Prayer Guide: Psalm 52

By Mike Moran

To the choirmaster. A Maskil of David, when Doeg, the Edomite, came and told Saul, “David has come to the house of Ahimelech.”

Psalm 52 Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man?
    The steadfast love of God endures all the day.
2 Your tongue plots destruction,
    like a sharp razor, you worker of deceit.
3 You love evil more than good,
    and lying more than speaking what is right. Selah
4 You love all words that devour,
    O deceitful tongue.

5 But God will break you down forever;
    he will snatch and tear you from your tent;
    he will uproot you from the land of the living. Selah
6 The righteous shall see and fear,
    and shall laugh at him, saying,
7 “See the man who would not make
    God his refuge,
but trusted in the abundance of his riches
    and sought refuge in his own destruction!”

8 But I am like a green olive tree
    in the house of God.
I trust in the steadfast love of God
    forever and ever.
9 I will thank you forever,
    because you have done it.
I will wait for your name, for it is good,
    in the presence of the godly.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

PSALM 52 – GUIDE

REVERENCE

Identify and celebrate God’s praiseworthy attributes

  • A God of steadfast love – vv.1, 8
  • God is our defender and our refuge – vv.5, 7
  • God’s love is unfailing – v.8
  • God has done great things. His name and goodness are our hope – v.9

Prayer Prompts

  • I praise You for being my stronghold when …
  • I praise You for showing me Your unfailing love when …
  • My hope is in You because …
  • Thank You for defending me from …
  • I will thank You forever because You have …

RESPONSE

Surrender to Him and His ways

  • I admit that sometimes in my day I forget about Your steadfast love, especially when …
  • I confess that I often seek refuge and trust in … rather than in You.

REQUESTS

Ask the Spirit to guide your prayer over concerns, resources, and relationships

  • Because of Your steadfast love I will trust You to defend me from …
  • Because my hope is in You, I will not fear …
  • God, You are my refuge, so today I will trust You for …
  • Today, I will wait on the goodness of Your name for …

READINESS

Encouragement and strength for spiritual battle

  • As the battle rages, grant me protection over the enemy of …
  • Today, I will trust in Your steadfast love, especially when …
  • Memorize and meditate on v.9.

* This prayer guide is an excerpt from Strategic Renewal’s publication, Praying the Psalms.