Psalm Meditation 1078 Transfiguration Sunday February 14, 2021 Psalm 92 1 It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; 2 to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, 3 to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre. 4 For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy. 5 How great are your works, O Lord! Your thoughts are very deep! 6 The dullard cannot know, the stupid cannot understand this: 7 though the wicked sprout like grass and all evildoers flourish, they are doomed to destruction forever, 8 but you, O Lord, are on high forever. 9 For your enemies, O Lord, for your enemies shall perish; all evildoers shall be scattered. 10 But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox; you have poured over me fresh oil. 11 My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies; my ears have heard the doom of my evil assailants. 12 The righteous flourish like the palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 13 They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. 14 In old age they still produce fruit; they are always green and full of sap, 15 showing that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him. (NRSV) One of the important things that happens when we say, ‘thank you,’ to others is it reminds us to be grateful. Gratitude breeds gratitude as we remember to feel and express thanks for all that others do with and for us. We may have gotten annoyed as the adults around us reminded us to thank those around us who do special, even ordinary things for us. At best the words and the gratitude become a habit of word and attitude. We have internalized thankfulness and gratitude. One of the concerns we have for each other these days is the sense of entitlement that so many people carry with them. It is so easy to see in others and just as easy to miss in ourselves. When someone else comes across as entitled we can see how little they deserve the things they claim as entitlements. When we feel entitled we miss all that cues that we don’t deserve what we are demanding. It is important to look to our own behaviors before we judge others for theirs. The psalmist begins with gratitude to God. The psalmist also sees righteous folks as expressing gratitude, thus being better able to see what God is doing in the lives of all around them. As we express thanks we find ourselves better able to see the good in the world, in others, and in ourselves. Thankfulness leads to a sense of joy and happiness in the world around us. A sense of happiness leads us to a fresh outlook on life that allows us, “In old age they still produce fruit; they are always green and full of sap.” February 8, 2021 LCM