Knowing God 1

The Aim of this devotional study is to grow in knowledge of God and practicing our appropriate response towards Him.

Scripture

Psalms 145:1-21

1   A Song of Praise. Of David. 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, and his greatness is unsearchable.

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4  One generation shall commend 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  They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness.

7  They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

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8  The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

9  The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.

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10  All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD, and all your saints shall bless you!

11  They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power,

12  to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

13  Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations.

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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; you satisfy the desire of every living thing.

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17  The LORD is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works.

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 those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.

20  The LORD preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.

21  My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.

Observation

Note: this psalm of praise is acrostic, meaning each verse (or line) begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

1. Notice also the repetition within the verses – common of Hebrew poets to emphasize key points, such a “[they] shall speak of your glory and tell your power” and “Your kingdom is everlasting… your dominion throughout all generations”. Mark all these occurrences of repetition within a single verse.
2. There seems to be five logical sections in this Psalm (do you see otherwise? Motivate why, and go ahead). Summarize each section with a short phrase, i.e. v1-3 “Praise God for He is greater than all else”
3. List the attributes / characteristics of God in this Psalm that speaks for his transcendence (very big and not like us at all).
4. List the attributes / characteristics of God in this Psalm that speaks of his immanence (close and intimate and personal).

Application and prayer

[We will pray through this psalm now personally / devotionally]

1. Look at the attributes / characteristics that David used to describe God with. Which of those have you personally experienced or witnessed?  Pray through each one and tell God where and how you have experienced his greatness in each of these lines you relate to.
2. Look at the attributes / characteristics that David used to describe God with. Which of those seem foreign or far out to you? Pray through those lines and tell God why they seem unfamiliar to you, and ask Him to reveal Himself to you in that way.
3. Verse four reads “One generation shall praise your works to another…” Thinking back through your life, start making brief notes of God’s intervention in your life (“His works”).  Write how you experienced it, so that you can tell them to the next generation to stir their faith in the Great and Living God. Praise God for these as you make brief notes. (The goal is to write your personal version of Psalm 136).