Psalm 145 (NRSV)
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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
There are days when I have felt like the Psalmist, I know well the truth of this unbridled praise. Not every day, mind you, but on those days when I have felt such an overwhelming sense of God's presence and goodness I have repeated the phrase, "For this day, for this experience alone O God, I am glad I was born." These are the moments when it feels so good to be alive that you know, in your heart of hearts, that God is so wonderful, so full of goodness and so worthy of all the praise you can muster. And, like the Psalmist, you can't keep this feeling to yourself. You know that others can't either, that somehow those who come after you will also experience the realities of love, care, beauty, grace and salvation.
Prayer
God of glory and magnificence, I thank you for this world of wonder. I thank you that I was born into this wonder, that I have been allowed to experience beauty in the woods, on the lake, in the arms of one who loves me, in the gathering of your people for worship. I am grateful you are God and you abound in steadfast love. Amen.