July 29, 2015

Instruction
Scripture: Psalm145:10-21
The prescript on this psalm tells us that it is both a song of praise and that it was written by David. It is a fun fact that this is the only psalm in the Book of Psalms to actually be called a psalm in its title. For a psalm is a song of praise. The content of the psalm itself has to do with thanks and praise for good that God does for the whole world, and encourages the worshipper to make God known to others so they too will praise him. The psalm gives words and reasons for us to praise God and to make him known in the world.
Teaching
David writes in universal terms in Psalm 145. “All your works shall give thanks,” “to make known to the children of men,” “throughout all generations,” “The eyes of all look to you,” etc. He also covers a wide group of topics in his thanks and praise: glory, power, help for the falling, relief for the bowed, satisfaction for the hungry, righteousness, and God’s presence and preservation.
David would have us think much more broadly in our thanks and praise. He looks out at the world and sees all of it as God’s and in all of it examples of what makes God praiseworthy. And above all, what makes God praiseworthy is that he is God. What he does is rooted in who he is. He is creator, provider, sustainer, savior, and all things good.
Life
What do you thank and praise God for? Is your focus on things like family, health, and good things that happen to you and the ones you love? Perhaps you give thanks for God’s protection. Maybe your focus in giving thanks and praise is on Jesus and the salvation he won for you when he died and rose again.
These are certainly worthy topics for thanks and praise. This psalm challenges us to look even more broadly and to give thanks for how deeply interwoven God is in our existence and the many ways that he blesses our existence and makes it good. Indeed he brings us into his kingdom where we live as his people.

Prayer

This prayer is written in the theme of Confession.

O God, all your works shall give thanks to you, but all too often we are unaware of how vast your works are. We look at this world through our modern eyes and see natural processes, laws of physics, and the general working of the world, but too often we do not see you as the author of those processes and laws or as the one who keeps the world working. All of this is your kingdom which displays your power and glory, but too often we are so caught up in our day to day life or the troubles of this world that we fail to see that this is all yours, and that we ourselves belong to you and are part of your kingdom. Forgive us for failing to fully thank you for all you have done – upholding us, raising us up, feeding us, satisfying our desires, giving us righteousness, being kind, drawing near to us in our need, preserving us, and destroying the wicked. Forgive us for Jesus’ sake. Amen. 

Comments