Psalm 145: My Own Acrostic

Psalm 145 is the third (of seven) acrostic Psalm I have discussed since I began these expositions in January. For example, on Feb. 18 I discussed Ps. 37, and on April 15 I examined Ps. 111. In each of those expositions I described the nature of an acrostic Psalm (each verse, or half verse, beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet). My major point was that an acrostic Psalm is not so important because of the content of the Psalm itself as it is because of the "form" in which the author placed the Psalm. An acrostic Psalm is a sort of intellectual exercise in which the author challenges himself to spell out how God is something "from A to Z." For example, Ps. 119 exposits the glory of God's law "from A to Z"--where each ninth verse begins with a successive Hebrew letter.

Psalm 145 is another such Psalm, spelling out the way or reasons for God's praise "from A to Z." Interestingly enough, in the Hebrew text (Masoretic text) the "nun" verse is missing, but it is present in most of our translations because the Qumran (Dead Sea) version of this Psalm has the "nun" verse. In any case, we have this Psalm to exposit this morning. But, because of the supreme importance of the form of the Psalm, I think the "word of God" to me today from this Psalm is the challenge to make up my own acrostic, using the corresponding verse from Ps. 145 as a guide and encouragement. My thought is that if I were just to exposit some of the rich concepts that exist in the Psalm, I could do studies on God's glory or God's redemptive acts, but, frankly, that would be a little boring. I think it is much more challenging to try to imitate the Psalmist by coming up with my own (English-language) acrostic which captures the themes of the Psalm.

This, then, would be a good exercise if you were leading a Bible class on the Psalms. Rather than study the concepts of an acrostic Psalm, have people write their own such Psalm. See what they come up with (see what you come up with!). To that end, I try to do so with my rather limited poetic abilities here. Use this as a model or inspiration for your own work.

My Own Acrostic Based on Psalm 145:1-13

A Psalm

1 ADORATION, Lord, is the daily song
I gladly sing my whole life long;

2 BLESSING daily is the key
Life and light are offered me;

3 CREATURES great and creatures small
Praise our God, the Lord of all;

4 DESCENDANTS all shall praise God's name
Reciting God's deeds without shame;

5 EAGERLY medidate will I
On your grace which comes from high;

6 FAIL I'll not to sing your praises,
Even in life's confusing mazes;

7 GOODNESS sublime will be my theme
Sung with joy as if in a dream;

8 HOLY and gracious is the Lord
Eternal life is our reward;

9 INDISCRIMINATE is God's holy care,
It's God's nature so to share;

10 JUBILANT we are at God's deeds,
Deeds which fill all human needs;

11 KINGDOM strength thy deeds proclaim,
witnessing to your great domain;

12 LESSONS clear to all the earth
Telling us of your great worth;

13 MEMORY would fail to tell
All the things you do so well...

What would your acrostic look like?

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