Psalm 145:
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Through the ages, people of God have identified with the psalmists' cries of lament and praise to God. But what is striking about Psalm 145 this week is that it occurs in the midst of recent passages with the theme of being imitators of God and Christ. As we are imitators of God perhaps psalms like these become our cry to God, but through us perhaps they can also find an answer. What if we regarded this psalm as a cry to God from the neediest in the world, and by which God could work through us to answer that cry? When we hear these cries in the world, it is our calling to be gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. We are to uphold those who fall, lift up those who are bowed down. This is our calling. Through our being created in God's image we can respond as God's agents to comfort the groans of this world.
Compassionate creator, give us the ear to hear and the will to respond to the cries of your people. Cast your Holy Spirit on us to comfort every cry, and dry every tear. Amen.
Kyle Svennungsen, '14
Associate Pastor, St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church, Prairie du Chien, Wis.
Psalm 145:8 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...
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. [New Revised Standard Version]
8 Adonai is merciful and compassionate,
slow to anger and great in grace.
9 Adonai is good to all;
his compassion rests on all his creatures.
14 Adonai supports all who fall
and lifts up all who are bent over.
15 The eyes of all are looking to you;
you give them their food at the right time.
16 You open your hand
and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17 Adonai is righteous in all his ways,
full of grace in all he does.
18 Adonai is close to all who call on him,
to all who sincerely call on him.
19 He fulfills the desire of those who fear him;
he hears their cry and saves them.
20 Adonai protects all who love him,
but all the wicked he destroys.
21 My mouth will proclaim the praise of Adonai;
all people will bless his holy name forever and ever.
(Complete Jewish Bible)-------
Through the ages, people of God have identified with the psalmists' cries of lament and praise to God. But what is striking about Psalm 145 this week is that it occurs in the midst of recent passages with the theme of being imitators of God and Christ. As we are imitators of God perhaps psalms like these become our cry to God, but through us perhaps they can also find an answer. What if we regarded this psalm as a cry to God from the neediest in the world, and by which God could work through us to answer that cry? When we hear these cries in the world, it is our calling to be gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. We are to uphold those who fall, lift up those who are bowed down. This is our calling. Through our being created in God's image we can respond as God's agents to comfort the groans of this world.
Compassionate creator, give us the ear to hear and the will to respond to the cries of your people. Cast your Holy Spirit on us to comfort every cry, and dry every tear. Amen.
Kyle Svennungsen, '14
Associate Pastor, St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church, Prairie du Chien, Wis.
Psalm 145:8 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...
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. [New Revised Standard Version]
The Luther Seminary
2481 Como Ave. | St. Paul | MN | 55108, United States
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2481 Como Ave. | St. Paul | MN | 55108, United States
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