Thursday Psalms: Praying for Leaders

 

Blessed Thursday to each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, your Savior!

We know God commands and desires us to pray for the leaders He has placed over us.  However, when we judge our leaders and decide they are evil or ungodly, or corrupt, we often refuse to pray for them.  Why would we desire their success, when they may be leading contrary to God's will?  We may be right or wrong in our judgement; we still don't pray for them.

Psalm 72 is a prayer for the success of king Solomon, but it's likely this prayer would have been used for other kings also.  For us, this psalm is an encouragement to rightly pray for our leaders, whether they govern by God's commands or not.  Notice the focus of this psalm; it is not really on the king.  

Psalm  72:1-7

¹ Give the king Your justice, O God,

     and Your righteousness to the royal son!

² May he judge Your people with righteousness,

     and Your poor with justice!

³ Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people,

      and the hills, in righteousness!

⁴ May he defend the cause of the poor of the people,

     give deliverance to the children of the needy,

          and crush the oppressor!

⁵ May they fear You while the sun endures,

     and as long as the moon, throughout all generations!

⁶ May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass,

     like showers that water the earth!

⁷ In his days may the righteous flourish,

     and peace abound, till the moon be no more! 

The focus of this prayer is really on God and His justice, His righteousness, His people, His poor & needy children, and His created world.  The psalmist is praying for God's success to be given through the king and to God's people.  I commend this prayer and this mindset to you, as you pray for our leaders to be God-led in all they decide & do.  We also then must trust in God, that even if we do suffer under evil and Godless leaders, it is God's will and purpose. 

Praise be to You, O Lord!

Pastor Mark

Pilgrim Lutheran Church, LCMS    Burton, Michigan

office:  810.744.1188 

We are Pilgrims with a Purpose:  

     Sharing God’s Love & Mercy with Each Other & the World.

Pilgrim Website       Pilgrim Facebook page

Soli Deo Gloria

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."  Psalm 119:105

Advent Worship Wednesday December 3, 2025

 

Pilgrim Lutheran Church

Advent Vespers Worship

December 3, 2025

We're thankful you've come here to watch our service and to worship the one true God!

If you live in the Burton area, please consider joining us on Sunday mornings!  Anyone can watch our services live on Facebook or on Pilgrim's website.

Here is information about this worship service:

SCRIPTURE READINGS

   Old Testament:  Isaiah 40:1-5

               Gospel:  Luke 1:57-80

OUR THEME FOR WORSHIP TODAY

The songs you & I sing in our lives are often songs focused on our glory and self-importance.  Zechariah sings a different song, one that praises God for raising up a Savior, who shines light into this world’s darkness.  This Advent, sing the song of Zechariah and follow it to the Son of God, who is coming soon!

To watch the video of today's service, please click HERE.

Your servant in Christ,

Pastor Mark

Pilgrim Lutheran Church, LCMS    Burton, Michigan

office:  810.744.1188   

We are Pilgrims with a Purpose:  

       Sharing God’s Love & Mercy with Each Other & the World.

Pilgrim Website           Pilgrim Facebook page

Soli Deo Gloria

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."  Psalm 119:105

Pilgrim Sunday Worship November 30, 2025

 

Pilgrim Lutheran Church

The First Sunday in Advent

November 30, 2025

We're thankful you've come here to watch our service and to worship the one true God!

This was another exciting Sunday at Pilgrim Lutheran Church!  We've returned to our regular Sunday schedule, starting with Adult Bible class at 9:15 am and then our 10:30 am Worship service.  Afterward, we gathered for food and conversations, while the children enjoyed Sunday School.  These classes are full of activities and teaching, so the children learn how much God loves them!

If you live in the Burton area, please consider joining us on Sunday mornings!  Anyone can watch our services live on Facebook or on Pilgrim's website.

Here is information about this worship service:

SCRIPTURE READINGS

  Old Testament:  Isaiah 2:1–5

               Psalm:  Psalm 122

              Epistle:  Romans 13:8–14

             Gospel:  Matthew 24:36–44

THEME FOR WORSHIP

Advent is a season full of spiritual paradox; we’re waiting and preparing for a glorious event & day which has already happened, and which points us to an even better and more glorious event & day which is yet to come!  

On this first day in Advent, Isaiah helps us gaze out from another paradox; the holy mountain of the house of the Lord.  This mountain is both a real place and a picture of something far more glorious.  The Word of the Lord goes out from this holy mountain and gives us light and footholds for walking in the Lord’s paths.

To watch the video of today's service, please click HERE.

Your servant in Christ,

Pastor Mark

Pilgrim Lutheran Church, LCMS    Burton, Michigan

office:  810.744.1188   

We are Pilgrims with a Purpose:  

       Sharing God’s Love & Mercy with Each Other & the World.

Pilgrim Website           Pilgrim Facebook page

Soli Deo Gloria

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."  Psalm 119:105

Pilgrim Thanksgiving Worship November 26, 2025

 

Pilgrim Lutheran Church

Thanksgiving Eve Worship

November 26, 2025

We're thankful you've come here to watch our service and to worship the one true God!

If you live in the Burton area, please consider joining us on Sunday mornings!  Anyone can watch our services live on Facebook or on Pilgrim's website.

Here is information about this worship service:

BIBLE READINGS

  Old Testament:  Deuteronomy 8:1-10

               Psalm:  Psalm 67

              Epistle:  1 Timothy 2:1-4

              Gospel:  Luke 17:11-19

OUR THEME FOR WORSHIP TODAY

Thanksgiving is pretty easy, or we know it should be.  God is clear, He calls us to give thanks in all circumstances.  Easy to say, easy to know, but not always easy to do.  Tomorrow it may be easy to give thanks when the dishes & your hearts may be full.  

But it’s not so easy to return thanks when those same dishes are empty.  It’s even harder to give thanks, when the dishes are empty and may have been empty for a long time.  So where’s the joy in Thanksgiving?

To watch the video of today's service, please click HERE.

Your servant in Christ,

Pastor Mark

Pilgrim Lutheran Church, LCMS    Burton, Michigan

office:  810.744.1188   

We are Pilgrims with a Purpose:  

       Sharing God’s Love & Mercy with Each Other & the World.

Pilgrim Website           Pilgrim Facebook page

Soli Deo Gloria

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."  Psalm 119:105