“Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven” (ELW 865)
1 Praise, my soul, the King of heaven;
to his feet your tribute bring.
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
evermore his praises sing.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise the everlasting King!
2 Praise him for grace and favor
to our forebears in distress.
Praise him, still the same forever,
slow to chide and swift to bless.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Glorious in his faithfulness!
3 Tenderly he shields and spares us;
well our feeble frame he knows.
In his hands he gently bears us,
rescues us from all our foes.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Widely as his mercy flows.
4 Angels help us to adore him,
who behold him face to face.
Sun and moon bow down before him;
all who dwell in time and space.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise with us the God of grace.
Devotion
In this week’s gospel we hear about a king who is so eager to celebrate with his people that he invites anyone he can find to his son’s wedding. From Isaiah we have heard about the good God has done for God’s people through the ages. So in today’s hymn we too can join in singing: “Praise [God] for his grace and favor to our forebears in distress.”
We know that God has always been “a refuge to the poor, a refuge to the needy in their distress, a shelter from the rainstorm and a shade from the heat” (Isaiah 25:4), and therefore we can trust that God will continue to be a refuge and shelter in all the storms and needs of life. “Tenderly he shields and spares us; well our feeble frame he knows. In his hands he gently bears us, rescues us from all our foes.” God’s loving presence never falters, come what may, and God is indeed “glorious in his faithfulness.”
Prayer
Faithful God, we praise you for your goodness through all the ages, and for your continuing care for us. Help us to rejoice in all your gifts, trust in your promises, and praise you with all our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.