Psalms 145 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Psalm 145

Great Is the Lord

¹ A Song of Praise. Of David.

145:1   I will extol you, my God and King,
    and bless your name forever and ever.
2   Every day I will bless you
    and praise your name forever and ever.
3   Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised,
    and his greatness is unsearchable.
4   One generation shall commend your works to another,
    and shall declare your mighty acts.
5   On the glorious splendor of your majesty,
    and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
6   They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds,
    and I will declare your greatness.
7   They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness
    and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
8   The LORD is gracious and merciful,
    slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9   The LORD is good to all,
    and his mercy is over all that he has made.
10   All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD,
    and all your saints shall bless you!
11   They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom
    and tell of your power,
12   to make known to the children of man your² mighty deeds,
    and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
13   Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
    and your dominion endures throughout all generations.
  [The LORD is faithful in all his words
    and kind in all his works.]³
14   The LORD upholds all who are falling
    and raises up all who are bowed down.
15   The eyes of all look to you,
    and you give them their food in due season.
16   You open your hand;
    you satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17   The LORD is righteous in all his ways
    and kind in all his works.
18   The LORD is near to all who call on him,
    to all who call on him in truth.
19   He fulfills the desire of those who fear him;
    he also hears their cry and saves them.
20   The LORD preserves all who love him,
    but all the wicked he will destroy.
21   My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD,
    and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.

Footnotes

[1] 145:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet
[2] 145:12 Hebrew his; also next line
[3] 145:13 These two lines are supplied by one Hebrew manuscript, Septuagint, Syriac (compare Dead Sea Scroll)

Commentary

Psalm of praise to God; we respond to Him with praise that reflects His character. This Psalm is acrostic, with successive verses beginning with successive Hebrew letters.

v1-2: Our duty is to praise God; regularly, persistently, eternally; this is our joyful duty. There are many reasons for praising Him, and some are found in this Psalm.

v3: God is great and therefore worthy of praise.

The emphasis in the psalm is upon God; His Name (v1-2), His works (v4-6), His goodness and righteousness (v7-9), His kingdom and power and dominion (v10-13), His blessing upon people (v14-20).

v4-7: See Ps 105.1-6. We are to declare God's works in testimony and song, in private meditation and public testimony (Ps 111.1-2).

We must commend (v4), tell (v4), speak (v5), tell (v6), proclaim (v6), and later tell and speak (v11); we use our lips to speak of God and His ways.

Meditation (v5) is not a case of emptying the mind, but rather of filling it with good things, especially His wonderful works.

The descriptions of God's works; mighty (v4), wonderful (v5), awesome (v6), great (v6), see Ps 105.5.

One generation tells another, and all celebrate together and sing together.

v8-9: God is gracious and good, His character revealed especially in Christ.

v10-13: The Lord's works reveal His character; His saints are to become like Him, and testimony of Him. It is through His people that the world hears of the eternal kingdom of the eternal God. Such condescension, that God should commit this task to His redeemed people.

v14-16: The Lord's mercy to ordinary people; we look expectantly to Him, for He only can satisfy our desire.

v17-21: The Lord is righteous and true. His people must share His character, and live in truth and integrity; our praise must match His character.