Gay Christian Devotion
Psalm (King James Version)
1O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
2O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.
3O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.
4To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.
5To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.
6To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.
7To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:
8The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:
9The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.
10To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever:
11And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever:
12With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.
13To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever:
14And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever:
15But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever.
16To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever.
17To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:
18And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:
19Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever:
20And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever:
21And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever:
22Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever.
23Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever:
24And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever.
25Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.
26O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Reflection
Shut your eyes and hear this psalm. Hear the psalm as a song. One side of the choir sings a specific reason to praise God. The other side of the choir answers, "for his mercy endureth for ever."
Remember the spelling list and the times tables you used to memorize in elementary school? You went over and over the words until you memorized how the words were spelled and what 8 x 8 equaled. Repeating things over and over again is one way of learning. That is why the psalmist repeats the line "for his mercy endureth for ever" over and over again.
The children of Israel were used to periods of captivity and slavery. The collective pain of those periods remained in the collective memory of God's people. That is why the words "for his mercy endureth for ever" needed to be repeated and repeated.
God's queer tribe has experienced periods of persecution. Those periods of persecution and discrimination have wounded many gay and bisexual hearts. For that reason, you are encouraged to listen to the most important part of this psalm over and over again. "His mercy endureth for ever." God's mercy is eternal and it includes you.
1O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
2O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.
3O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.
4To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.
5To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.
6To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.
7To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:
8The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:
9The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.
10To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever:
11And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever:
12With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.
13To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever:
14And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever:
15But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever.
16To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever.
17To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:
18And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:
19Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever:
20And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever:
21And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever:
22Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever.
23Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever:
24And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever.
25Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.
26O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Reflection
Shut your eyes and hear this psalm. Hear the psalm as a song. One side of the choir sings a specific reason to praise God. The other side of the choir answers, "for his mercy endureth for ever."
Remember the spelling list and the times tables you used to memorize in elementary school? You went over and over the words until you memorized how the words were spelled and what 8 x 8 equaled. Repeating things over and over again is one way of learning. That is why the psalmist repeats the line "for his mercy endureth for ever" over and over again.
The children of Israel were used to periods of captivity and slavery. The collective pain of those periods remained in the collective memory of God's people. That is why the words "for his mercy endureth for ever" needed to be repeated and repeated.
God's queer tribe has experienced periods of persecution. Those periods of persecution and discrimination have wounded many gay and bisexual hearts. For that reason, you are encouraged to listen to the most important part of this psalm over and over again. "His mercy endureth for ever." God's mercy is eternal and it includes you.
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