Bible Commentaries
Psalms 145

Verses 1-21

PSALM 145

The godly man celebrates the power, the grace, and the glory of the everlasting kingdom of the Lord.

This is the last of the alphabetical psalms. The acrostic arrangement is not strictly complete as the letter Nun is omitted.

(vv. 1-2) The godly man delivered from all his enemies can look on to an eternity in which he sees no evil to intrude, and no trace of sorrow to dim his joy in the Lord. Thus he can say, “I will bless thy name for ever and ever,” “I will praise thy name for ever and ever.”

(vv. 3-7) First the psalmist celebrates the greatness and power of God. The Lord is great with a greatness that is unsearchable. His acts are “mighty,” “wondrous,” and “terrible.” The generations of men will declare the greatness of His works, the glory of His majesty, the terror of His acts of judgment, and keep alive the memory of His goodness to His people, founded on righteousness.

(vv. 8-12) Secondly, the psalmist celebrates the grace of God. The Lord is gracious, full of compassion, slow to anger, and of great mercy. How different to man; and even His own people who too often lack grace and compassion, are quick to anger, and show little mercy.

Moreover the Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works. In response to His goodness all His works praise Him, and all His saints bless Him and bear witness to the glory of His kingdom to the sons of men.

(vv. 13-20) Thirdly the psalmist celebrates the glory and blessedness of the kingdom of the Lord. In contrast to the kingdoms of men, that pass away, and while they last are marked by earthly pride and arbitrary power, this kingdom is an everlasting kingdom marked by the condescending grace of the Lord who lifts up the fallen, raises the crushed, provides for the need of every living thing; who listens to the cry of all that call upon Him; who fulfills the desire of those that fear Him, and preserves all them that love Him, but deals in judgment with those that oppose Him.

(v. 21) With the greatness and grace of the Lord filling His soul, the psalmist calls all flesh to “bless his holy name for ever and ever.”