Thursday, June 2, 2022https://kuc.org/wp-content/uploads/psalms-47.jpg

The Reverend Dr. Katie Snipes Lancaster

Psalm 147
Hallelujah!
It’s a good thing to sing praise to our God;
praise is beautiful, praise is fitting.

God’s the one who rebuilds Jerusalem,
who regathers Israel’s scattered exiles.
God heals the heartbroken
and bandages their wounds.
God counts the stars
and assigns each a name.
Our Lord is great, with limitless strength;
we’ll never comprehend what God knows and does.
God puts the fallen on their feet again
and pushes the wicked into the ditch.

Sing to God a thanksgiving hymn,
play music on your instruments to God,
Who fills the sky with clouds,
preparing rain for the earth,
Then turning the mountains green with grass,
feeding both cattle and crows.
God is not impressed with horsepower;
the size of our muscles means little to the Lord.
Those who fear God get God’s attention;
they can depend on God’s strength.

Jerusalem, worship God!
Zion, praise your God!
God made your city secure,
and blessed your children among you.
God keeps the peace at your borders,
and puts the best bread on your tables.
God launches his promises earthward—
how swift and sure they come!
God spreads snow like a white fleece,
and scatters frost like ashes,
God broadcasts hail like birdseed—
who can survive his winter?
Then God gives the command and it all melts;
and breathes on winter—suddenly it’s spring!

God speaks the same way to Jacob,
speaks words that work to Israel.
God never did this to the other nations;
they never heard such commands.
Hallelujah!

Praying the Psalms
God, when our hearts are broken, heal us.
When our wounds are open, bandage us.
When our community is scattered, regather us.
When our community shatters, rebuild us.
We know you are great, with limitless strength.
We know you count the stars and name them.
There is something incomprehensible about you,
beyond our human knowledge and mortal strength.
So, feed us.
Make our city secure.
Bless our children.
Keep the peace.
And speak to us in a way we can hear,
know and understand your endearing presence.
Amen.