centurions
In an earlier post a fellow centurion called for prayers for those who are in harms way in the Middle East. As I said the Chapel of the Centurions devotion today in the 9th hour. I recited
Psalm 140 that is listed on the site, and was traditionally said in the evenings in the Early Church.
As I said it, and came to this verse,
The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a
net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. [gins = engines]
net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. [gins = engines]
I thought of a patrol moving along a highway approaching a roadside bomb -- and of a young Iraqi girl who stood in the road last week, Beanie Baby in hand-a gift from a soldier, and stopped a patrol to warn them of the device - perhaps an angel?
In praying for centurions in harms way, one could do no better than to simply recite this ancient hymn, one that our predecessors in arms must have said in the beginning: As you say it, slowly, think of those in harms way, and how this hymn from the past speaks so plainly to us today.
Mark
Psalm 140
Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man: preserve me from the
violent man;
Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they
gathered together for war.
They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison
is under their lips. Selah.
Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from
the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.
The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a
net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. Selah.
I said unto the LORD, Thou art my God: hear the voice of my
supplications, O LORD.
O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered
my head in the day of battle.
Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked: further not his
wicked device; lest they exalt themselves. Selah.
As for the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief
of their own lips cover them.
Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the
fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again.
Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall
hunt the violent man to overthrow him.
I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted,
and the right of the poor.
Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the
upright shall dwell in thy presence.
Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man: preserve me from the
violent man;
Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they
gathered together for war.
They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison
is under their lips. Selah.
Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from
the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.
The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a
net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. Selah.
I said unto the LORD, Thou art my God: hear the voice of my
supplications, O LORD.
O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered
my head in the day of battle.
Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked: further not his
wicked device; lest they exalt themselves. Selah.
As for the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief
of their own lips cover them.
Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the
fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again.
Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall
hunt the violent man to overthrow him.
I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted,
and the right of the poor.
Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the
upright shall dwell in thy presence.
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