It is said that John Newton kept a handwritten copy of Deuteronomy 15:15 on the wall above his desk: You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you.... Psalm 135 helps us, as it helped Old Tesament saints before us, to remember the mighty deeds of the Lord in our salvation. In the Bible, remembering is not merely historical recall, it is a means of strengthening our faith and renewing our loyalty to the God who has called us out of darkness and into his marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9), and it is a powerful incentive to thankfulness and praise.
Psalm 135
Praise the Lord!
Praise the name of the Lord,
give praise, O servants of the Lord,
who stand in the house of the Lord,
in the courts of the house of our God!
Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good;
sing to his name, for it is pleasant!
For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself,
Israel as his own possession.
For I know that the Lord is great,
and that our Lord is above all gods.
Whatever the Lord pleases, he does,
in heaven and on earth,
in the seas and all deeps.
He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth,
who makes lightnings for the rain
and brings forth the wind from his storehouses.
He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
both of man and of beast;
who in your midst, O Egypt,
sent signs and wonders
against Pharaoh and all his servants;
who struck down many nations
and killed mighty kings,
Sihon, king of the Amorites,
and Og, king of Bashan,
and all the kingdoms of Canaan,
and gave their land as a heritage,
a heritage to his people Israel.
Your name, O Lord, endures forever,
your renown, O Lord, throughout all ages.
For the Lord will vindicate his people
and have compassion on his servants.
The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
the work of human hands.
They have mouths, but do not speak;
they have eyes, but do not see;
they have ears, but do not hear,
nor is there any breath in their mouths.
Those who make them become like them,
so do all who trust in them.
O house of Israel, bless the Lord!
O house of Aaron, bless the Lord!
O house of Levi, bless the Lord!
You who fear the Lord, bless the Lord!
Blessed be the Lord from Zion,
he who dwells in Jerusalem!
Praise the Lord!
THE PSALM PRAYER
O Lord God, who by your dear Son Jesus has made us kings and priests to offer to you spiritual sacrifices: Grant unto us that we, renouncing all idolatry, superstition, and all ungodliness, may give over ourselves to your service; and that in all times of tribulation we may call on you with our whole heart, and so feel your fatherly bounty and mercy which it is your nature to have towards all those whom you have regenerated through the self-same Jesus your Son. AMEN.
Psalm for 21 June, 15th Monday in Ordinary Time
It is said that John Newton kept a handwritten copy of Deuteronomy 15:15 on the wall above his desk: You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you.... Psalm 135 helps us, as it helped Old Tesament saints before us, to remember the mighty deeds of the Lord in our salvation. In the Bible, remembering is not merely historical recall, it is a means of strengthening our faith and renewing our loyalty to the God who has called us out of darkness and into his marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9), and it is a powerful incentive to thankfulness and praise.
Psalm 135
Praise the Lord!
Praise the name of the Lord,
give praise, O servants of the Lord,
who stand in the house of the Lord,
in the courts of the house of our God!
Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good;
sing to his name, for it is pleasant!
For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself,
Israel as his own possession.
For I know that the Lord is great,
and that our Lord is above all gods.
Whatever the Lord pleases, he does,
in heaven and on earth,
in the seas and all deeps.
He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth,
who makes lightnings for the rain
and brings forth the wind from his storehouses.
He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
both of man and of beast;
who in your midst, O Egypt,
sent signs and wonders
against Pharaoh and all his servants;
who struck down many nations
and killed mighty kings,
Sihon, king of the Amorites,
and Og, king of Bashan,
and all the kingdoms of Canaan,
and gave their land as a heritage,
a heritage to his people Israel.
Your name, O Lord, endures forever,
your renown, O Lord, throughout all ages.
For the Lord will vindicate his people
and have compassion on his servants.
The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
the work of human hands.
They have mouths, but do not speak;
they have eyes, but do not see;
they have ears, but do not hear,
nor is there any breath in their mouths.
Those who make them become like them,
so do all who trust in them.
O house of Israel, bless the Lord!
O house of Aaron, bless the Lord!
O house of Levi, bless the Lord!
You who fear the Lord, bless the Lord!
Blessed be the Lord from Zion,
he who dwells in Jerusalem!
Praise the Lord!
THE PSALM PRAYER
O Lord God, who by your dear Son Jesus has made us kings and priests to offer to you spiritual sacrifices: Grant unto us that we, renouncing all idolatry, superstition, and all ungodliness, may give over ourselves to your service; and that in all times of tribulation we may call on you with our whole heart, and so feel your fatherly bounty and mercy which it is your nature to have towards all those whom you have regenerated through the self-same Jesus your Son. AMEN.