Psalms 145

1 (144-1) <Praise, for David himself.> I will extol thee, O God my king: and I will bless thy name for ever; yea, for ever and ever.

2 (144-2) Every day will I bless thee: and I will praise thy name for ever; yea, for ever and ever.

3 (144-3) Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised: and of his greatness there is no end.

4 (144-4) Generation and generation shall praise thy works: and they shall declare thy power.

5 (144-5) They shall speak of the magnificence of the glory of thy holiness: and shall tell thy wondrous works.

6 (144-6) And they shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and shall declare thy greatness.

7 (144-7) They shall publish the memory of the abundance of thy sweetness: and shall rejoice in thy justice.

8 (144-8) The Lord is gracious and merciful: patient and plenteous in mercy.

9 (144-9) The Lord is sweet to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.

10 (144-10) Let all thy works, O lord, praise thee: and let thy saints bless thee.

11 (144-11) They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom: and shall tell of thy power:

12 (144-12) To make thy might known to the sons of men: and the glory of the magnificence of thy kingdom.

13 (144-13) Thy kingdom is a kingdom of all ages: and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations. The Lord is faithful in all his words: and holy in all his works.

14 (144-14) The Lord lifteth up all that fall: and setteth up all that are cast down.

15 (144-15) The eyes of all hope in thee, O Lord: and thou givest them meat in due season.

16 (144-16) Thou openest thy hand, and fillest with blessing every living creature.

17 (144-17) The Lord is just in all his ways: and holy in all his works.

18 (144-18) The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him: to all that call upon him in truth.

19 (144-19) He will do the will of them that fear him: and he will hear their prayer, and save them.

20 (144-20) The Lord keepeth all them that love him; but all the wicked he will destroy.

21 (144-21) My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord: and let all flesh bless his holy name forever; yea, for ever and ever.

Psalms 145 Commentary

Chapter 145

David extols the power, goodness, and mercy of the Lord. (1-9) The glory of God's kingdom, and his care of those that love him. (10-21)

Verses 1-9 Those who, under troubles and temptations, abound in fervent prayer, shall in due season abound in grateful praise, which is the true language of holy joy. Especially we should speak of God's wondrous work of redemption, while we declare his greatness. For no deliverance of the Israelites, nor the punishment of sinners, so clearly proclaims the justice of God, as the cross of Christ exhibits it to the enlightened mind. It may be truly said of our Lord Jesus Christ, that his words are words of goodness and grace; his works are works of goodness and grace. He is full of compassion; hence he came into the world to save sinners. When on earth, he showed his compassion both to the bodies and souls of men, by healing the one, and making wise the other. He is of great mercy, a merciful High Priest, through whom God is merciful to sinners.

Verses 10-21 All God's works show forth his praises. He satisfies the desire of every living thing, except the unreasonable children of men, who are satisfied with nothing. He does good to all the children of men; his own people in a special manner. Many children of God, who have been ready to fall into sin, to fall into despair, have tasted his goodness in preventing their falls, or recovering them speedily by his graces and comforts. And with respect to all that are heavy laden under the burden of sin, if they come to Christ by faith, he will ease them, he will raise them. He is very ready to hear and answer the prayers of his people. He is present every where; but in a special way he is nigh to them, as he is not to others. He is in their hearts, and dwells there by faith, and they dwell in him. He is nigh to those that call upon him, to help them in all times of need. He will be nigh to them, that they may have what they ask, and find what they seek, if they call upon him in truth and sincerity. And having taught men to love his name and holy ways, he will save them from the destruction of the wicked. May we then love his name, and walk in his ways, while we desire that all flesh should bless his holy name for ever and ever.

Chapter Summary

David's [Psalm] of praise. This psalm is rendered by Ainsworth "a hymn of David"; and the whole book of Psalms is from hence called "the Book of Hymns"; see Ephesians 5:19; It seems to have been a psalm David took great delight in, and it may be that he often repeated and sung it, as it was made by him with great care and contrivance, in a very curious manner, as well as he was assisted in it by divine inspiration; for it is wrote in an alphabetical order, each verse: beginning with the letter of the alphabet in course, and goes through the whole, excepting one letter; and very probably it was composed in this form that it might be the more easily committed to memory, and retained in it. The Jews have a very high opinion of it; their Rabbins say, that whoever says this psalm thrice every day may be sure of being a child of the world to come. This is mentioned by Arama and Kimchi; and which the latter explains thus, not he that says it any way, but with his mouth, and with his heart, and with his tongue. It seems to have been written by David after the Lord had granted him all his requests put up in the preceding psalms, and had given him rest from all his enemies; and when he turned his prayers into praises; for this psalm is wholly praise from one end to the other; and so are all the five following ones; they begin and end with "hallelujah": nor is there a single petition in them, as I remember; so that it may in some sense be said, "here the prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended." It no doubt, as Cocceius observes, belongs to the Messiah and his kingdom, which is everlasting, Psalm 145:13.