THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION

Psalms: God's Nurture Of The Inner Man In The Life Of Faith

CXLV: Praising God For His Comprehensive Goodness

(Psalm 145:1-21)

I. Introduction

A. Psalm 33:1b ESV claims, "Praise befits the upright," and Psalm 145 is the only psalm in the psalter that claims it is a psalm of praise (Bible Know. Com., O. T., p. 895), so it certainly deserves our study and application.

B. We view Psalm 145:1-21 for insight and application (as follows):

II. Praising God For His Comprehensive Goodness, Psalm 145:1-21.

A. The introductory notes comprise part of the first verse in the Hebrew text (Kittel, Biblia Hebraica, p. 1100), so we stay with the numbering system of the English Bible for clarity with this lesson.

B. We then translate Psalm 145:1-21 as follows:

1. "A psalm of praise. of David. I will exalt You, My Elohim, the King; I will praise Your name forever and ever," Psalm 145:1.

2. "Every day I will praise You and extol Your name forever and ever," Psalm 145:2.

3. "Great is Jahweh, and most worthy of praise and His greatness is unsearchable," Psalm 145:3.

4. "One generation will commend Your works to another; they will tell of Your mighty works," Psalm 145:4.

5. "They will speak of the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and I will meditate on Your wonderful works," Psalm 145:5.

6. "They will tell of the power of Your awesome works, and I will proclaim Your great deeds," Psalm 145:6.

7. "They will celebrate Your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of Your righteousness," Psalm 145:7.

8. "Jahweh is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in loyal love," Psalm 145:8.

9. "Jahweh is good to all; He has compassion upon all He has made," Psalm 145:9.

10. "All You have made will praise You, O Jahweh; Your saints will extol You," Psalm 145:10.

11. "They will tell of the glory of Your kingdom and speak of Your might," (Psalm 145:11)

12. "that all the sons of men may know of Your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of Your kingdom," Psalm 145:12.

13. "Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures through all generations," v. 13. [The words, "Jahweh is faithful in all His words and kind in all His works" are found next in a Masoretic Text manuscript, a Dead Sea Scroll, the Septuagint and a Syriac version. (English Standard Version ftn.)]

14. "Jahweh upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down," Psalm 145:14.

15. "The eyes of all look to You, and You (emph. pron.) give them their food at the proper time," v. 15.

16. "You open Your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing," Psalm 145:16.

17. "Jahweh is righteous in all of His ways and loyally loving toward all He has made," Psalm 145:17.

18. "Jahweh is near unto all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth," Psalm 145:18.

19. "He fulfills the desires of those who revere Him; He hears their cry and saves them," Psalm 145:19.

20. "Jahweh watches over all who love Him, but all of the wicked He will destroy," Psalm 145:20.

21. "My mouth will speak in praise of Jahweh. Let all flesh (every creature NIV) praise His holy name forever and ever," Psalm 145:21.

C. We note significant observations regarding this psalm (as follows):

1. David here praises God for (a) His mighty acts in general (v. 1-7), for (b) His everlasting kingdom (v. 8-16) and for (c) His acts of deliverance for the needy (v. 17-21).

2. The final category of God's acts of deliverance for the needy climaxes the psalm, focusing on God's help for all who call upon Him in truth (v. 18), for fulfilling the desires of those who revere Him (v. 19a), for saving those who revere Him (v. 19b), for hearing their cry of distress for deliverance (v. 19c) and for watching over all who love Him for their protection (v. 20a). A final blessing is God's destruction of the wicked (v. 20b), the context implying God's retribution to the ungodly who have oppressed the godly.

Lesson: God is to be greatly praised forever and ever for His mighty acts in general, for His everlasting kingdom and for His specific acts of deliverance for the godly in need.

Application: May we greatly praise the Lord forever and ever for His mighty acts in general, for His everlasting kingdom and for His specific acts of deliverance for us when we call upon Him in righteousness for deliverance.