Hear Me, Lord

Service of Prayer and Praise Based on Psalm 86

This service is fully based on Psalm 86 with quotes from other psalms throughout. It follows a basic pattern of the congregation reading a verse or two from Psalm 86, offering a prayer based on those verses, and then singing a related song or two. The service has two main sections: a plea for help because we are so needy, and our dependence on God, who is loving and faithful. Though the psalms are written in first person, they are understood as a corporate expression.

Specific hymn verses are chosen to correlate with the Scripture. Different hymnals may include different verses or print them in a different order, so adjust them accordingly. You are encouraged to use the medleys as indicated.

Each prayer could be led by a different leader. Leader lines are printed in regular type, and the congregation’s lines are bolded. The psalm references should not be read, but they could be printed in a bulletin or projected.

Music could be played quietly while prayers are read.

The service should flow unannounced.

Prelude

“You Are My Hiding Place” arr. Wilhelmi

Introduction and Welcome

Congregational Scripture Reading

Psalm 86

Song

Psalm 86 (see music on p. 43)

We Turn to God for Help

Prayer

Lord, we turn to you for help.

Hear me, LORD, and answer me,

      for I am poor and needy
(86:1).

[You, O God, are] compassionate and gracious,

     slow to anger, abounding in love (103:8).

But as for me, I am poor and needy;

     come quickly to me, O God.

You are my help and my deliverer;

     LORD, do not delay (70:5).

Rescue [me, as I am] weak and needy;

     deliver [me] from the hand of the wicked (82:4).

For I am poor and needy,

     and my heart is wounded within me (109:22).

[God] raises the poor from the dust

     and lifts the needy from the ash heap (113:7).

God will never forget the needy;

     the hope of the afflicted will never perish (9:18).

Answer me when I call to you,

     my righteous God.

Give me relief from my distress;

     have mercy on me and hear my prayer (4:1).

Song

“Lord, I Need You” Maher, CCLI Song # 5925687

Prayer

LORD, we need you, and so we ask that you

     guard my life, for I am faithful to you;

save your servant who trusts in you.

You are my God
(86:2).

But I trust in you, LORD;

     I say, “You are my God.”

My times are in your hands;

     deliver me from the hands of my enemies,

     from those who pursue me.

Let your face shine on your servant;

     save me in your unfailing love (31:14–16).

You are my strength, I sing praise to you;

     you, God, are my fortress,

     my God on whom I can rely (59:17).

Do not hide your face from me,

     do not turn your servant away in anger;

     you have been my helper.

Do not reject me or forsake me,

     God my Savior (27:9).

You make your saving help my shield,

     and your right hand sustains me;

     your help has made me great (18:35).

Hear my cry for help,

     my King and my God,

     for to you I pray (5:2).

Songs

“If You But Trust in God to Guide You” Neumark, LUYH 407 (v. 1)

”Jesus, Lover of My Soul” Wesley, LUYH 424 (v. 1–2), GtG 440, PsH 578

Prayer

Because you love us, we can turn to you and pray:

Have mercy on me, Lord,

     for I call to you all day long.

Bring joy to your servant, Lord,


     for I put my trust in you (86:3–4).

Hear, LORD, and be merciful to me;

     LORD, be my help (30:10).

Be pleased to save me, LORD;

     come quickly, LORD, to help me (40:13).

[You are] my strength and my shield;

     my heart trusts in [you], and [you] help me.

My heart leaps for joy,

     and with my song I praise [you] (28:7).

Let all who take refuge in you be glad;

     let them ever sing for joy.

Spread your protection over them,

     that those who love your name

     may rejoice in you (5:11).

I call on you, my God, for you will answer me;

     turn your ear to me and hear my prayer (17:6).

Songs

“As the Deer” Nystrom, LUYH 503, GtG 626

“You, O Lord, Are a Shield About Me” Thomas and Williams, LUYH 382

“How Lovely Is Your Dwelling” Psalter, LUYH 507 (v. 2), PsH 243

“Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing” Robinson, LUYH 521 (v. 3), GtG 475, PsH 486

Prayer

Lord, we come before you knowing that

You, Lord, are forgiving and good,

     abounding in love to all who call to you (86:5).

Do not remember the sins of my youth

     and my rebellious ways;

according to your love remember me,

     for you, LORD, are good (25:7).

Answer me, LORD, out of the goodness of your love;

     in your great mercy turn to me (69:16).

But you, Sovereign LORD,

     help me for your name’s sake;

     out of the goodness of your love, deliver me (109:21).

Turn, LORD, and deliver me;

     save me because of your unfailing love (6:4).

The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;

     my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,

     my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold (18:2).

I call on you, my God, for you will answer me;

turn your ear to me and hear my prayer (17:6).

Songs

“Cornerstone” Morgan, CCLI Song # 6158927

“God Is So Good” Traditional, LUYH 777 (vs. 1, 2, 4), GtG 658

Prayer

Assured of your goodness,

we turn to you in prayer.

Hear my prayer, LORD;

     listen to my cry for mercy.

When I am in distress, I call to you,


     because you answer me (86:6–7).

In you, LORD, I have taken refuge;

     let me never be put to shame;

     deliver me in your righteousness (31:1).

The righteous cry out,

and the LORD hears them;

he delivers them from all their troubles
(34:17).

Answer me when I call to you,

     my righteous God.

Give me relief from my distress;

     have mercy on me and hear my prayer (4:1).

Hear my voice when I call, LORD;

     be merciful to me and answer me (27:7).

Answer me, LORD, out of the goodness of your love;

     in your great mercy turn to me.

Do not hide your face from your servant;

     answer me quickly, for I am in trouble (69:16–17).

I will give you thanks, for you answered me;

     you have become my salvation (118:21).

Song

“Before the Throne of God Above” Bancroft, LUYH 682

Offertory

“Great Are You, Lord” Leonard/ Ingram CCLI Song # 6460220

We Depend on God

Prayer

Our God is a great God!

Among the gods there is none like you, Lord;

     no deeds can compare with yours.

All the nations you have made


     will come and worship before you, Lord;

     they will bring glory to your name.

For you are great and do marvelous deeds;


     you alone are God (86:8–10).

For the LORD is the great God,

     the great King above all gods (95:3).

For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;

     he is to be feared above all gods (96:4).

For you, LORD, are the Most High over all the earth;

     you are exalted far above all gods (97:9).

I know that the LORD is great,

     that our Lord is greater than all gods (135:5).

I will praise you, LORD, with all my heart;

     before the “gods” I will sing your praise (138:1).

Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel,

     who alone does marvelous deeds (72:18).

Praise our God, all peoples,

     let the sound of his praise be heard (66:8).

Songs

“How Great Is Our God” Tomlin/Reeves, LUYH 574

“O Worship the King” Grant, LUYH 2 (vs. 1, 2, 5), GtG 41, PsH 428

Prayer

Lord, help us to have a teachable spirit.

Teach me your way, LORD,

     that I may rely on your faithfulness;

give me an undivided heart,


     that I may fear your name (86:11).

Guide me in your truth and teach me,

     for you are God my Savior,

     and my hope is in you all day long (25:5).

Teach me to do your will,

     for you are my God;

may your good Spirit

     lead me on level ground (143:10).

Teach me knowledge and good judgment,

     for I trust your commands (119:66).

I gave an account of my ways

and you answered me;

     teach me your decrees (119:26).

Create in me a pure heart, O God,

     and renew a steadfast spirit within me (51:10).

Teach us to number our days,

     that we may gain a heart of wisdom (90:12).

[You tell us:] My people, hear my teaching;

     listen to the words of my mouth (78:1).

Songs

“I Need Thee Every Hour” Hawks, LUYH 322 (vs. 2, 4), GtG 735

“Have Thine Own Way, Lord” Pollard, LUYH 737 (vs. 1, 4), PsH 287

Prayer

May we glorify you in all things.

I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;

     I will glorify your name forever (86:12).

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart

     be pleasing in your sight,

     LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer (19:14).

Glory in his holy name;

     let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice (105:3).

My heart, O God, is steadfast;

     I will sing and make music with all my soul (108:1).

I will praise the LORD, who counsels me;

     even at night my heart instructs me (16:7).

Glorify the LORD with me;

     let us exalt his name together (34:3).

Because your love is better than life,

     my lips will glorify you (63:3).

I will praise God’s name in song

     and glorify him with thanksgiving (69:30).

The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;

     he delivers them from all their troubles (34:17).

Songs

“At Your Name” Wickham/Hughes, CCLI Song # 5942543

“All Hail The Power of Jesus’ Name” Perronet, LUYH 601 (v. 1, 3), GtG 263, PsH 471

“Lord, I Lift Your Name on High” Founds, LUYH 610

Prayer

God, we depend on your love and mercy.

For great is your love toward me;

     you have delivered me from the depths,

     from the realm of the dead.

Arrogant foes are attacking me, O God;

     ruthless people are trying to kill me—

they have no regard for you.

But you, LORD, are a compassionate and gracious God,

     slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness (86:13–15).

I sought the LORD, and he answered me;

     he delivered me from all my fears (34:4).

For you have delivered me from death

     and my feet from stumbling,

that I may walk before God

     in the light of life (56:13).

For you, LORD, have delivered me from death,

     my eyes from tears,

     my feet from stumbling (116:8).

How abundant are the good things

     that you have stored up for those who fear you,

that you bestow in the sight of all,

     on those who take refuge in you (31:19).

They celebrate your abundant goodness

     and joyfully sing of your righteousness (145:7).

Your love, LORD, reaches to the heavens,

     your faithfulness to the skies (36:5).

Who is like you, LORD God Almighty?

     You, LORD, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you (89:8).

Not to us, LORD, not to us

     but to your name be the glory,

     because of your love and faithfulness (115:1).

Songs

“You Are My Hiding Place” Ledner, LUYH 412

“Nearer, Still Nearer” Morris, LUYH 659 (v. 1)

“Out of the Depths I Cry to You on High” Psalter, LUYH 655 (v. 2)

“How Firm a Foundation” Rippon’s Selection of Hymns, LUYH 427 (v. 5), GtG 463, PsH 500

Prayer

God, we depend on your love and mercy.

Turn to me and have mercy on me;

     show your strength in behalf of your servant

save me, because I serve you just as my mother did.

Give me a sign of your goodness,


     that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,

for you, LORD, have helped me and comforted me
(86:16–17).

Song

“Surely Goodness and Mercy” Peterson and Smith

Prayer

God, we don’t deserve your love and mercy.

But you, Sovereign LORD,

     help me for your name’s sake;

     out of the goodness of your love, deliver me (109:21).

Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me,

     for in you I take refuge.

I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings

     until the disaster has passed (57:1).

LORD, hear my prayer,

     listen to my cry for mercy;

in your faithfulness and righteousness


     come to my relief (143:1).

The LORD is with me; he is my helper.

     I look in triumph on my enemies (118:7).

The LORD has heard my cry for mercy;

     the LORD accepts my prayer (6:9).

Praise be to the LORD,

     for he has heard my cry for mercy (28:6).

Song

“God of the Ages, Whose Almighty Hand” Roberts, LUYH 281, GtG 331, PsH 599 (vs. 1, 3, 4)

Closing Prayer/Blessing

Closing Song

“When Peace Like a River” Spafford, LUYH 451 (vs. 1, 4), GtG 840, PsH 489

Postlude

Psalm 86 (see music on p. 43)

Deb Smit attends Manhattan Christian Reformed Church in Churchill, Montana. She is passionate about worship and is involved in leading by writing, planning, and playing piano, organ, or keyboard.

Reformed Worship 135 © March 2020, Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. Used by permission.