History reveals God’s kingship, faithfulness, mercy, and power (Psalm 145)

A Psalm of praise. Of David. I will exalt You, my God and King; I will bless Your name forever and ever. / Every day I will bless You, and I will praise Your name forever and ever. Psalm 145:1-2

According to Psalm 145, history matters because it is the primary way God’s character is remembered, taught, and trusted across generations. David presents history as a spiritual responsibility, not a record-keeping exercise.

Why history is important in Psalm 145

1. History transmits faith between generations (Psalm 145:4)

“One generation shall commend your works to another.”

Faith is not sustained by novelty. It is sustained by testimony. Each generation depends on the previous one to tell the truth about who God is and what He has done.

Insight: Without history, faith becomes fragile and self-referential.

2. History preserves knowledge of God’s character (Psalm 145:11–12)

“They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom.”

David does not say only to remember events. He emphasizes remembering meaning. History reveals God’s kingship, faithfulness, mercy, and power.

Insight: History explains why God can be trusted today.

3. History fuels praise and worship (Psalm 145:5)

“I will meditate on the glorious splendor of your majesty.”

Meditation in Scripture is reflection on what God has already done. Praise grows deeper when it is anchored in remembered acts, not passing emotion.

Insight: Worship without history becomes shallow.

4. History builds confidence during uncertainty (Psalm 145:13)

“The Lord is faithful in all His words.”

Past faithfulness establishes future confidence. When circumstances change, remembered history steadies belief.

Insight: History anchors hope when outcomes are unclear.

5. History reveals God’s consistency (Psalm 145:8)

“The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger.”

This language echoes earlier Scripture. David is intentionally showing that God has been consistent across time.

Insight: History proves God’s nature does not evolve with culture.

6. History shapes moral alignment (Psalm 145:21)

“My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord.”

Remembered truth leads to spoken truth. Spoken truth leads to lived obedience.

Insight: History informs how we speak, decide, and live.

Summary

Psalm 145 teaches that history is essential because it:

• Preserves truth
• Transfers faith
• Sustains worship
• Strengthens trust
• Anchors identity

History is not about nostalgia, it is about stewardship. When history is forgotten, faith weakens, when history is told, praise multiplies.

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Show me your nail scared hands

In worship and preparation for sharing my testimony of healing at MNTC Healing night a week ago I had a vision. Seeing Jesus in heaven, I could ask Jesus anything - so I said show me your hands and I looked and saw all my pride, and rebellion visually my tattoos in Jesus redeemed body. It reminded me of Kelsey saying as a baby "auwe " when she caught a glimpse of my tattoo. It also reminded me of the Prayer Course where they illustrated our lives as a Kintsugi Vase, broken but then put back together with precious metals. 

2 Corinthians 4:7 "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. NIV", "We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves."

The NIV describes 2 Cor 4 as "Present Weakness and Resurrection Life", NLT "Treasure in Fragile Clay Jars", MSG "Trial and Torture", I describe as this picture "God's grace reaches for you": 

"When you did this for the least of these you did this for me." Matthew 25, we get to witness God at work when we speak light and life into people, "you will be my witness" Acts 1.

This morning listening to Always Pray First and Trust In God | Blessed Morning Prayer To Start Your Day Reminded that I should share this personal story, as I was also listening to psychologies yesterday that said, "don't over share."  - his point was don't live in the past trauma, but live forward and practice being the person you want to be. 

Like Jesus we go from 

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? Psalm 22:1, Mark 15:34

to

"Let the rich of the earth feast and worship. Bow before him, all who are mortal, all whose lives will end as dust. Our children will also serve him. Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord. His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born. They will hear about everything he has done." Psalm 22:29-31, John 19:30

Songs

• Broken Pieces - Amanda Nolan
• Nail Scarred Hands - Dante Bowe

Chest to back, a vice - "chip on my shoulder"

Cross References from 2 Cor 4:7, why God leads us to have faith where no other way is possible revealed in our fragile lives:

• Then the LORD said to Gideon, "You have too many people for Me to deliver Midian into their hands, lest Israel glorify themselves over Me, saying, 'My own hand has saved me.' - Judges 7:2
• how much more those who dwell in houses of clay, whose foundations are in the dust, who can be crushed like a moth! - Job 4:19
• Please remember that You molded me like clay. Would You now return me to dust? - Job 10:9
• I am just like you before God; I was also formed from clay. - Job 33:6
• How the precious sons of Zion, once worth their weight in pure gold, are now esteemed as jars of clay, the work of a potter's hands! - Lamentations 4:2
• I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!" - John 16:33
• so that your faith would not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.  - 1 Corinthians 2:5

Job's friends show the danger of a shallow theology (Job 2-31)

Testimony of John's healing that I shared: https://youtu.be/5ReG8udigU0

John 12:26,32,36, 39-41, 44-45,13:20 the Lord revealed this truth about ministry, Christian living and the gospel of Jesus:

• "Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me. John 13:20

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Joys of those who delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night (Psalm 1)

 Psalm 1:1-2 Joys in delight in law of Lord, meditating on it day and night (opposite of devil, flesh, world).

 - The lion never breaks into the zoo

 - Give your heart to God and let your eyes delight in him (Proverbs 23:26, John 14:6)

When God wants us, he doesn't applaud our gifts he affirms his presence.

God doesn't call us to be awesome,  he calls us to tell others about him.

Take the hard road of discipline

The Lord disciplines those he loves (Hebrews 12)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.

And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said,

“My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you. For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”

The Lord knows those who are his (2 Tim 2:19-26)
God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and “All who belong to the Lord must turn away from evil.”

Run away from infantile indulgence. Run after mature righteousness—faith, love, peace—joining those who are in honest and serious prayer before God. Refuse to get involved in inane discussions; they always end up in fights. God’s servant must not be argumentative, but a gentle listener and a teacher who keeps cool, working firmly but patiently with those who refuse to obey. You never know how or when God might sober them up with a change of heart and a turning to the truth, enabling them to escape the Devil’s trap, where they are caught and held captive, forced to run his errands. 2 Tim 2:22-26 MSG

Message: The living Word of God engages and intrigues us right where we are

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Blessed = spiritually healthy and fruitful

A friend reminded me to say, "be blessed" rather than "good day" or "good luck". Yesterday I met a nice young man collecting money for his basketball team. I gave him the money he needed and an extra dollar with a sticker inside: then I missed the opportunity to say, "be blessed" and the moment was passed.

Today I'm reading through the Psalms and praying for Scott's family as they are preparing for his dad's funeral this Friday, which is also my uncle Milts funeral. I was brought to the words of Songs of Ascent and then looked it up on https://www.gotquestions.org/Songs-of-Ascent.html

Thank you God for your precious promises to help us in our time of need. Thank you that we experience your blessing here on earth. Let us experience your comfort and promises new today. Thank you that you love us and give us peace and good fruit, that we can be a blessing to others. Guide me today Lord and thank you for reminding me of the journey home. Be with my friends and family as we prepare to put our loved ones to rest. Strengthen our bonds on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus name.

Psalm 120: God’s presence during distress
Psalm 121: Joyful praise to the Lord
Psalm 122: Prayer for Jerusalem
Psalm 123: Patience for God’s mercy
Psalm 124: Help comes from the Lord
Psalm 125: Prayer for God’s blessing upon His people
Psalm 126: The Lord has done great things
Psalm 127: God’s blessing on man’s efforts
Psalm 128: Joy for those who follow God’s ways
Psalm 129: A cry for help to the Lord
Psalm 130: A prayer of repentance
Psalm 131: Surrender as a child to the Lord
Psalm 132: God’s sovereign plan for His people
Psalm 133: Praise of brotherly fellowship and unity
Psalm 134: Praise to God in His temple

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Tasteful, sunny disposition brings glory to God (Psalm 34:8, Matthew 5:13-16)

Tasteful is defined as "showing good aesthetic judgment or appropriate behavior" and sunny is "(of a person or their temperament) cheery and bright", when we bring these qualities to our disposition it brings glory to God. This is what Jesus talked about in Matthew 5:13-16 (as he alluded to Psalm 34:8 - "Taste and See that the LORD is good"), "Salt and Light together...so that many will see your good works and praise God"

Stickers promoting my friends cafe

Disposition is the power to deal with something as one pleases

The Bible teaches we have 3 enemies, the Eph 2:1-3, the world, the flesh, and the devil
 - a "fleshly" disposition says "I do what I do, because I want what I want" -selfishness

• The Holy Spirit opposes the flesh: Gal. 5:16-7

 - a "worldly" disposition says, "take all you can, no one will give it to you" -godlessness

• The Father opposes the world: I John 2:15-17, the world tries to shape our thinking toward godlessness (John 15:18-25)

 - a "devilish" disposition says, "I do what I do, because I hate myself and others" - wickedness

• The Son opposes the Devil: Luke 4, I John 3:8

Disposition is a person's inherent qualities of mind and character

"By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins. So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." -2 Peter 1:3‭-‬11 NLT

Disposition is the way in which something is placed or arranged, especially in relation to other things:
Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8 ESV
 - Years ago this became part of my "life verse" (1 Peter 4:7-11). I've said it before but this "love covering a multitude of sins" is preventative. When we share our lives with people, showing the way and blessing them with our gifts, talent and blessing. We change, the world changes and God is glorified.
 - Glorifying God isn't something we add to God, it's pointing out to others that He is glorious, awesome and wonderful.

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Love and forgiveness of Christ in the Old Testament

Reading Reflections on the Psalms C.S. Lewis (The Cursings), with a heavy heart for my friend struggling in family conflict. There is a real danger in unresolved conflict. Hurt feelings from childhood can have a destroying effect on adulthood. How can we teach our children and ourselves to live in the light of forgiveness? What does forgiveness result in? What is the fruit of forgiveness? Talking with my mom this morning she brought up http://peacemaker.net/project/the-four-gs/ .

C.S. Lewis said, "But this is one of the rewards of reading the Old Testament regularly. You keep on discovering more and more what a tissue of quotations from it the New TEstament is; how constantly Our Lord repeated, reinforced, continued, refined, and sublimated the Judaic ethics, how very seldom He introduced a novelty."

Forgiveness - not hatred (Leviticus 19:17,18)

• Correction from Moses, when the second sons advocated for escalating vengeance (Gen 4:15,24). Jesus emphasized forgiveness over vengeance (Matthew 18:21,22, Luke 17:4).
• God seemed to be clarifying the mark of Cain given in Gen 4:15 through scriptures (seven times) notably; Jacob bowing seven times to Esau (Gen 33:3,4), Sprinkling of blood before the Lord (Lev 4:6,17; 8:11).
• Psalm 12:6; "And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times."

Helping another, even your enemy (Exodus 23:4,5)

• "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (Matt 5:44-45)"

Don't celebrate in your heart when enemy falls (Prov 24:17)
If your enemy is hungry give him bread (Prov 25:21)

He goes on, "The Light which has lightened every man from the beginning may shine more clearly but cannot change.The Origin cannot suddenly start being, in the popular sense of the word, 'original'."

"(General rule in the Moral Universe) 'the higher, the more in danger'"... "It is great men, potential saints, not little men, who become merciless fanatics. Those who are readiest to die for a cause may easily become those who are readiest to kill for it....For the Supernatural, entering a human soul, opens to it new possibilities both of good and evil. From that point the road branches: one way to sanctity, love, humility, the other to spiritual pride, self-righteousness, persecuting zeal. And no way back to the mere humdrum virtues and vices of the unawakened soul. If the Divine call does not make us better, it will make us very much worse. Of all bad men religious bad men are the worst. Of all created beings the wickedest is one who originally stood in the immediate presence of God... It gives new application to Our Lord's words about 'counting the cost'."

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