Praise the LORD, O my soul;
I will praise the LORD all my life;
I will sing praise to my God while I live.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
The LORD keeps faith forever,
secures justice for the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
The LORD gives sight to the blind.
The LORD raises up those who are bowed down;
the LORD loves the just.
The LORD protects strangers.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
The fatherless and the widow he sustains,
but the way of the wicked he thwarts
The LORD shall reign forever,
your God, O Zion, through all generations! Alleluia.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
The psalms are numerous and for every occasion such as those specific to offering praise and giving thanks. I’ve read: (begin) “In times of waiting or desert periods, have you ever prayed, “Why,” or “How long O Lord?” Have there ever been moments when you were so full of anger, tension, emotion, or heartbreak that you didn’t know what to pray? The book of Psalms reflects the ups and downs of our humanity. We can use the psalms of lament, and psalms of wisdom as a way to connect deeper with God. It allows us to come to Him in difficult times and teaches us we can approach God any time. We are especially blessed to have been given the book of Psalms because it reveals the journeys, struggles, emotions, and triumphs of other Christ-followers who have gone before us…”
The psalms are packed with pure and honest heart cries of people who found themselves in all sorts of circumstances. From those who became King to those who faced persecution. The vast majority of Psalms came pouring out of hearts torn with pain and turmoil. These are the songs of God’s people lamenting to him in the midst of loss, trials, and heartaches. But these songs are a beautiful refuge when life gets tough because the psalms remind us of the power found in praise—regardless of whether we are worshipping in good or bad circumstances. The psalms of lament point us to find solace and comfort in God’s presence. They also remind us that mourning lasts for the night but joy comes in the morning because of how faithful our mighty God is. (from crosswalk.com) (end)
Today’s Psalm 146 is based on hope. Is it false hope? I guess it depends on each person’s situation. Has the LORD kept faith, secured justice for the oppressed, given food to the hungry, and set captives free? Has the LORD given sight to the blind, raised up those who are bowed down, loved the just, and protected strangers? Perhaps better stated, have we?
“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.” – Helen Keller
“You are not here merely to make a living, you are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand.” – Woodrow Wilson
“We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
“All kids need is a little help, a little hope and somebody who believes in them.” – Magic Johnson
"It’s always something, to know you’ve done the most you could. But, don’t leave off hoping, or it’s of no use doing anything. Hope, hope to the last.” – Charles Dickens
“We must vote for hope, vote for life, vote for a brighter future for all of our loved ones.” – Ed Markey
“Hope is the companion of power, and mother of success; for who so hopes strongly has within him the gift of miracles.” – Samuel Smiles
“A dream is the bearer of a new possibility, the enlarged horizon, the great hope.” – Howard Thurman
Deacon David Pierce
Comments
Post a Comment
Please THINK before you write!