God’s Saving Word: Praise and Thanksgiving
Introduction
Psalm 105:1-22: This psalm outlines Israel’s history from the call of Abraham to the journey of the people to the Promised Land. Today’s reading concludes with a reference to Joseph, Jacob’s son, who helped the people during a time of great famine (see Genesis 41).
Scripture Reading
God and His People
105 Give thanks to the Lord,
proclaim his greatness;
tell the nations what he has done.
2 Sing praise to the Lord;
tell the wonderful things he has done.
3 Be glad that we belong to him;
let all who worship him rejoice.
4 Go to the Lord for help;
and worship him continually.
5-6 You descendants of Abraham, his servant;
you descendants of Jacob, the man he chose:
remember the miracles that God performed
and the judgments that he gave.
7 The Lord is our God;
his commands are for all the world.
8 He will keep his covenant forever,
his promises for a thousand generations.
9 He will keep the agreement he made with Abraham
and his promise to Isaac.
10 The Lord made a covenant with Jacob,
one that will last forever.
11 “I will give you the land of Canaan,” he said.
“It will be your own possession.”
12 God’s people were few in number,
strangers in the land of Canaan.
13 They wandered from country to country,
from one kingdom to another.
14 But God let no one oppress them;
to protect them, he warned the kings:
15 “Don’t harm my chosen servants;
do not touch my prophets.”
16 The Lord sent famine to their country
and took away all their food.
17 But he sent a man ahead of them,
Joseph, who had been sold as a slave.
18 His feet were kept in chains,
and an iron collar was around his neck,
19 until what he had predicted came true.
The word of the Lord proved him right.
20 Then the king of Egypt had him released;
the ruler of nations set him free.
21 He put him in charge of his government
and made him ruler over all the land,
22 with power over the king’s officials
and authority to instruct his advisers.
Today’s Key Verse: Psalm 105:2
Sing praise to the LORD; tell the wonderful things he has done.
Reflect
In today’s reading, what promises of God are mentioned? How did God provide for the people? How was God’s faithfulness demonstrated? How does God provide for you? In what ways have you witnessed God’s faithfulness in your life?
Pray
O Lord my God, I thank and praise you for your steadfast love and faithfulness. I trust in your promises. Keep me mindful of all the wonderful things you have done so that I proclaim your greatness from day to day. Amen.
Tomorrow’s Reading
Psalm 105:23-45: The psalm continues with a description of how God rescued the people when they were enslaved in Egypt.