Psalm 146 - A Psalm of Praise (Orientation)

by Pastor Paul Dugan

Try entering into praise with this three-part rhythm:

Part 1

Become present to the presence of God:

Every morning I lay out the pieces of my life on your altar and watch for fire to descend. (Psalm 5:3 The Message).

Pause in silence before God. Practice breathing slowly and deeply. As you inhale, invite the Holy Spirit to fill every part of your being. As you exhale, release any burdens you are carrying into this time of prayer. Repeat this breathing prayer until you have brought your whole self -‘as is’ -before the presence of God.

Optional prayer of approach: “Lord, as long as there is breath in me, strength in me, a beating heart within me, I will sing your song; the song of your relentless faithfulness, lavish grace, inexhaustible love. Why do we waste our praise on flesh and blood, on idols that cannot save or deliver? They are a passing mist, a fleeting vapor. The kingdoms of this earth will pass away, but you are king forever, and your reign will have no end. Hallelujah!” (Endless Grace, by Ryan Whitaker Smith and Dan Wilt: Psalm 146).

Part 2

Slowly read Psalm 146 (ESV) out loud: (for audio versions click here)

1 Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
2 I will praise the Lord while I live;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
3 Do not trust in princes,
In mortal man, in whom there is no salvation.
4 His spirit departs, he returns to the earth;
In that very day his thoughts perish.
5 How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
Whose hope is in the Lord his God,
6 Who made heaven and earth,
The sea and all that is in them;
Who keeps faith forever;
7 Who executes justice for the oppressed;
Who gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets the prisoners free.

8 The Lord opens the eyes of the blind;
The Lord raises up those who are bowed down;
The Lord loves the righteous;
9 The Lord protects the strangers;
He supports the fatherless and the widow,
But He thwarts the way of the wicked.
10 The Lord will reign forever,
Your God, O Zion, to all generations.
Praise the Lord!

Part 3

Use your own words to pray Psalm 146 back to God:

Begin by personalizing the pronouns in the psalm, turning the words about God into a prayer directly to God. For example, v. 6 (‘… who made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever’) becomes, ‘YOU made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them. YOU keep faith forever.’ Pray your way through the psalm in this way.

Then collect these thoughts into your own psalm of praise and thanksgiving: 

“Lord God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit- I praise you, for you are…

“I praise you for what you have done. Specifically, I thank you for…

The psalms were originally written as lyrics, as prayers set to music. Throughout the history of Israel and the church, the people of God have sung the psalms. Song invites us to internalize the Word of God with the whole self- body, mind, imagination, emotions and affections. Take time to listen to a version of Psalm 146 set to music. Try taking the psalm song with you into your day.

from the album ‘The Songs of the Psalter, Vol 5.1’ (2015) by Cardiphonia Music. cardiphonia.bandcamp.com