Daily Devotional Thought--From the Psalms

Collect of the Week (Proper 12-C)

O Lord, let Your merciful ears be attentive to the prayers of Your servants, and by Your Word and Spirit teach us how to pray that our petitions may be pleasing before You; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Psalm 138 (Assigned Psalm for Proper 12-C)

¹ I give you thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise;

² I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.

³ On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased.

⁴ All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O LORD, for they have heard the words of your mouth,

⁵ and they shall sing of the ways of the LORD, for great is the glory of the LORD.

⁶ For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar.

⁷ Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me.

⁸ The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.

Devotion

In the name of T Jesus.

As David confesses, in verse 2, God’s name and His Word are above everything.  By His name, and in His Word, He has promised to care for all His Children.  By His name, and in His Word, he has promised to preserve all His creation, the works of His hands.  By His name, and in His Word, He assures us of bringing His plans to completion for all His Children, and for all creation.

His enemies, on the other hand, have God’s name and His Word set against them.  The name of God refuses to share its glory with any other thing, and His Word is holy above all.  If a person fears, loves, or trusts in something other than the name or Word of God, then the name and Word of God are set against that person.

But the victories of King David, spoken of in the psalm, prefigured the victories of David’s Son, Jesus Christ.  They also prefigure the victories of those who are in Christ by virtue of their baptism (Rom. 6; Gal. 3:27).  Our sinful flesh, the condemnation of sin, and even the Devil’s might and accusations, have been defeated through the sacrifice of the Son.  And through the Son, God’s name has been demonstrated as being above all others, which we know because of His Word.

So too, in repentance and faith, we call upon the name rather than forsake it.  In repentance and faith we desire to hear God’s Word, rather than shunning it.  In repentance and faith, our idols are defeated, and the name and Word which are above all name, are given their proper place, and are set apart as holy even among us.  In the name of T Jesus. Amen.

Prayer

O Lord, we thank You that in Your Word You extend to us such great promises. Grant us full assurance of Your grace, protection, and spiritual care. Fulfill Your purpose in our lives thorugh Jesus Christ. Amen (TLSB, p. 982).