Job prays for a referee

 
Thousands of years ago, people thought terrible hardships meant a person had sinned against an avenging god. Obviously, Job’s friends had been taught to think that way, but Job knew he’d done nothing to disobey God, and he could think of nothing that might even have offended the Lord.
 
In this prayer, Job longs for a mediator, an advocate, an umpire, a referee – someone to stand between himself and God, interpret as needed, and restore them into fellowship. 

Centuries later that Mediator came to earth as our go-between – Jesus Christ, The One Who forgives and forever reunites us with the Almighty God.

 
Job 9:25-35 – a prayer of Job
in contemporary English
 
My life sprints by like a runner – so swiftly
it’s hard to catch a glimpse of happiness.
Life vanishes like a speedy little boat made of paper
or like an eagle swooping down on its prey.
If I made up my mind to forget my complaints
and put away a sad face to be cheerful,
I would still shudder with pain.
 
O, God, I know You’ll never say I’m innocent!
No matter what, I will be found guilty,
so why should I even try?
 
If I scoured myself with soap
and washed my hands with lye,
You might thrust me into a muddy ditch,
so even my clothes would hate my filth!
 
God, You’re not a regular person like me,
so how can I argue my case? How can I
take You to trial?
 
Oh, if only a Mediator stood between us –
someone who could bring us together again.
 
From the Book of Bible Prayers – actual prayers of the Bible collected from a variety of translations researched on Bible Gateway then paraphrased into everyday English by Mary Harwell Sayler, ©2019
 
 
Job 9:25-35 – a prayer of Job
from the King James Version
 
Now my days are swifter than a post:
they flee away, they see no good.
 
They are passed away as the swift ships:
as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.
If I say, I will forget my complaint,
I will leave off my heaviness,
and comfort myself: I am afraid
of all my sorrows, I know that thou
wilt not hold me innocent.
 
If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?
 
If I wash myself with snow water, and
make my hands never so clean;
Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch,
and mine own clothes shall abhor me.
 
For he ( God) is not a man, as I am,
that I should answer him, and we should
come together in judgment.
Neither is there any daysman betwixt us,
that might lay his hand upon us both.

From the Book of KJV Prayers - actual prayers from the King James Version of the Bible (KJV) collected by Mary Harwell Sayler, ©2019 
 
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Praying in confession

Daniel 9:4-10

Praying to the LORD, I confessed:

O Lord, great God of Whom I am in awe,
You keep Your promises
and show mercy to those who love and obey You,
but we have sinned!
We’ve done wrong!
We have turned away from You
and what You told us is right and true.

We have not listened
to Your servants or the word You gave
to our leaders, our ancestors,
and the people of our land.

To You belongs righteousness, O LORD,
but to us belongs shame.

We, Your people near and far –
in all the lands to which You dispersed us
because of our disloyalty to You –
own our own shame.

We, the people and our leaders,
have not followed You nor obeyed You,
but even though we have rebelled
against You, O LORD God,
to You belong
mercy,
compassion,
and forgiveness.


© 2015, Mary Harwell Sayler prayer-a-phrased today’s reading in Daniel 9 from some of the many translations of Holy Scripture found on Bible Gateway.

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Praying through the ashes

A Bible prayer for Ash Wednesday to begin the church season of Lent

Psalm 51:1-10

Be merciful to me, O God!

In the greatness of Your mercy,
wipe out my sins
and wipe away the stains.

I’m aware of my faults,
and my rebellions against You
haunts me!

Against You – and You alone
have I sinned.

I’ve done wrong by You!
So You’d be right to judge me.
And You have every right
to condemn me.

I’ve gotten myself into trouble
since birth. I’ve been inclined
to be selfish
ever since my conception!

But You want me to get real.

You desire me to look inward –
with sincerity and truth –
and find Your wisdom
waiting for me there.

Purge my sins,
and I will be clean.
Cleanse me,
and I will be
as fresh as new snow.

Help me to hear
the sounds of joy and gladness.

Help me to be aware
that my brokenness is healed.

Hide my sins from Your face,
and blot out all ill will in me.

Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew
Your Spirit within me.


© 2015, Mary Harwell Sayler prayer-a-phrased today’s reading in Psalm 51 from many of the translations found on Bible Gateway.

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