Faith Daily Lectio Friday, October 16, 2026 Evening Psalm
Friday, October 16, 2026 · Friday in the week of the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 23)
Evening Psalm
Oratio (prayer)
Lord, at the close of this day I cry unto You. Send Your Holy Spirit as I pray Psalm 142, that I may pour out my trouble before You and find that You are my refuge. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Meditatio (meditation)
Psalm 142
Maschil of David; A Prayer when he was in the cave.
1I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication.
2I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble.
3When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me.
4I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.
5I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.
6Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.
7Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.
Consider even rereading in another translation.
You could also consider listening to this chapter, narrated:
KJV (Max McLean) · ESV (Max McLean) · NIV (dramatized)
You might read the whole reading slowly, aloud, more than once.
Consider this verse, for example:
“I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.” (Psalm 142:5)
What other lines speak to you?
The Law David is "brought very low" (v. 6), and "no man cared for my soul" (v. 4). Trouble shows us how weak we are. We cannot bring our own souls out of the prison of sin and death (v. 7). We need a Deliverer.
The Gospel When your spirit is overwhelmed, the LORD knows your path (v. 3). Jesus was forsaken so that you would never be. He is your refuge and your portion (v. 5), and in Him you can say with David, "thou shalt deal bountifully with me" (v. 7).
Prayer Lord, I confess I often trust my own strength and hide my trouble from You. Forgive me. Thank You for Jesus, who was left alone so that I would never be alone. You are my refuge and my portion. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Tentatio (trial)
When "refuge failed me" (v. 4) and no one seems to notice, the evening can feel very long. David does not hide it: "I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble." (v. 2) Trial teaches us to pray honestly, and to learn that the LORD hears.
Evening prayer Heavenly Father, as night falls I tell You my trouble. Watch over me while I sleep, keep me from every snare of the enemy, and bring my soul out into the morning to praise Your name. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Scripture quotations are from the King James Version.
My church home: Peace Lutheran Church, McMurray, PA. Looking for a church? See About Daily Lectio.
