The Bible Commentaries and Others: Psalms 145

Psalm 145

145:1. I will extol thee, my God, O king. David as God’s king adores God as his King. When we cannot express all our praise just now, it is wise to register our resolution to continue in the blessed work—

I will extol thee. See David’s pronoun my, and his allegiance—the title king.

And I will bless thy name for ever and ever. David determined that his praise should rise to blessing, should intelligently spend itself upon the name or character of God, and should be continued world without end. To bless God is to praise him with a personal affection for him, and a wishing well to him: this is growingly easy exercise as we advance in experience and grow in grace.

145:2. Every day will I bless thee. Whatever the character of the day, or of my circumstances during that day, I will continue to glorify God. We should see abundant cause in each day for rendering special blessing to the Lord. Our love to God is not a matter of holy days: every day is alike holy to holy people. David says, I will bless thee: we do not only admire the Lord’s words and works, but himself.

And I will praise thy name for ever and ever. He said he would bless that name, and now he vows to praise it; he will extol the Lord in every sense and way. Four times he says I will: praise is not to be discharged by proxy; there must be your very self in it, or there is nothing in it.

145:3. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised. Worship should be great praise for a great God. Praise may be said to be great when the song contains great matter, when the hearts producing it are intensely fervent, and when large numbers unite in the great acclaim.

And his greatness is unsearchable. Song should be founded upon search; hymns composed without thought are of no worth. Yet when we meditate most, and search most studiously, we shall still find ourselves surrounded with unknowable wonders, which will baffle all attempts to sing them worthily. The best adoration of the Unsearchable is to own him to be so. He is past finding out, and therefore his deserved praise is still above and beyond all that we can render to him.

145:4. One generation shall praise thy works to another. There will be a tradition of praise: people will instruct their descendants in this hallowed exercise. Let us see to it that we praise God before our children, and never make them think that his service is an unhappy one.

And shall declare thy mighty acts. The generations together will make up an extraordinary history. Each generation will contribute its chapter, and all the generations together will compose a volume of matchless character. All glory be unto him who remains the same Lord throughout all generations.

145:5. I will speak of the glorious honor of thy majesty. David cannot give over the worship of God into the hands of others, even though all generations should undertake to perpetuate it: he must have his own individual share in it, and so he says, I will speak. He multiplies the terms by which he would extol Jehovah.

And of thy wondrous works. All the works of God among men are Godlike, but certain of them are specially calculated to create surprise. His work of grace is wondrous above all. This specially, and all the rest proportionately, should be spoken of by holy people, by experienced people, and by people who have the ability to speak with power. Let it be the delight of each one of us according to our position to speak lovingly of our Lord.

145:6. And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts. Under mercies people may be dumb, but concerning miseries they raise a great outcry. While they are thus occupied with “fearsome facts,” David would look at these affairs in another light, and sing another tune.

And I will declare thy greatness. Those acts which were terrible deeds to most people were mighty deeds, or “greatnesses,” to our poet. It is the occupation of every true believer to tell of the great doings of his great God. We are personally to make a declaration of what we have seen and known. We are even bound in deep solemnity of manner to warn people of the Lord’s greatness in his terrible acts of justice: thus will they be admonished to abstain from provoking him.

145:7. They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness. The Lord’s redeemed people having been filled with his great goodness will retain the happy recollection of it, and it will be their delight to speak with one another of God’s dealings with them, and to compare notes of their experiences. There is no scarcity of matter, and it is not meet that the goodness of the living God should be buried in the grave of ingratitude.

And shall sing of thy righteousness. They will say and then sing of that righteousness which is the sinner’s terror, which even good people mention with deep solemnity. Righteousness received by Gospel light is in reality the secret foundation of the believer’s hope. Since Jesus died as our Substitute, righteousness requires and secures the salvation of all the redeemed. Modern thinkers would expunge the idea of righteousness from their notion of God, but converted people would not. Even a rebel may rejoice in mercy, which he looks upon as laxity, but a loyal subject rejoices that God is so just that not even to save his own elect would he consent to violate the righteousness of his moral government.

145:8. The LORD is gracious. Was it not in some such terms that the Lord revealed himself to Moses? His words and ways, his promises and gifts, his plans and purposes all manifest his grace, or free favor.

And full of compassion. If the Lord be full of compassion there is no room in him for forgetfulness or harshness.

Slow to anger. Even those who refuse his grace yet share in longsuffering. When people do not repent, but on the contrary go from bad to worse, he is still averse to let his wrath flame forth against them.

And of great mercy. This is his attitude towards the guilty. When people at last repent, they find pardon awaiting them.

145:9. The LORD is good to all. Not even his fiercest enemy can deny this, since the very existence of the lips that slander him is a proof that it is slander. He allows his enemies to live, he even supplies them with food, and smooths their way with many comforts; for them the sun shines as brightly as if they were saints, and the rain waters their fields as plentifully as if they were perfect. Is not this goodness to all?

And his tender mercies are over all his works. Kindness is a law of God’s universe: the world was planned for happiness; even now that sin has so sadly marred God’s handiwork, and introduced elements which were not from the beginning, the Lord has so arranged matters that the fall is broken, the curse is met by an antidote, and the inevitable pain is softened with mitigations. Even in this sin-stricken world, under its disordered economy, there are abundant traces of a hand skillful to soothe distress and heal disease. That which makes life bearable is the tenderness of the great Father. Man’s body was framed for a joyful activity, and a peaceful enjoyment of God. Jehovah has in great consideration laid up in the world cures for our ailments, and helps for our feebleness, and if many of these have been long in their discovery, it is because it was more for man’s benefit to find them out himself than to have them labeled and placed in order before his eyes. Jehovah has never taken delight in the ills of his creatures, but has sought their good.

The duty of kindness to animals may logically be argued from this verse. Should not the children of God be like their Father in kindness?

145:10. All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD. There is a something about every creature which redounds to the honor of God. The skill, kindness, and power manifested in the formation of each living thing is in itself to the praise of God, and when observed by an intelligent mind the Lord is honored thereby.

And all thy saints shall bless thee. They wish well to God; they would make him more blessed, if such a thing were possible. If we praise Jehovah because of his works around us, we must go on to bless him for his works within us.

145:11. They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom. Those who bless God from their hearts rejoice to see him enthroned, glorified, and magnified in power. No subject is more profitable for humility, obedience, hope, and joy than that of the reigning power of the Lord our God. His works praise him, but they cannot crown him: this remains for holy hands and hearts.

And talk of thy power. All power comes from God. Apart from him the laws of nature would be inoperative. His power is the one source of force—mechanical, vital, mental, spiritual. Who can calculate the reserve forces of the Infinite? How, then, can his kingdom fail?

145:12. To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts. Few reckon such knowledge to be an essential part of education. As the state cannot teach these holy histories the people of God must do it themselves. The saints are the religious instructors of the race; they ought to be not only the historians of the past, but the bards of the present, whose duty it is to keep the sons of men in memory of the great deeds which the Lord did in the days of their fathers and in the old time before them.

And the glorious majesty of his kingdom. How shall we make this known? Let us first labor to know it ourselves, and then make it a frequent subject of discourse; so shall people know it from us, the Holy Spirit attending our word.

145:13. Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. His meditation has brought him near to God, and God near to him: he speaks to him in adoration, changing the pronoun from “his” to thy. He sees the great King, and prostrates himself before him. The Lord’s kingdom is without beginning, without break, without bound, and without end. None can overthrow his power, or break away from his rule. Herein is rest for faith.

And thy dominion endureth throughout all generations. Men come and go like shadows, but God reigns eternally.

These three verses are a reverent hymn concerning the kingdom of God. They will be best appreciated by those who are in that kingdom in the fullest sense, and are most truly loyal to the Lord.

145:14–16. In these verses Jehovah is adored for his gracious providence; we see how he rules his kingdom and provides for his subjects.

145:14. The LORD upholdeth all that fall. Read this in connection with verse 13, and admire the unexpected contrast. He who reigns in glorious majesty lifts and holds up those who are apt to fall. The form of the verb shows that he is always doing this. The fallen of our race are shunned by us, and it is especial tenderness on the Lord’s part that he looks upon those who are the chief of sinners and the least regarded among mankind. The falling ones among us are too apt to be pushed down by the strong. The Lord loves to reverse things.

And raiseth up all those that be bowed down. Many are despondent, and cannot lift up their heads in courage, or their hearts with comfort; but these he cheers. Some are bent with their daily load, and these he strengthens. The two alls should not be overlooked: the Lord has a kindly heart towards the whole company of the afflicted.

145:15. The eyes of all wait upon thee. They have learned to look to thee: it has become their nature to turn to thee for all they want. As children look to a father for all they need, so do the creatures look to God.

And thou givest them their meat in due season. The Lord is feeding the hungry all around us, giving food to all creatures, and to ourselves among them. Observe the punctuality of the Lord in giving food at meal-time—in the season when it is due. This he does for all, and each living thing has its own season, so that the Lord is feeding his great flock during every moment of time.

145:16. God has suitable supplies at hand, and these he gives till inward satisfaction is produced, and the creature sighs no longer. In spiritual things, when God has raised a desire, he always gratifies it; hence the longing is prophetic of the blessing. In no case is the desire of the living thing excited to produce distress, but in order that it may seek and find satisfaction.

These verses refer to natural providence; but they may equally well apply to the stores of grace, since the same God is king in both spheres. If we will but wait upon the Lord for pardon, renewing, or whatever else we need, we shall not wait in vain. The hand of grace is never closed while the sinner lives.

145:17–21. In these verses we behold our God in the realm of his free grace dealing well with his believing people.

145:17. The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. His ways and works are both worthy to be praised. Jehovah cannot be unjust or impure. In the salvation of his people he is as righteous and holy as in any other of his ways and works: he has not manifested mercy at the expense of justice.

145:18. The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him. Not only near by his omnipresence, but near to sympathize and favor. He does not leave praying people, and people who confess his name, to battle with the world alone, but he is ever at their side. This favor is not for a few of those who invoke him; but for each one of the pious company. All who place themselves beneath the shield of his glorious name by calling themselves by it, and calling upon it in supplication, will find him a very present help in trouble.

To all that call upon him in truth. There are many whose formal prayers and false professions will never bring them into communion with the Lord. To pray in truth, we must have a true heart, and the truth in our heart; and then we must be humble, for pride is a falsehood; and be earnest, or else prayer is a lie. A God of truth cannot be nigh to the spirit of hypocrisy; neither can he be far from a sincere spirit, since it is his work, and he forsakes not the work of his own hands.

145:19. He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him. That is, those who reverence his name and his law. Inasmuch as they have respect unto his will, he will have respect unto their will. They will have their way, for they have his way in their hearts. A holy heart only desires what a holy God can give, and so its desire is filled full out of the fullness of the Lord.

He also will hear their cry, and will save them. He will listen to their piteous cry, and then send salvation from every ill. This he will do himself personally; he will not trust them to angels or saints.

145:20. The LORD preserveth all them that love him. They keep him in their love, and he keeps them by his love. See how these favored ones have advanced from fearing the Lord and crying to him, to loving him; and in that love they are secure from all danger.

But all the wicked will he destroy. Wickedness is an offense to all holy beings, and therefore those who are determined to continue in it must be weeded out. As good sanitary laws remove all creators of pest and plague, so does the moral government of God mark every evil thing for destruction.

145:21. My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD. Whatever others may speak upon, my topic is fixed once for all: I will speak of the praise of Jehovah. I am doing it, and I will do it as long as I breathe.

And let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever. No one need think that he will be rejected when he comes with his personal note of praise; all are permitted, invited, and exhorted to magnify the Lord. Specially should his holiness be adored: this is the crown, and in a certain sense the sum, of all his attributes. Once let the song begin and there will be no end to it.

Excerpt from:

The Treasury of David by Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892)