Agape

John 3:16

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

For as long as I've known this verse, I've known of the concept of agape or unconditional love. Yet, never have I delved into this word myself. It is at the crux of not only this verse, but the season of Christmas that is upon us.

The biggest surprise is that nowhere in the definition of Agapao is the term 'unconditional' listed.  The word in Greek means 'I love, wish well, take pleasure in, long for; the love of reason or esteem.' Properly it means to prefer, and is thought to be a socially or moral love.  The attribution of having no conditions comes from inference, based on the things God does for us based on this love. For instance, giving his only son.

I love the Greek for the word gave, Didomi which also means offer, it reminds me that a gift by it's nature must also be accepted.  God offered, then, his Monogenes, quite literally the only one of his genus/class/species. The only one. Are there any only's in your life, and how would you feel giving those away?

The promise comes next, anyone who believes or is persuaded will not Apollumi which means to destroy or lose, but by putting the ap makes this a stronger type of destruction, a permanent destruction. We will not be permanently destroyed but instead have Aionios Zoe.  The word Aion means an age or lifetime, adding the ios means an age that never ends, thus eternal. While Zoe does mean life, it is a physical and spiritual form of life. John did not use the word Psuche which also means life, but our spirit or breath, or an individual personality. Zoe is more generic, like when we say "Now that person is really living", meaning a full, animated, zestful life.

At first glance, this love seems conditional, because belief is required to get this eternal life. Look again, God's gift of his only Son was not conditioned based. His preference or agapeo is present independent of our belief. The deed's been done, Jesus was born. The conditions have nothing to do with the love, but are the framework necessary to lead to greater understanding, life changing decisions, and ultimate wholeness.

This Christmas as I ponder the gift of God with us, I want to also reflect on agapeo. Do I make my love for others dependent on them meeting the conditions I set, or are the conditions just a framework for overall wellness and I love despite them being met?

Not Consumed

Lamentations 3:19-27

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁹ I remember my affliction and my wandering,
    the bitterness and the gall.
²⁰ I well remember them,
    and my soul is downcast within me.
²¹ Yet this I call to mind
    and therefore I have hope:

²² Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail.
²³ They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.
²⁴ I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
    therefore I will wait for him.”

²⁵ The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
    to the one who seeks him;
²⁶ it is good to wait quietly
    for the salvation of the Lord.

Recent events in my life have brought me back to this great verse, memorized many years ago. However, I've never looked in depth at it. 

The passages leading up to verse 21 are pretty miserable.  Historians feel this book was written by the prophet Jeremiah after the fall of Jerusalem. Undoubtedly a dark time for the Jews.  It is written as a poem, and as many poems of the time it is an acrostic, meaning that each stanza begins with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet. 

Right before the poem makes an abrupt change, the author summarizes his earlier bemoaning by saying that he remembers these afflictions, the La'anah and Rosh which were Hebrew words for the bitter herb Wormwood and for poison or venom from a serpent. These memories literally cause his soul to Shuach or sink down within him.  I can not think of a better way to describe depression or grief.

Then the mood changes as Jeremiah calls something to mind, or Shub which in Hebrew means to turn back or return.  In other words he deliberately stops his depressing decent by thinking, or returning to truths he already knows which allows something incredible to happen; hope. 

The great truth he claims is that the Lord is so tenderhearted that we are not consumed. The Hebrew word is Tamam which really means finished, spent, destroyed, ended, gone. We won't get to our end, or as the NIV says be consumed so that nothing's left because His compassions never end. Here's another great visual, for the word compassion is the Hebrew word Racham which in a literal since means womb. Symbolically there is no greater tender love than that from a mother to an infant. That merciful love from God towards us will never be spent or finished. 

Not only does it never end, that compassion is new every morning. From the Hebrew, it is fresh at the break of dawn, and just like the sun's rays burst onto the horizon each day, so do we start fresh. 

More than our need to return or look back to truths we know in times of despair, Jeremiah models another behavior that helps, as he talks to himself. He is claiming something out loud to himself, that the Lord is his portion. This Hebrew word, Cheleq is talking about a territory or inheritance. The phrase comes from Numbers 18:20 where God tells Aaron, unlike the other tribes of Judah, his tribe won't get any land or inheritance, instead they get God. Jeremiah is reminding himself that God is all he needs, God is his inheritance and because of this he has hope. Although translated into wait - the word is the same as the "hope" claimed in verse 21.

Finally he claims that God will show kindness or goodness to those who do wait and to those who seek him. The word for seek is Darash which is a searching, questioning, pursuing. There is action in this as well, and to me this gives permission to question our misery. 

When our spirit sinks then we must look back to the truths we know about God's mercies, we certainly can question and seek answers, but ultimately we must talk to ourselves to remind our souls that God is enough. 

Double Minded

James 1:5-8

New International Version (NIV)

⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ⁶ But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸ Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

This passage comes just after James has told us to be joyful in trials, as troubles ultimately make us more complete humans. However, James doesn't expect us to go through these trials in the dark, for now in vs 5, he recommends that we ask God for wisdom. The Greek word Sophia used for wisdom means clarity. In other words, if you don't get it and something isn't making sense - then ask! 

The visual for the next part is nice - this giving of wisdom is done generously - the Greek word Haplos literally means without folds, meaning nothing held back or hidden.  Clarity then unfolds around us, simple and frank without wrinkles.  Sounds refreshing, so how to get this wisdom?  Three things: We must ask, we must believe, we must not doubt. 

The first part is asking. This word is not a brief inquiry like other times the word ask is used in the Bible, this is Aiteo which also means to beg or demand. The tone is of a pleading nature. The request cannot be flippant, we must be sincere. 

The second part is equally important, to have faith or belief when we ask. The Greek word Pistis more literally means that you've been persuaded. It is something foundational to this pursuit, and we must be persuaded that what we seek is truth. 

The third part is the challenge for me. I've always read this as "doubt" being the opposite of faith, so basically not believing  But it is actually more complicated, the Greek word is Diakrino, broken down to dia meaning back and forth and Krino meaning to judge.  James is adding another dimension then by suggesting that those who waver back and forth in their decision making won't get wisdom.  The following visual explains doubt as being like a wave in a violently agitated sea, with the wind driving and tossing them back and forth. He adds more, saying someone who can't make a decision, going back and forth is really a double minded person. In Greek this is Dipsuchos literally someone with 2 souls. It is possible then to have faith and yet be still wresting with another belief. I think the easiest example of having two souls is our desire to follow God and at the same time still following self. 

Until we put to death our self will, self interests, etc then even when we plead for answers in faith, we probably won't get the wisdom we seek.  Is it because God won't grant it? No... remember he gives to ALL. It's because of us, as vs 7 uses the word "receive".  This Greek word is Lambano, which means receive and to take, with the emphasis on the assertiveness of the receiver. In other words, in our double minded state, although wisdom may be offered, we don't take hold or accept it. 

What's the ultimate consequence of not having clarity when troubles come? Being unsettled. This section ends with the words, "unstable in all they do". Turning to the Greek, Akatastatos literally is unsettled, and Hodos is a journey or path.  

Are you unsettled in your journey? Need clarity and wisdom to the nature of the events around you? Then ask sincerely, believing completely, without any back and forth internally. If there is internal wavering, where is the double mindedness? Most often it's our selfish nature struggling with the divine. 

Unworthy Servant?

Luke 17:7-10

New International Version (NIV)

⁷ “Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? ⁸ Won’t he rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? ⁹ Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? ¹⁰ So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”

This isn't a heartwarming promise of gratitude. In fact, it's quite the opposite. Jesus, talking to his disciples, has some lessons to heed.  

The story is that of a servant, and by servant I mean someone bound to another. Metaphorically this is someone who has given himself up wholly to another's will. The servant does something ordered or prescribed and basically Jesus says not to expect that these actions suddenly change the nature of the relationship. The teachable point is to us, Jesus actually says, "So you"... that means me and you, we should say to ourselves "we are unworthy". 

The Greek for the word unworthy is achreios which also means unprofitable, useless and unneeded. Another humility reminder. We live in a society that tells us we are special so often, that I think at times this is our approach to God. It's a hard to remember that actually, we are not needed. There's a great quote by CS Lewis that speaks to this, "He who needs nothing, chose to need us, because we need to be needed".  

The next truth in this passage reminds us of our relationship to God. 1 Corinthians 7:22 says it well, "..likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant".  When we turn over our lives to Christ, we are essentially becoming bound, a bond-servant, to him. As such, this passage reminds us there are things expected for us to do.  These expectations aren't done to earn affection, or improve status, but are merely our duty. 

Here comes the great paradox of Christ. Though we are meant to be slaves unto him, shifting our will to his will, astonishingly he molds that bond into that of adoption. Galatians 4:7 specifically says, "So you are no longer a slave, but God's child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir."

Paradoxes are confusing! I think the message from Christ is this: We are unneeded slaves who should do good things not to earn his love or improve our status. Reading the Bible, going to church, serving our neighbors, this is expected. If we do those things to get a seat at his table we are missing the point.  The secret is, though unworthy bond-servants, we are already at his table, adopted as heirs, welcome to his riches because of love and not from doing our duties.

Time to check my actions. Why do I do what I do? Am I expecting thanks? Am I expecting blessings? Do I think this will move me closer to God? And can I really identify with being unworthy? Until I recognize I am not needed, I won't grasp how profound it is that God has actually chosen to need me. 

Bright Eyes

Proverbs 15:30 The Message (MSG)

³⁰ A twinkle in the eye means joy in the heart,
    and good news makes you feel fit as a fiddle. 

Proverbs 15:30

New International Version (NIV)

³⁰ Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart,
    and good news gives health to the bones. 

This text seems like common sense, but warrants exploration regardless. Reading through the various translations the first question in my mind is which comes first? Does brightness or twinkling in ones eyes lead to joy, or does it indicate joy? 

First, I suppose lets get the visual right. The Hebrew word for light means luminary - this is a word used in Genesis to describe the Sun and stars, it's also used when talking about oil lamps. I like that the Message used the word twinkle.  In other words, this is someone who's eyes are noticeably bright, sparkling, etc.  When does that happen? This isn't talking about someone without cataracts, but someone who is so cheerful and joyful their eyes just glow.  I can certainly think of people like that.  

While it is true that to have such bright and cheerful eyes, one must have a joyful heart, I think this verse isn't stating that truth, but challenging us.  What happens when we are around someone so joyful, their eyes sparkle? It's infectious, right? It's hard not to walk away without feeling uplifted.  That's what this verse is saying, being around someone who is joyful, gladdens our hearts. 

This fits with the second part as well. The Hebrew word for news is Shemuah meaning a report, message, or news, as in something heard in conversation.  What happens when we hear good news? The Hebrew literally says it "puts fat on the bones".  This phrase broken down is about filling our souls.  To put fat on, is to prosper or add substance and this word was often used talking about riches and abundance.  The word used for bones, etsem, also means substance and self.  So hearing a good report fills us, satisfies us to the point of overflowing.  

I think it's pretty clear what wisdom this Proverb relays, leading to two challenges. First, am I the person with bright eyes, infectiously cheerful and causing glad hearts in my wake? Are the words in my conversations good reports, positive and uplifting?  Secondly, what are the messages or news I spend my time listening to? If it's fear based, negative and overall "bad" news then I should expect my inner self to feel depleted. 

Shine on

Ephesians 5:8-14

New International Version (NIV)

⁸ For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light ⁹ (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) ¹⁰ and find out what pleases the Lord.¹¹ Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. ¹² It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. ¹³ But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.

Light is one of those elements that is so common, we take it for granted. It is essential to sight, so it is literally a part of most of our waking moments. To really appreciate light, however, you must be able to contrast it with its antithesis, darkness. 

Darkness is really the absence of light. We were once there. This scripture reminds us we were actually darkness. (It does not say we were in darkness, we were once darkness). There was a time we had no light. We should never loose touch with who we've been, it keeps us humble. 


Then came light. One thing true about light is that it must have a source. Our light comes from the Lord (you are light in the lord). It's not about us then, we are not the source, our lives are just the vehicle, the rays from the sun. 

Our job is simply to do what light does by its nature, illuminate. Specifically we are to expose the 'fruitless deeds of darkness'. What does that entail?The Hebrew word for expose is Elegcho which means to reprove, refute, rebuke. I like to think of this visually, considering what light does; when a flashlight beam slides over objects it is simply showing the object for what it is. As vs 13 says, "everything exposed by the light becomes visible".  We are to make things visible, to illuminate the world around us.  

The bigger question is how? If you read the chapter in full there are many answers to how - I'll list a few 1)Be imitators of God 2)Live a life of love 3) Live without sexual immorality, impurity, greed, obscenity, and coarse joking 4) Live with goodness, righteousness and truth 5)Give thanks, sing hymns, and make music.

If we do these things, then without thinking, we should shine. Light by it's very nature exposes things and light is uncomfortable to those who've been used to the dark. When is the last time you've been around someone uncomfortable by the natural illumination of your life?  It's time to shine! 

Fear the Lord?

Proverbs 3:7 (NIV)

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.

This is part II for the post Be Wise or Seek Wisdom.  It was clear reading through Proverbs chapter 3 that with wisdom comes great things. However, wisdom is a pretty nebulous concept. The post ended with the connection, taken from Job 28:28, that wisdom is fear of the Lord.  This idea looped us back to vs 7.  

What is fear of the Lord though? That phrase is mentioned 347 times in the Bible, more times than the phrase "Love the Lord", which is mentioned 219 times. It must be pretty important. 

Does the word fear imply terror or being scared? I have the image of Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz approaching the great wizard for the first time. Is that to be our approach to God? 

Look at Psalm 130:4 "But with you there is forgiveness, therefor you are feared".  That doesn't fit with terror, why would we be scared of someone who forgives us?

A better definition of fear of the Lord comes from a quote by Tim Keller. In answering this very question he says fear of the Lord is "wonder filled, bold humility". In other words, we must acknowledge two very different truths. On the one hand we say "I'm a sinner, God died for me!"  This is a humbling realization, where we come to know inherently our own depravity.  Yet, we also say "I am so loved by God, that he actually died for me!" This is our boldness, to feel set apart, chosen, loved by almighty God. Both the humility and boldness of these truths creates the wonder and awe, the fear of the Lord. 

I believe for each of us, one of these concepts comes more naturally. By realizing which truth is harder to emotionally connect with, allows us something to strive for. This, then, is the wisdom we seek. The concept so valuable that to those who grasp it, much is promised. Proverbs 22:4, "Humility and fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life"  How meaningful, that these three elements; wealth, honor and life, are the exact 3 things that "wisdom" holds in her hands in Proverbs chapter 3. 

Do not be wise in your own eyes (humility), fear the Lord (grasp your sinfulness at the same time that you realize you are so loved that someone died for you) and shun evil. This is wisdom.
  
In closing, from Proverbs 2:9-11, "Then you will understand what is right and just and fair- every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you."

Shalom

Isaiah 26:3-4

New International Version (NIV)

³ You will keep in perfect peace
    those whose minds are steadfast,
    because they trust in you.
⁴ Trust in the Lord forever,
    for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.

A simple verse, yet when unpacked gives great assurance. 

The promise is the ability to maintain perfect peace. The Hebrew word for keep means to preserve or guard. The idea is more of God protecting and ensuring this peace within us.  

The phrase 'perfect peace' is actually the word Shalowm(shalom). This Hebrew word is defined as "completeness, soundness, wellness and peace". This is wholeness, a wellness in the state of our mind, rather than the absence of war between nations. 

As is often the case, the promise requires something of us. To have this peace our minds must be steadfast. What does this mean?

The word minds is the Hebrew word Yetser. This word actually is defined as "purpose or intent". This isn't about our thoughts per se, but on the intent of our life. I love this word, because there is such grace behind it. 

What should be our intent? To be steadfast. Steadfast in Hebrew is Camak and is defined as "to lean, lay, rest, uphold". This image changes the meaning for me, especially when you read the next verse about the Lord being the Rock eternal. How easy then to picture our task of resting or leaning upon him, the Rock. 

To sum it up, when we trust in God, that he is the Rock, and our intent is to lean on his strength, resting against him, then he promises to not only to calm our minds and give us wholeness, but to preserve and protect it.

Be Wise or Seek wisdom?

Proverbs 3:7-24

Do not be wise in your own eyes;

    fear the Lord and shun evil.
⁸ This will bring health to your body
    and nourishment to your bones.

⁹ Honor the Lord with your wealth,
    with the firstfruits of all your crops;
¹⁰ then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
    and your vats will brim over with new wine.

¹¹ My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline,
    and do not resent his rebuke,
¹² because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
    as a father the son he delights in.

¹³ Blessed are those who find wisdom,
    those who gain understanding,
¹⁴ for she is more profitable than silver
    and yields better returns than gold.
¹⁵ She is more precious than rubies;
    nothing you desire can compare with her.
¹⁶ Long life is in her right hand;
    in her left hand are riches and honor.
¹⁷ Her ways are pleasant ways,
    and all her paths are peace.
¹⁸ She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her;
    those who hold her fast will be blessed.

¹⁹ By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations,
    by understanding he set the heavens in place;
²⁰ by his knowledge the watery depths were divided,
    and the clouds let drop the dew.

²¹ My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,
    preserve sound judgment and discretion;
²² they will be life for you,
    an ornament to grace your neck.
²³ Then you will go on your way in safety,
    and your foot will not stumble.
²⁴ When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
    when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

This one in all about wisdom. What it is, and what is promised if we gain it.  

First, comes the warning; Vs 7 "Do not be wise in your own eyes" There are a few ways to read this.  The word eyes can mean 'of mental and spiritual faculties'. So one way to interpret this is, don't trust your own mental/spiritual faculties, you need to rely on God's wisdom.  The other way to read this is, don't be impressed with your own wisdom.  With the rest of the focus on gaining wisdom, this becomes the challenge; to constantly be seeking wisdom without regarding yourself as wise.  

The second part of vs 7 is the crux of the passage. "Fear the Lord and shun evil". Could it be that when we trust only our own intellect we lose fear (reverence/awe) of God? We'll come back to this vs at the end. 

The majority of this passage is focused on wisdom itself.  Think about the word find in vs 13.  When we find something, it usually means we were looking for it. 'I found my keys', 'Did you find that bill?', etc.  Find also means attain, so not only should we be actively seeking wisdom, we must gain it for the promises to hold true.  Interestingly, though the next phrase uses the word "gain" as in gain understanding, the Hebrew of this is actually defined as produce or furnish.  So it could be read, those who produce or bring out understanding.  In other words, this wisdom we seek must be shared as well. 

This thing, wisdom, that we should seek is described in unbelievable ways. Wisdom is more profitable, more valuable, more delightful (pleasant), more peaceful, more honorable, and long living than anything you can think of.  

And what are we promised if we keep wisdom our pursuit? First of all blessings or happiness (vs13) and vs 22-24 answer the rest with safety, lack of stumbling, lack of fear, and sweet sleep. 

Now, we know how wisdom is described, and we know what is promised if we find it, but what exactly is this wisdom we seek? Wisdom is often mentioned in the Bible along with the words knowledge and understanding, so are we seeking intellect? Vs 7 warns us against pursuit of our own intellect, so what, then? 

Job 28:28 says " And he said to the human race,“The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.” 

We come full circle then. These are the words of Vs. 7. Could it really be so simple?  It's a least a place to start. 

Heaped or Stricken?

Luke 6:37-38

New International Version (NIV)

Judging Others

³⁷ “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. ³⁸ Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

When Jesus spoke these words, he said the message plainly as above, but also went on in parable form. There is no excuse then, written or in story form for hearing this message. 

The way this is spoken is in an affirming way, meaning he is not saying "You are going to be judged" but instead tells us positive things to do for our own well being. First, the 4 things he is talking about:

     1) Judgment - this is an act that requires reason. The Hebrew definition is "to separate, pick out, select, choose" It implies thought, examination, a weighing of two or more things. We obviously can't go through life with out selecting things. But we can go through life not selecting out individuals or people as "deserving" and "not deserving". 

     2) Condemnation - throwing out reason, condemnation deals with emotions. The definition being a public expression of disapproval. Condemnation is often the outcome of our judgment. Clearly, we need to let our emotional reactions and public disapproval go. 

     3) Forgiveness - literally in Hebrew "to set free, release". For me as I meditated on the idea of forgiveness I was reminded that I need to release people of my impractical expectations. Forgiveness comes when I set others free of that standard of perfectionism. 

     4) Giving - pretty straightforward. Our generosity determines what we get in return. The next verse really jumps into this specifically:

A little background first. In the time of these words were spoken, there was a system in the temples in which people brought offerings. Often these were measured out, some meant for God, some given to the priests. In the Talmud it indicates that some of the measuring jars were purposefully heaped up and others leveled off, depending on who was getting the offering. The other thing to know is the phrase "poured into your lap" - the original really indicates people giving a material gift to someone (they would carry gifts in their long robes/cloaks close to their chests). 

Taken together then, we see Jesus warns us, there are 3 ways to give things - pressed down and leveled off (the precise amount), shaken up (loose, so that less is actually given) and running over (more than required).  Our motives catch up with our giving, and he's pretty clear that we will get from others in the same way we give. 

I'd like to think we should apply this second concept of motives to the whole passage. Am I forgiving with an overflowing heart, or just doing what's required? Is my lack of condemnation just fluffed up to look like it's the right thing, yet in my heart it's otherwise? Am I living my life in a shaken up, stricken/packed down, or heaped and overflowing way?

Praying a Psalm

1 Chronicles 16:7-36

⁷ That day David first appointed Asaph and his associates to give praise to the Lord in this manner:

⁸ Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;
    make known among the nations what he has done.
⁹ Sing to him, sing praise to him;
    tell of all his wonderful acts.
¹⁰ Glory in his holy name;
    let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
¹¹ Look to the Lord and his strength;
    seek his face always.

¹² Remember the wonders he has done,
    his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,
¹³ you his servants, the descendants of Israel,
    his chosen ones, the children of Jacob.
¹⁴ He is the Lord our God;
    his judgments are in all the earth.

¹⁵ He remembers^[c] his covenant forever,
    the promise he made, for a thousand generations,
¹⁶ the covenant he made with Abraham,
    the oath he swore to Isaac.
¹⁷ He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree,
    to Israel as an everlasting covenant:
¹⁸ “To you I will give the land of Canaan
    as the portion you will inherit.”

¹⁹ When they were but few in number,
    few indeed, and strangers in it,
²⁰ they^[d] wandered from nation to nation,
    from one kingdom to another.
²¹ He allowed no one to oppress them;
    for their sake he rebuked kings:
²² “Do not touch my anointed ones;
    do my prophets no harm.”

²³ Sing to the Lord, all the earth;
    proclaim his salvation day after day.
²⁴ Declare his glory among the nations,
    his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

²⁵ For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
    he is to be feared above all gods.
²⁶ For all the gods of the nations are idols,
    but the Lord made the heavens.
²⁷ Splendor and majesty are before him;
    strength and joy are in his dwelling place.

²⁸ Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations,
    ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
²⁹ Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
    bring an offering and come before him.
Worship the Lord in the splendor of his^[e] holiness.
³⁰     Tremble before him, all the earth!
    The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.

³¹ Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
    let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!”
³² Let the sea resound, and all that is in it;
    let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them!
³³ Let the trees of the forest sing,
    let them sing for joy before the Lord,
    for he comes to judge the earth.

³⁴ Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    his love endures forever.
³⁵ Cry out, “Save us, God our Savior;
    gather us and deliver us from the nations,
that we may give thanks to your holy name,
    and glory in your praise.”
³⁶ Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
    from everlasting to everlasting.

This Psalm is one of the first early prayers meant for the temple service associated with the ark of God. David seems to have combined several psalms to make this official one, using parts of Psalm 96, 105 and 106. 

Looking to this as an example there are really several sections we might mimic in our prayers.  My own way of organizing it follows:

-Look up/speak up: Invitation vs 8-11. Literally call, as in saying God's name out loud, singing and seeking him, talking about what he's done. 

-Look back: Remeberence vs 12-22. Recall God's miracles, his judgments and his covenant

-Speak out: Proclamation vs 23-24. The emphasis is more telling others about his deeds

-Look in: Personal Worship vs 25-29. Give glory and honor to God

-Look out:Outward Worship vs 30-33. Take notice of the world around. This is nature's response to God, but we must recognize the beauty.  

-Speak up: Thanksgiving vs 34. Give thanks to God

-Look forward: Petition vs 35.Going forward, ask for deliverance

There are several things that stood out to me as I studied this. The first was the word ascribe in vs 28,29.  The Hebrew for ascribe is Yahab and is usually transcribed as to give. However when I looked up other verses with yahab they were usually asking for something of need, if not strong desire, as in 'give me a child' or 'give me a spouse' or 'give me food'.  If we reverse this concept and make us the givers this concept is quite profound. Could God desire Honor as we desire a child? Could he crave praise as we crave food? If so, how important that part of prayer is!

The second thing of interest was the last verses commanding that we cry out (vs 35). These words "save us, gather us, deliver us" are themselves very descriptive words. In Hebrew,"free us, rescue us, snatch us away".  This implies not just movement from one place to another but an actual life changing, life saving action. The image is of us in peril, drowning or being kidnapped and then crying to be rescued.  Who does David say we should ask to be rescued from? The Nations, in Hebrew this is non-Hebrew people. Perhaps we would say this is secular society today. In other words, we cannot forget to pray that God snatches us away from negative influences of secular society. 

Finally, I'm struck with the simple perfect organization of the Psalm. I can easily remember these directional attributes when I pray. Look up, look back, look in, look out, and look forward.