Today’s Scripture:

Psalm 45

My heart overflows with a goodly theme;
    I address my verses to the king;
    my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.

You are the most handsome of men;
    grace is poured upon your lips;
    therefore God has blessed you forever.
 Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one,
    in your glory and majesty.

 In your majesty ride on victoriously
    for the cause of truth and to defend the right;
    let your right hand teach you dread deeds.
 Your arrows are sharp
    in the heart of the king’s enemies;
    the peoples fall under you.

 Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever.
    Your royal scepter is a scepter of equity;
    you love righteousness and hate wickedness.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you
    with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;
    your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia.
From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad;
    daughters of kings are among your ladies of honor;
    at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir.

 Hear, O daughter, consider and incline your ear;
    forget your people and your father’s house,
   and the king will desire your beauty.
Since he is your lord, bow to him;
  the people of Tyre will seek your favor with gifts,
    the richest of the people with all kinds of wealth.

The princess is decked in her chamber with gold-woven robes;
    in many-colored robes she is led to the king;
    behind her the virgins, her companions, follow.
With joy and gladness they are led along
    as they enter the palace of the king.

 In the place of ancestors you, O king, shall have sons;
    you will make them princes in all the earth.

I will cause your name to be celebrated in all generations;

I will cause your name to be celebrated in all generations;
    therefore the peoples will praise you forever and ever.

Food For Thought:

In this Psalm, the Psalmist praises God for all the ways in which God has worked in the Psalmist’s life. If you were to write a psalm of praise to God today, what would you include?

Prayer:

Day by day you sustain the weary with your word
 and gently encourage us to place our trust in you.
 Awaken us to the suffering of those around us;
 save us from hiding in denials or taunts that deepen the hurt;
 give us grace to share one another’s burdens in humble service. In your holy name we pray, Amen.