Faith Daily Lectio Saturday, October 17, 2026 Morning Psalm
Saturday, October 17, 2026 · Saturday in the week of the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 23); Ignatius of Antioch, Pastor and Martyr
Morning Psalm
Oratio (prayer)
Lord my God, You are very great. Send Your Holy Spirit as I pray Psalm 104 this morning, that I may see Your hand in the springs and the hills, the bread on my table, and the breath in my body, and bless You with my whole soul. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Meditatio (meditation)
Psalm 104
1Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.
2Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:
3Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:
4Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:
5Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.
6Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.
7At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away.
8They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them.
9Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.
10He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills.
11They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst.
12By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.
13He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.
14He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;
15And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart.
16The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted;
17Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house.
18The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies.
19He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down.
20Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.
21The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.
22The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens.
23Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.
24O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.
25So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.
26There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.
27These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.
28That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.
29Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.
30Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.
31The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works.
32He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.
33I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
34My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.
35Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD.
Consider even rereading in another translation.
You could also consider listening to this chapter, narrated:
KJV (Max McLean) · ESV (Max McLean) · NIV (dramatized)
You might read the whole reading slowly, aloud, more than once.
Consider this verse, for example:
“O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.” (Psalm 104:24)
What other lines speak to you?
The Law "Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust" (v. 29). Every creature lives only by God's open hand. We forget this and act as if our life and bread were our own. The Psalm ends, "Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth" (v. 35), and we cannot stand there on our own.
The Gospel "Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth" (v. 30). The same Lord who feeds every creature sent His Son to give His life for you, and sends His Spirit through Word and Sacrament to make you new. "thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good" (v. 28). In Christ that open hand is for you.
Prayer Lord, I confess that I have taken Your gifts for granted and lived as if I fed myself. Forgive me. Thank You for Jesus, who gives me the bread of life, and for Your Spirit, who renews me. Let my meditation of You be sweet today. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Tentatio (trial)
Some mornings it is hard to see God's care. Work is heavy, "Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening" (v. 23), and the world can feel like a place where young lions roar. The Psalm does not deny that. It teaches the creature to wait: "These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season" (v. 27). Under trial it may help to pray this Psalm slowly and to find that He still provides.
Prayer Faithful Creator, when my labour is long and I cannot see Your hand, teach me to wait upon You. Give me my daily bread, renew my spirit, and let me sing unto You as long as I live. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Scripture quotations are from the King James Version.
My church home: Peace Lutheran Church, McMurray, PA. Looking for a church? See About Daily Lectio.
