Psalms145

Psalm 145 is a psalm of David, extolling the Lord as King and declaring His unsearchable greatness. David vows to praise God daily and eternally, and calls for all generations and creation to do likewise. The psalm emphasizes God's gracious, compassionate, and merciful character, His everlasting kingdom, and His role as a righteous provider and sustainer for all living things. It concludes with an affirmation of God's nearness to those who call upon Him in truth, promising salvation to the righteous and destruction to the wicked.
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A Vow of Eternal Praise

1
David's Psalm of praise. I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever. ​
2
Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.
3
Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable. ​

Declaring God's Mighty Acts

4
One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts. ​
5
I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works.
6
And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness.
7
They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness.

The Lord's Gracious Character and Kingdom

8
The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. ​
9
The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works. ​
10
All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee.
11
They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power;
12
To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.
13
Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations. ​

God Sustains and Answers the Faithful

14
The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down. ​
15
The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season. ​
16
Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. ​
17
The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.
18
The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. ​
19
He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.
20
The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy. ​

Final Commitment to Universal Praise

21
My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever. ​

Study Notes for Psalms 145

Verse 1

This psalm, attributed to David and structured alphabetically (acrostic), serves as the final psalm of praise before the concluding Hallelujah psalms (146–150), beginning with the worshiper’s personal commitment to exalt the sovereign God.

Verse 3

The phrase 'unsearchable greatness' acknowledges that while God reveals his power and character, the fullness of his being and majesty remains infinitely beyond human comprehension.

Verse 4

This verse stresses the vital necessity of intergenerational transmission of faith; the experiences of God’s works must be declared so that the next generation may also praise his acts.

Verse 8

This is a foundational theological statement, drawn directly from the divine self-revelation to Moses (Ex. 34:6–7), emphasizing God’s steadfast love, patience, and abundant mercy.

Verse 9

God’s goodness is not limited solely to Israel but extends universally to all creation; his tender mercies demonstrate his providential care for every living thing.

Verse 13

The assertion that God’s kingdom is 'an everlasting kingdom' contrasts the temporal rule of human monarchs with the eternal, unchanging sovereignty of Yahweh.

Verse 14

The psalm shifts focus from God’s majestic attributes to concrete examples of his restorative action and practical care for those who are struggling, illustrating his compassion.

Verse 15

The imagery of 'eyes waiting upon thee' highlights the creaturely dependence on the Creator for sustenance, emphasizing God’s active role as provider (cf. Matt. 6:26).

Verse 16

The 'opening of thine hand' symbolizes the generous, unreserved nature of God's provision, satisfying the fundamental needs of all creation.

Verse 18

God is 'nigh' (close) not merely to those who pray, but specifically to those whose prayer is offered 'in truth,' meaning with sincerity, integrity, and faithfulness of heart.

Verse 20

This verse summarizes the ultimate covenant consequences: God actively protects and preserves those who love him, while those who reject his rule will be destroyed.

Verse 21

This concluding doxology transforms the personal vow of praise (v. 1) into a corporate command, inviting 'all flesh' (all humanity) to join in the eternal blessing of God’s holy name.

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