Faith Daily Lectio Wednesday, October 21, 2026 Evening Psalm
Wednesday, October 21, 2026 · Wednesday in the week of the Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 24)
Evening Psalm
Oratio (prayer)
Great Lord, You are known in Zion for a refuge. As this evening comes, send Your Holy Spirit as I pray Psalm 48, that I may think on Your lovingkindness and rest in You through Jesus Christ. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Meditatio (meditation)
Psalm 48
A Song and Psalm for the sons of Korah.
1Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.
2Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.
3God is known in her palaces for a refuge.
4For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together.
5They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away.
6Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail.
7Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind.
8As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. Selah.
9We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple.
10According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of righteousness.
11Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments.
12Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof.
13Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following.
14For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.
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:
“We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple.” (Psalm 48:9)
What other lines speak to you?
The Law Kings gathered against the city of God and "they were troubled, and hasted away" (v. 5). Every power that sets itself against God falls. Our pride and our quiet resistance to His will are no different. Without His mercy we would be found among those who are troubled before Him.
The Gospel "God is known in her palaces for a refuge" (v. 3). Jesus is that refuge, the true temple where God dwells with us. In Him we "have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple" (v. 9). And the Psalm ends with a promise for every night of your life: "For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death" (v. 14), and through death to life.
Prayer Lord, I confess my pride and my resistance to Your will. Forgive me for Jesus' sake. Thank You for being my refuge and my guide. Keep me in Your lovingkindness tonight. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Tentatio (trial)
When we think about death, our own or a loved one's, it can be frightening. The Psalm does not look away. It says God "will be our guide even unto death" (v. 14). Under trial it may help to pray that verse at bedtime, and to trust that Christ, who went through death and rose, will guide you all the way home.
Evening prayer Lord, guide me this night and every night, even unto death. Keep me in Your refuge, and raise me up on the last day. 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.
