God’s Saving Word: Praise and Thanksgiving

Introduction

Psalm 145: Today’s psalm is an alphabetical acrostic psalm. If you read this psalm in Hebrew, you would see that each verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The form of this psalm is as important as the text itself. By using the acrostic form, the psalm writer describes God’s kindness and mercy from “A to Z.”

Scripture Reading

A Hymn of Praise[a]

145 I will proclaim your greatness, my God and king;
    I will thank you forever and ever.
2 Every day I will thank you;
    I will praise you forever and ever.
3 The Lord is great and is to be highly praised;
    his greatness is beyond understanding.

4 What you have done will be praised from one generation to the next;
    they will proclaim your mighty acts.
5 They will speak of your glory and majesty,
    and I will meditate on your wonderful deeds.
6 People will speak of your mighty deeds,
    and I will proclaim your greatness.
7 They will tell about all your goodness
    and sing about your kindness.
8 The Lord is loving and merciful,
    slow to become angry and full of constant love.
9 He is good to everyone
    and has compassion on all he made.

10 All your creatures, Lord, will praise you,
    and all your people will give you thanks.
11 They will speak of the glory of your royal power
    and tell of your might,
12 so that everyone will know your mighty deeds
    and the glorious majesty of your kingdom.
13 Your rule is eternal,
    and you are king forever.

The Lord is faithful to his promises;
    he is merciful in all his acts.
14 He helps those who are in trouble;
    he lifts those who have fallen.

15 All living things look hopefully to you,
    and you give them food when they need it.
16 You give them enough
    and satisfy the needs of all.

17 The Lord is righteous in all he does,
    merciful in all his acts.
18 He is near to those who call to him,
    who call to him with sincerity.
19 He supplies the needs of those who honor him;
    he hears their cries and saves them.
20 He protects everyone who loves him,
    but he will destroy the wicked.

21 I will always praise the Lord;
    let all his creatures praise his holy name forever.

Today’s Key Verse: Psalm 145:3

The LORD is great and is to be highly praised; his greatness is beyond understanding.

Reflect

In what ways does the psalm writer proclaim God’s greatness? Try rewriting the first three verses of this psalm as an acrostic: the first word of the first verse beginning with the letter “A”, the second beginning with the letter “B”, and the third beginning with the letter “C.” Consider how the use of this form might enhance the message of the psalm for you.

Pray

Always, I will praise you and honor your name, my God and King and proclaim your greatness. Blessed is your name; each and every day I am delighted to sing your praises. Creator God, your greatness is beyond my understanding! Amen.

Tomorrow’s Reading

Psalm 146: A psalm in praise of God as Creator and Deliverer.