Psalm 138 (NRSV)
Your love endures forever
I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart;
before the gods I sing your praise;
I bow down toward your holy temple
and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness;
for you have exalted your name and your word
above everything.
On the day I called, you answered me,
you increased my strength of soul.
All the kings of the earth shall praise you, O Lord,
for they have heard the words of your mouth.
They shall sing of the ways of the Lord,
for great is the glory of the Lord.
For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly;
but the haughty he perceives from far away.
Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve me against the wrath of my enemies;
you stretch out your hand,
and your right hand delivers me.
The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;
your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.
Do not forsake the work of your hands.
I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart;
before the gods I sing your praise;
I bow down toward your holy temple
and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness;
for you have exalted your name and your word
above everything.
On the day I called, you answered me,
you increased my strength of soul.
All the kings of the earth shall praise you, O Lord,
for they have heard the words of your mouth.
They shall sing of the ways of the Lord,
for great is the glory of the Lord.
For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly;
but the haughty he perceives from far away.
Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve me against the wrath of my enemies;
you stretch out your hand,
and your right hand delivers me.
The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;
your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.
Do not forsake the work of your hands.
Reflection
God hears us when we cry out. God hears our songs of praise. God hears our words of thanksgiving. It's not just a cry out into the wind. When we pray, God hears. Prayer is so much more than thoughts. God hears. Prayer is our time to listen.
God speaks to kings and God speaks and more so regards the lowly. God not only hears, but God acts. When God's word is heard the force is so great that people act. People act and love and reach out in God's love to those in need. God hears and God acts.
God has a purpose for each one of us. As we walk through life, God has chosen to deliver us through Jesus. We will experience all the feelings and emotions of life, but that's not all there is. God has a purpose that he works in and through each one of us as God acts out Jesus' love in our lives.
God is with us here and now, in our prayers, in our joy and through the pain and God reaches out through us in lovely acts towards those God gives to us each day. Thanks be to God!
Prayer
A Psalm that seems to be for kings to hear your word, reaches out and touches the lives of all. For your faithful love, lifts all your people up. Act through me this day that your love may shine through, showing your lovely act of deliverance always. --- Amen
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