Psalm 145 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 145 on biblegateway.com
Verse 1I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever.
Verse 2Every day I will bless you, and praise your name forever and ever.
Verse 3Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; his greatness is unsearchable.
Verse 4One generation shall laud your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.
Verse 5On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
Verse 6The might of your awesome deeds shall be proclaimed, and I will declare your greatness.
Verse 7They shall celebrate the fame of your abundant goodness, and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
Verse 8The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
Verse 9The Lord is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made.
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.
Verse 19He fulfills the desire of all who fear him; he also hears their cry, and saves them.
Verse 20The Lord watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.
Verse 21My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and all flesh will bless his holy name forever and ever.
Devotion
When my husband and I were students at the seminary, we once received an anonymous gift of money. While it was a timely and helpful gift, for which we were grateful, I remember feeling disappointed that I was never able to personally thank this kind donor.
Someone has said that “Happiness is seeing a beautiful sunset, and knowing who to thank.” This quote helps me see what was difficult about receiving this gift; I was deprived of knowing who to thank.
Psalm 145 is a prayer of thanksgiving where there is absolutely no question about whom to thank. God’s glory is extolled, blessed, praised, lauded, declared, sung, celebrated, and proclaimed—and with good reason! Beyond the kindness of strangers, or a beautiful sunset, we thank God because we are the recipients of God’s grace, mercy, patience, and never-ending love!
Prayer
With a grateful heart, I meditate, I celebrate, I sing aloud today of your gifts, kind God—those given to me in time, and those promised to me, through Jesus, into eternity. Amen.