Prayers are not just a jumble of words with “G-d” and “Lord” thrown in a few times. They are meticulously constructed, based on rhythms and associations that are not immediately obvious, but have remarkable effect. Rabbi Reuven Kimelman has done a painstaking and brilliant analysis of the Ashrei which reveals this hidden structure. Ashrei is an alphabetic acrostic, each line starting with the next letter in the alphabet. But beyond that, the prayer consists of couplets emphasizing G-d’s greatness, goodness, kingship, and benevolence. It also contains a progression from individual blessing G-d, to communal blessing and finally to blessing for all humanity. In addition, the prayer is constructed around interweaving couplets underscoring G-d’s transcendence and G-d’s immanent presence in the world. Overall, the elegance of the prayer structure cannot be overstated.

MY     PEOPLE’S PRAYER BOOK

 BODY (PSALM 145)

PRELUDE: THE SINGLE AND SINGULAR PRAISE OF DAVID ALONE

David’s Psalm:

  1. I will exalt You, my God the king, and praise your name for ever and
  2. Every day I will praise You, and extol your name for ever and

STANZA 1: God ‘s GREATNESS

  1. Great is Adonai and highly praised. Endless is his greatness.
  2. Generation upon generation will praise your deeds, and tell of your mighty
  3. I will speak of your wondrous acts, and your glorious majesty in its
  4. People tell of your awe-inspiring might, and I proclaim your

STANZA 2: God ‘s GOODNESS

  1. People spread your very great goodness, and sing of your righteousness.
  2. Gracious and merciful is Adonai, endlessly patient and most
  3. Adonai is good to all, showering all his creatures with

INTERLUDE: PRAISE OF THE FAITHFUL

  1. All your creatures will thank You, Adonai, and your faithfol will praise

STANZA 3: God’s KINGSHIP

  1. They will. tell of the glory of your kingdom, and speak of your
  2. Announce his greatness to humankind, and the majestic glory of his
  3. Your kingdom is a kingdom for all times, and your reign for every generation.

STANZA 4: GOD’S BENEVOLENCE IN MANY WAYS

  1. Adonai supports all who·fall, and uprights all·who are bent
  2. The eyes of all look to You, and You give them timely (ood.
  3. You open your hand, and satisfy every living
  4. Adonai is.righteous in all his ways, and gracious in all his
  5. Adonai is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in
  6. He does the desire of those who revere Him, and hears their and saves
  7. Adonai guards- all who love Him, and destroys all who are

POSTLUDE: UNIVERSAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT

  1. Let my mouth speak Adonai’s praise, and all creatures praise his holy name for ever and

 EPILOGUE

C. Let us prai e Adonai from now and ever more. Halleluyah (Ps. 115:18).

The  psalm’s  theme  of divine sovereignty·  is announced  in  the first line by addressing God as “my God the king.” Although there are other psalms that  proclaim  “my king and my God,” (Ps. 5:3 and 84:4}, only Ps. 145:1 uses the definite article (”the king”), thereby underscoring the exclusivity of diviae rule. Opening with “my God the king” serves as a royal acclamation.