Text:

"1 Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty, 2 covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent. 3 He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters; he makes the clouds his chariot; he rides on the wings of the wind; 4 he makes his messengers winds, his ministers a flaming fire. 5 He set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved. 6 You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains. 7 At your rebuke they fled; at the sound of your thunder they took to flight. 8 The mountains rose, the valleys sank down   to the place that you appointed for them. 9 You set a boundary that they may not pass, so that they might not again cover the earth. 10 You make springs gush forth in the valleys; they flow between the hills; 11 they give drink to every beast of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. 12 Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell; they sing among the branches. 13 From your lofty abode you water the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work. 14 You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth 15 and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine     and bread to strengthen man's heart. 16 The trees of the Lord are watered abundantly, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted. 17 In them the birds build their nests; the stork has her home in the fir trees. 18 The high mountains are for the wild goats; the rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers. 19 He made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting. 20 You make darkness, and it is night, when all the beasts of the forest creep about. 21 The young lions roar for their prey, seeking their food from God. 22 When the sun rises, they steal away and lie down in their dens. 23 Man goes out to his work and to his labor until the evening. 24 O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. 25 Here is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both small and great. 26 There go the ships, and Leviathan, which you formed to play in it. 27 These all look to you, to give them their food in due season. 28 When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things. 29 When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die   and return to their dust. 30 When you send forth your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground. 31 May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works, 32 who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke! 33 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;  I will sing praise to my God while I have being. 34 May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord. 35 Let sinners be consumed from the earth, and let the wicked be no more! Bless the Lord, O my soul! Praise the Lord!"

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Lexicon:

vs. 1 - bless (barak) - "to kneel down, to praise, to celebrate, to adore"

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vs. 1 - oh my soul (nephesh) - "the mind, breath of life, seat of emotions and passions, the activity of the will, the inner being of man"

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vs. 8 - appointed (yacad) - "to found, to fix, to lay the foundation, to establish, to ordain"

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vs. 24 - manifold (rabab) - "to increase in number, to multiply into myriads"

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vs. 27 - look to you (sabar) - "to expect with hope and patience, to wait"

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vs. 27 - in due season ('eth) - "at the proper time, at this time (now), at every time and every season"

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vs. 28 - when you open (pathach) - "to loosen, to plough, to carve, to be liberal toward, to let go free"

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vs. 28 - your hand (yad) - "strength, power, the Spirit of God"

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vs. 28 - filled (saba') - "to be satisfied, to have enough, to have excess, to be sated, to have desire satisfied"

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vs. 29 - you hide (cathar) - "to conceal, to hide by covering"

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vs. 29 - your face (paniym) - "presence, the face of God, favor"

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vs. 29 - dismayed (bahal) - "anxious, disturbed, terrified, afraid, nervous, to tremble inwardly, to be alarmed"

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vs. 30 - you send (shalach) - "to stretch out, to let go, to extend, to set free, to let loose"

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vs. 30 - forth your spirit (ruwach) - "wind, breath, mind, energy of life, endowing men with various gifts, the Holy Spirit, courage"

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vs. 30 - created (bara') - "to shape, to form, to fashion, to carve out"

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vs. 33 - while I have being ('owd) - "continuance, repeatedly, still, again and again"

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vs. 34 - meditation (siyach) - "contemplation, an utterance, speech, discourse"

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vs. 34 - pleasing ('areb) - "sweet, pleasant, agreeable"

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What does this reveal about God's character?

God is all-powerful and awesome.  He creates and sustains all life.  He is above and over all creatures, including man.  He holds our lives in His hands and appoints all things.  God is our provider.  He meets our needs (Philippians 4:19) and gives in abundance (Psalms 104:28).  He is worthy of all praise simply because of who He is.

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Questions:

1) Do I bless the Lord at all times, even when those times are tough?

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2) Am I looking to God to provide my needs?  Do I feel too unworthy to receive such provision and care?  No one deserves what God gives us, but He has deemed us worthy of His love and care.  Choose to receive it today.

 

3) Do I trust God to take care of me?  What fear is keeping me from trusting in God?  Name it, pray on it and give it to God (Philippians 4:4-7 , Verse of encouragement).

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4) What is the meditation of my heart?  

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Prayer:

Father God, thank you for your awesomeness.  I stand amazed at how great and kind you are.  I choose to bless you, Lord, at all times.  Even when it's hard, even when I'm sad or angry or broken - I am resolved in advance to praise your name.  Thank you, Lord, for your provision.  I don't deserve all you have graciously given me, but I receive it as one of your children.  Thank you for taking care of me in every way and for being dependable and faithful, even when I am not.  I trust in your care and in your love.  Forgive my fears.  I speak out my fears to you right now (name your fears), and I give them to you.  I ask that you will eradicate these fears from my heart and mind, and that "the peace of God, that surpasses all understanding, will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7).  Lord, let me dwell on your goodness, your peace, your faithfulness, your grace and mercy all the days of my life.  May this always be the meditation of my heart.  In Jesus' name, Amen.