of David.

It may be objected that this psalm is not, essentially, a prayer, and yet several times in the psalm David does address the Lord and His Anointed, so that the spirit of prayer and praise does pervade the seven verses. The psalm is pure, poetic prophecy, unique in all literature, and even in the Psalter.

PRAYERS OF THE WORSHIPPER

David knew how to worship. It would not be possible or practical, in the bounds of one short paper, to refer to every instance of David’s worship. Intelligent worship requires some knowledge of, and experience with, the Lord, and it is evident that when David was but a shepherd boy he had a knowledge of God above many of his contemporaries.

his challenge to Goliath he could say

“I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel”

1Sam.17.45. Several times then he used the great name Jehovah (Strong 3068) as well as Elohim, (Strong 430) saying so confidently,
say

: for the battle is the LORD’S, and He will give you into our hands”

1Sam.17.47. With such knowledge David indeed became a worshipper and this reveals itself in many of his psalms. One has said that

“Worship is the honour and adoration rendered to God for what He is in Himself and for what He means to those who render it” (J.N.D.). All this was true of David.

As early as the lovely eighth Psalm David’s worship is manifested.

Psalm 8 both begins and ends with a rather majestic outburst of praise and worship.
“O LORD our Lord, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth! Who hast set Thy glory above the heavens”
PSalm.8.1,9.

Excellence in the earth and glory above the heavens demands worship!

Expressions of worship are enclosed between the identical first and last verses of this psalm just as a jewel might be encased in golden clasps.

David recognises the greatness of the Creator and worships. And again there is a spirit of prophecy in the psalm relating as it does to Messiah, the Man Who will one day rule and reign in the creation, Heb.2.6-8.

Being a worshipper himself David many times exhorts others to worship too, saying

“Give unto the LORD the glory due unto His name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness” Ps.29.2.

“O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our Maker”

Ps.95.6. And again,

“O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness” Ps.96.9.

“Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at His footstool; for He is holy. Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at His holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy” Ps.99.5,9.

David finds other reasons too to worship, apart from the creatorial power and glory of Jehovah, and in what is perhaps his last reference to worship in the Psalter he says,

I will worship toward Thy holy temple, and praise Thy name for Thy lovingkindness and for Thy truth: for Thou hast magnified Thy word above all Thy name” Ps.138.2. That the mighty Creator should show loving kindness, mercy, pity, toward His creatures was a cause for worship, as was His truth and the greatness of His Word.

All this is true for present-day worshippers who have indeed more light than David had and an access into the Lord’s immediate presence which David never had.

We may come boldly, but with becoming reverence, into that very presence with our prayers, and our expressions of praise and worship.

THE MOURNER

David had much in his life to make him a mourner but there were three occasions in particular when he shed bitter tears, in a sad mingling of prayer and lamentation.

He wept at the deaths of Saul and Jonathan, at the treacherous death of Abner, and at the death of his son Absalom.

In 2 Samuel chapter 1 the news came to David that Saul and Jonathan were both dead, slain on Mount Gilboa in a battle with the Philistines.

“And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son.”

Saul had been an enemy of David in his jealousy.

Jonathan had been a close companion and friend, but it is a testimony to the noble spirit of David that he lamented over both.

His lament was both a prayer and an elegy as he said

“The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen! Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings:

for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.

From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.

Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.

How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places. I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!”

2Sam.1.19-27. What a prayerful lamentation was this, recorded forever in the sacred record.

Abner was Saul’s uncle, and the general of his armies, 1Sam.14.50. For seven years after Saul’s death, he was a supporter of Ish-bosheth; Saul’s son, in his assumption of the throne while David reigned at Hebron.

But after a sharp disagreement with Ish-bosheth he then undertook to unite the whole kingdom under David.

He was, however, treacherously slain by Joab, either to revenge the death of Asahel, Joab’s brother, whom Abner had formerly killed, or perhaps more probably from jealousy. David abhorred this treacherous act, and composed an elegy on his death, 2Sam.2.8; 3.33.

“And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.

And king David himself followed the bier. And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept. And the king lamented over Abner. And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.

And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth? Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters:

as a man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou. And all the people wept again over him” 2Sam.3.32-34.

In 2 Samuel chapter 15 David’s estranged son Absalom was crowned king in Hebron as a usurper.

David knew that his own life and the lives of those who were faithful to him would be in danger and he decided that they must flee Jerusalem.

It was with heavy hearts that they left the city to cross the Kidron valley to the mount of Olives and over to the wilderness.

“And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up” 2Sam.15.30.

It was a hard thing for him to have to flee from his own son and Psalm 3 records his prayers and feelings on the occasion. How sadly the psalm commences,

“LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! Many are they that rise up against me.

Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God”.

Yet, he can soon say that with confidence in Jehovah he can lie down and sleep, and awake sustained so that he need not fear though he be surrounded by tens of thousands of hostile people.

It was but a short time after this that there was occasion again for David to mourn.

 News had come that his beloved but wayward son Absalom was dead.

It wrings from his heart a pathetic dirge of a prayer. “And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!” 2Sam.18.33.

LAST WORDS

How touching the account is of the last words of David in 2 Samuel chapter 23. “Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and His word was in my tongue.

The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, he that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.

And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.

Although my house be not so with God; yet He hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire” 2Sam.23.1-5.

May the prayers of David, the shepherd, the king, the warrior, the worshipper, the sufferer, the pilgrim, the penitent and the mourner be an example to us all in our times of need, whether they be of joy, or of sorrow.

David had disappointments in the nation, in his family, and in himself, but he was indeed a man after God’s own heart and we may well treasure his memory and follow his example.

What a holy blending of prayer and praise, of suffering and solace, of worship and weeping, of remorse, restoration, and rejoicing, of tears, triumphs and tragedies.

the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept. And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth? Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou. And all the people wept again over him” 2Sam.3.32-34.

In 2 Samuel chapter 15 David’s estranged son Absalom was crowned king in Hebron as a usurper.

David knew that his own life and the lives of those who were faithful to him would be in danger and he decided that they must flee Jerusalem. It was with heavy hearts that they left the city to cross the Kidron valley to the mount of Olives and over to the wilderness.

“And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up”

2Sam.15.30.

It was a hard thing for him to have to flee from his own son and Psalm 3 records his prayers and feelings on the occasion. How sadly the psalm commences,

“LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! Many are they that rise up against me. Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God”.

Yet, he can soon say that with confidence in Jehovah he can lie down and sleep, and awake sustained so that he need not fear though he be surrounded by tens of thousands of hostile people.

It was but a short time after this that there was occasion again for David to mourn. News had come that his beloved but wayward son Absalom was dead. It wrings from his heart a pathetic dirge of a prayer.

“And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!” 2Sam.18.33.

LAST WORDS

How touching the account is of the last words of David in 2 Samuel chapter 23. “Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and His word was in my tongue. The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, he that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain. Although my house be not so with God; yet He hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire” 2Sam.23.1-5.

May the prayers of David, the shepherd, the king, the warrior, the worshipper, the sufferer, the pilgrim, the penitent and the mourner be an example to us all in our times of need, whether they be of joy, or of sorrow.

David had disappointments in the nation, in his family, and in himself, but he was indeed a man after God’s own heart and we may well treasure his memory and follow his example. What a holy blending of prayer and praise, of suffering and solace, of worship and weeping, of remorse, restoration, and rejoicing, of tears, triumphs and tragedies.

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