Psalm Meditation 845
Proper 17
August 28, 2016

Psalm 145
1 I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever.
2 Every day I will bless you, and praise your name forever and ever.
3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; his greatness is unsearchable.
4 One generation shall laud your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.
5 On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
6 The might of your awesome deeds shall be proclaimed, and I will declare your greatness.
7 They shall celebrate the fame of your abundant goodness, and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
8 The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 The LORD is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made.
10 All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD, and all your faithful shall bless you.
11 They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom, and tell of your power,
12 to make known to all people your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. The LORD is faithful in all his words, and gracious in all his deeds.
14 The LORD upholds all who are falling, and raises up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season.
16 You open your hand, satisfying the desire of every living thing.
17 The LORD is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings.
18 The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desire of all who fear him; he also hears their cry, and saves them.
20 The LORD watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.
21 My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, and all flesh will bless his holy name forever and ever.
(NRSV)

For most of us mighty deeds are the stuff of legends, stories and news reports. They are the big picture activities of those who live lives in the rarified air of heroes. And those kinds of actions do take strength and might. The psalmist is referring to those acts of strength and power in some of the verses. The one who leads folks into battle, who fights for right and freedom, is a hero to be lifted up in praise. This part of the work and wonder of God is amazing and is told in gasping awe at the power God displays in these victorious moments.

The psalmist tells of other mighty deeds as well. These are the ones that tell of the compassion of God, which is a strength of another kind. We hear these stories when our attention is turned that direction, the stories that put a human face on both victims and individual heroes. At other times these stories happen without fanfare. The other mighty deeds are the acts of compassion that lift folks up anonymously and regularly. These too are mighty acts of God.

Whether God is out in front leading the charge against evil forces or working quietly in the background to give aid and comfort to those whose lives are damaged by evil acts, large and small, the psalmist speaks the praise of God. The psalmist also invites us to offer praise and blessing for all the ways God works. As people of God we act in big and small ways to offer hope, help and healing to those around us so that, “all flesh will bless his holy name forever and ever.”

August 23, 2016
LCM