God’s Saving Word: Praise and Thanksgiving

Introduction

Psalm 144: Today’s reading is a royal psalm that celebrates God’s powers and virtues. The “enemies” and “foreigners” mentioned in verses 6, 7, and 11 are the nations that oppressed God’s people during the exile and after their return. The psalm concludes with a prayer for the nation.

Scripture Reading

A King Thanks God for Victory[a]

144 Praise the Lord, my protector!
He trains me for battle
    and prepares me for war.
2 He is my protector and defender,
    my shelter and savior,
    in whom I trust for safety.
He subdues the nations under me.

3 Lord, what are mortals, that you notice them;
    mere mortals, that you pay attention to us?
4 We are like a puff of wind;
    our days are like a passing shadow.

5 O Lord, tear the sky open and come down;
    touch the mountains, and they will pour out smoke.
6 Send flashes of lightning and scatter your enemies;
    shoot your arrows and send them running.
7 Reach down from above,
    pull me out of the deep water, and rescue me;
    save me from the power of foreigners,
8     who never tell the truth
    and lie even under oath.

9 I will sing you a new song, O God;
    I will play the harp and sing to you.
10 You give victory to kings
    and rescue your servant David.
11 Save me from my cruel enemies;
    rescue me from the power of foreigners,
    who never tell the truth
    and lie even under oath.

12 May our sons in their youth
    be like plants that grow up strong.
May our daughters be like stately columns
    which adorn the corners of a palace.
13 May our barns be filled
    with crops of every kind.
May the sheep in our fields
    bear young by the tens of thousands.
14 May our cattle reproduce plentifully
    without miscarriage or loss.
May there be no cries of distress in our streets.

15 Happy is the nation of whom this is true;
    happy are the people whose God is the Lord!

Today’s Key Verse: Psalm 144:15b

Happy are the people whose God is the LORD!

Reflect

How is God described in verses 1 and 2? Verse 3 recalls Psalm 8:4 (see the reading for November 4). What does this verse, along with verse 4, indicate about the writer’s thoughts? What does the psalm writer ask of God (verses 5-8)? Reread verses 12-14, which envision a well-structured society. How would you paraphrase these verses for a vision for society today?

Pray

I praise you, Lord, because you are my protector and defender, my shelter and my savior, in whom I trust for safety. Reach down, O God, and embrace me in your loving care. Amen.

Tomorrow’s Reading

Psalm 145: A hymn proclaiming God’s greatness.