Psalm 145:10-18 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 145:10-18 on biblegateway.com
Verse 10All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord, and all your faithful shall bless you.
Verse 11They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom, and tell of your power,
Verse 12to make known to all people your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Verse 13Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. The Lord is faithful in all his words, and gracious in all his deeds.
Verse 14The Lord upholds all who are falling, and raises up all who are bowed down.
Verse 15The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season.
Verse 16You open your hand, satisfying the desire of every living thing.
Verse 17The Lord is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings.
Verse 18The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
Devotion
My Lutheran Study Bible notes tell me that verses 15 & 16 of Psalm 145 were Martin Luther’s suggestion for a table prayer. My mother will probably shudder to know I’m admitting this into the cyber-world, but table prayers aren’t my expertise. It wasn’t a tradition or practice in my family to pray before meals. As is common with most things we aren’t familiar with, I still get slightly uncomfortable when that time before a meal comes (do we pray or don’t we, and if we do, what do we pray?). Now that I have admitted that to you, I also want you to know that I DO believe it is a great idea to pray before meals! And now, when I am at a loss for words, I will remember to turn to Psalm 145 and pray the words of the Psalmist: “satisfy the desire of every living thing.”
Prayer
Gracious God, in the moments we have the perfect words, and in the moments we have no words, remind us that bowing our heads and saying, Thank You, can be the greatest prayer of all. Amen.