March 10, 2022

To you, Lord, I call;
    you are my Rock,
    do not turn a deaf ear to me.
For if you remain silent,
    I will be like those who go down to the pit.
2 Hear my cry for mercy
    as I call to you for help,
as I lift up my hands
    toward your Most Holy Place.
3 Do not drag me away with the wicked,
    with those who do evil,
who speak cordially with their neighbors
    but harbor malice in their hearts.
4 Repay them for their deeds
    and for their evil work;
repay them for what their hands have done
    and bring back on them what they deserve.
5 Because they have no regard for the deeds of the Lord
    and what his hands have done,
he will tear them down
    and never build them up again.
6 Praise be to the Lord,
    for he has heard my cry for mercy.
7 The Lord is my strength and my shield;
    my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
    and with my song I praise him.
8 The Lord is the strength of his people,
    a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.
9 Save your people and bless your inheritance;
    be their shepherd and carry them forever.

“Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place.” Psalm 28:2
“Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy."  Psalm 28:6

The cry of mercy is a cry for protection. We tend to think of protection in physical terms. We pray for protection as we travel, or for protection from physical injury for our children in sports. When there is no perceived threat of physical harm we don’t feel the need to pray for mercy. This false sense of security can be very dangerous, because we are more than physical beings. We are spiritual beings, and we need God’s mercy to keep us safe from the schemes of the devil. Cry out to God for mercy, and sing out his praise as he delivers.