Introduction
The Congregation Council at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., where I am serving as interim pastor, opens its monthly meetings with devotions. These are the thoughts for the November 2010 meeting. The Psalm is the one appointed for the Thankoffering Service of the Women of the ELCA, which we’re observing the weekend of Nov. 13–14, 2010. The council read it antiphonally in choirs.
Invocation
In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Reading
Psalm 145:1–9
1I will extol you, my God and King,
and bless your name forever and ever.
2Every day I will bless you,
and praise your name forever and ever.
3Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
his greatness is unsearchable.
4One generation shall laud your works to another,
and shall declare your mighty acts.
5On the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and on your marvelous works, I will meditate.
6The might of your awesome deeds shall be proclaimed,
and I will declare your greatness.
7They shall celebrate the fame of your abundant goodness,
and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
8The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9The LORD is good to all,
and his compassion is over all that he has made.
Devotion
In this psalm of praise, there’s a powerful progression from verses three to five. In verse three, we sing about how God is worthy to receive our praise: “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised….” Then in verse four we sing to God about how the praises we offer him we also pass between the generations: “One generation shall laud your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.” Then, finally, in verse five, we meditate upon God’s praiseworthiness in our own hearts.
These few verses tell us at least a few wonderful and amazing things:
+ God’s praises can’t be contained; we must share them
+ We share them with him, with others, and with ourselves
+ God himself is the focus of our worship where we praise him, our proclamation where we tell others about him, and our meditation when we ponder his splendor.
And then, a little further on, the psalm tells us what makes God worthy of such far-reaching praise: “The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love” (Psalm 145:8). This is such a moving and inspiring way to talk about God’s presence in our lives that it appears, almost verbatim, in Psalm 103:8 (here it is “merciful and gracious”) and in Joel 2:13. In that passage, God’s qualities motivate his people to repent. It’s part of a passage we use each Ash Wednesday, when we hear the prophet say, “Return to the LORD, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing” (Joel 2:13). It’s also our Lenten Verse before the Gospel.
These divine gifts touch us each day and inspire us to praise, proclaim, and ponder the LORD as he works in our lives.
Discussion
+ How have you seen God’s grace, mercy, patience, and love in your life? In our congregation’s life?
+ What have your heard about the Lord from your elders? What have you said about the Lord to the younger generation?
+ What can we do, as a congregation, to encourage praising, proclaiming, and pondering the Lord and his great gifts?
Prayer
Our God and King, we praise you for your love and grace and we ask you to help us to proclaim your awesome deeds to others. In the quiet moments of our lives, lead us to ponder your mercy; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.