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Commentary on Psalms 145 verses 10–21
The greatness and goodness of him who is optimus et maximus - the best and greatest of beings, were celebrated in the former part of the psalm; here, in these verses, we are taught to give him the glory of his kingdom, in the administration of which his greatness and goodness shine so clearly, so very brightly. Observe, as before,
I. From whom the tribute of praise is expected (Psa 145:10): All God's works shall praise him. They all minister to us matter for praise, and so praise him according to their capacity; even those that refuse to give him honour he will get himself honour upon. But his saints do bless him, not only as they have peculiar blessings from him, which other creatures have not, but as they praise him actively, while his other works praise him only objectively. They bless him, for they collect the rent or tribute of praise from the inferior creatures, and pay it into the treasury above. All God's works do praise him, as the beautiful building praises the builder or the well-drawn picture praises the painter; but the saints bless him as the children of prudent tender parents rise up and call them blessed. Of all God's works, his saints, the workmanship of his grace, the first-fruits of his creatures, have most reason to bless him.
II. For what this praise is to be given: They shall speak of thy kingdom. The kingdom of God among men is a thing to be often thought of and often spoken of. As, before, he had magnified God's greatness and goodness in general, so here he magnifies them with application to his kingdom. Consider then,
1.The greatness of his kingdom. It is great indeed, for all the kings and kingdoms of the earth are under his control. To show the greatness of God's kingdom, he observes, (1.) The pomp of it. Would we by faith look within the veil, we should see, and, believing, we should speak of the glory of his kingdom (Psa 145:11), the glorious majesty of it (Psa 145:12), for he has prepared his throne in the heavens, and it is high and lifted up, and surrounded with an innumerable company of angels. The courts of Solomon and Ahasuerus were magnificent; but, compared with the glorious majesty of God's kingdom, they were but as glow-worms to the sun. The consideration of this should strike an awe upon us in all our approaches to God. (2.) The power of it: When they speak of the glory of God's kingdom they must talk of his power, the extent of it, the efficacy of it - his power, by which he can do any thing and does every thing he pleases (Psa 145:11); and, as a proof of it, let them make known his mighty acts (Psa 145:12), that the sons of men may be invited to yield themselves his willing subjects and so put themselves under the protection of such a mighty potentate. (3.) The perpetuity of it, Psa 145:13. The thrones of earthly princes totter, and the flowers of their crowns wither, monarchies come to an end; but, Lord, thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. God will govern the world to the end of time, when the Mediator, who is now entrusted with the administration of his kingdom, shall deliver it up to God, even the Father, that he may be all in all to eternity. His dominion endures throughout all generations, for he himself is eternal, and his counsels are unchangeable and uniform; and Satan, who has set up a kingdom in opposition to him, is conquered and in a chain.
2.The goodness of his kingdom. His royal style and title are, The Lord God, gracious and merciful; and his government answers to his title. The goodness of God appears in what he does,
(1.)For all the creatures in general (Psa 145:15, Psa 145:16): He provides food for all flesh, and therein appears his everlasting mercy, Psa 136:25. All the creatures live upon God, and, as they had their being from him at first, so from him they have all the supports of their being and on him they depend for the continuance of it. [1.] The eye of their expectation attends upon him: The eyes of all wait on thee. The inferior creatures indeed have not the knowledge of God, nor are capable of it, and yet they are said to wait upon God, because they seek their food according to the instinct which the God of nature has put into them (and they sow not, neither do they reap, Mat 6:26), and because they take what the God of nature has provided for them, in the time and way that he has appointed, and are content with it. [2.] The hand of his bounty is stretched out to them: Thou givest them their meat in due season, the meat proper for them, and in the proper time, when they need it; so that none of the creatures ordinarily perish for want of food, no, not in the winter. Thou openest thy hand freely and liberally, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing, except some of the unreasonable children of men, that will be satisfied with nothing, but are still complaining, still crying, Give, give.
(2.)For the children of men in particular, whom he governs as reasonable creatures.
[1.]He does none of them any wrong, for (Psa 145:17) the Lord is righteous in all his ways, and not unrighteous in any of them; he is holy, and acts like himself, with a perfect rectitude in all his works. In all the acts of government he is just, injurious to none, but administering justice to all. The ways of the lord are equal, though ours are unequal. In giving laws, in deciding controversies, in recompensing services, and punishing offences, he is incontestably just, and we are bound to own that he is so.
[2.]He does all of them good, his own people in a special manner.
First, He supports those that are sinking, and it is his honour to help the weak, Psa 145:14. He upholds all that fall, in that, though they fall, they are not utterly cast down. Many of the children of men are brought very low by sickness and other distresses, and seem ready to drop into the grave, and yet Providence wonderfully upholds them, raises them up, and says, Return, Psa 110:3. If all had died who once seemed dying, the world would have been very thin. Many of the children of God, who have been ready to fall into sin, to fall into despair, have experienced his goodness in preventing their falls, or recovering them speedily by his graces and comforts, so that, though they fell, they were not utterly cast down, Psa 37:24. If those who were bowed down by oppression and affliction are raised up, it was God that raised them. And, with respect to all those that are heavy-laden under the burden of sin, if they come to Christ by faith, he will ease them, he will raise them.
Secondly, He is very ready to hear and answer the prayers of his people, Psa 145:18, Psa 145:19. In this appears the grace of his kingdom, that his subjects have not only liberty of petitioning, but all the encouragement that can be to petition. 1. The grant is very rich, that God will be nigh to all that call upon him; he will be always within call of their prayers, and they shall always find themselves within reach of his help. If a neighbour that is near is better than a brother afar off (Pro 27:10), much more a God that is near. Nay, he will not only be nigh to them, that they may have the satisfaction of being heard, but he will fulfil their desires; they shall have what they ask and find that they seek. It was said (Psa 145:16) that he satisfies the desire of every living thing, much more will he fulfil the desire of those that fear him; for he that feeds his birds will not starve his babes. He will hear their call and will save them; that is hearing them to purpose, as he heard David (that is, saved him) from the horn of the unicorn, Psa 22:21. 2. The proviso is very reasonable. He will hear and help us, (1.) If we fear him, if we worship and serve him with a holy awe of him; for otherwise how can we expect that he should accept us? (2.) If we call upon him in truth; for he desires truth in the inward part. We must be faithful to God, and sincere in our professions of dependence on him, and devotedness to him. In all devotions inward impressions must be answerable to the outward expressions, else they are not performed in truth.
Thirdly, He takes those under his special protection who have a confidence and complacency in him (Psa 145:20): The Lord preserves all those that love him; they lie exposed in this world, but he, by preserving them in their integrity, will effectually secure them, that no real evil shall befal them.
[3.]If any are destroyed they may thank themselves: All the wicked he will destroy, but they have by their wickedness fitted themselves for destruction. This magnifies his goodness in the protection of the righteous, that with their eyes they shall see the reward of the wicked (Psa 91:8); and God will by this means preserve his people, even by destroying the wicked that would do them a mischief.
Lastly, The psalmist concludes, 1. With a resolution to give glory to God himself (Psa 145:21): My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord. When we have said what we can, in praising God, still there is more to be said, and therefore we must not only begin our thanksgivings with this purpose, as he did (Psa 145:1), but conclude them with it, as he does here, because we shall presently have occasion to begin again. As the end of one mercy is the beginning of another, so should the end of one thanksgiving be. While I have breath to draw, my mouth shall still speak God's praises. 2. With a call to others to do so too: Let all flesh, all mankind, bless his holy name for ever and ever. Some of mankind shall be blessing God for ever; it is a pity but that they should be all so engaged.
"He will perform the will of them that fear Him" [Psalm 145:19]. He will perform it, He will perform it: though He perform it not at once, yet He will perform it. Certainly if therefore you fear God, that you may do His will, behold even He in a manner ministers to you; He does your will. "And He shall hear their prayer, and save them." You see that for this purpose the Physician hears, that He may save. When? Hear the Apostle telling you. For we are saved in hope: but hope which is seen is not hope: but if what we see not we hope for, then do we with patience wait for it: [Romans 8:24] "the salvation," that is, which Peter calls "ready to be revealed in the last time." [1 Peter 1:5]
If there are any who are even in the catholic church and live evil lives, before they finish this life, let them hasten to give up the evil life, and let them not think that the catholic [Christian] name is enough for salvation, if they do not do the will of God. For our Savior says, “not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.” In the book of Psalms as well, it is written that “the Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of all who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.” Wherefore also in Proverbs each one of us is commanded both to fear the Lord and to depart from evil. There it is said, “fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be a healing for your flesh and a refreshment for your body.”
But we must look attentively at this—that not everyone who seems to pray before other people is proven to ask or to seek or to knock at the entrance of the heavenly kingdom in the sight of the searcher of hearts. The prophet would not have said, “The Lord is near to all who call on him in truth,” unless he recognized that there are some who call on the Lord, but not in truth. They do indeed call upon the Lord in truth who do not contradict in their lives what they say in their prayers. They call on the Lord in truth who, as they are about to offer their petitions, first busy themselves with carrying out his orders. Those who, as they are about to say to him in prayer, “And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors,” have fulfilled that mandate of his that says, “And whenever you stand to pray, grant pardon if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father too, who is in heaven, may forgive you your sins.” Hence about such persons the prophet appropriately adds, “He will fulfill the will of those who fear him, and will hearken to their prayers and will save them.” Accordingly, they call on the Lord in truth who are acknowledged to fear him. He listens to their prayers when they cry out [to him]; he grants their pious desires when they long for him; he raises them up to eternal salvation when they have passed from this life.
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SUMMARY
Psalms 145:19 stands as a powerful testament to God's unwavering attentiveness and responsive nature toward those who approach Him with reverent awe. It assures believers that their earnest, righteous desires will be brought to fruition, their heartfelt pleas will be heard with compassion, and their needs for deliverance and salvation will be comprehensively met by the Almighty. This verse beautifully encapsulates the intimate, active, and reciprocal relationship God maintains with His faithful people, highlighting His boundless power, profound compassion, and steadfast commitment to their ultimate well-being.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Psalms 145:19 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message of divine responsiveness and assurance. Synonymous Parallelism is prominently featured, where the successive clauses—"He will fulfil the desire," "he also will hear their cry," and "and will save them"—each reinforce and expand upon the central theme of God's active engagement and comprehensive provision for His people. This repetition emphasizes the certainty and multifaceted nature of God's help. The use of Anthropomorphism is also evident, as God is depicted with human-like qualities: He "hears" and "fulfills," making Him relatable and accessible to the human experience of prayer and longing, fostering a sense of intimacy. Furthermore, the verse uses Emphasis through its triple assurance, building from the fulfillment of righteous desires, to the hearing of desperate cries, and finally to the comprehensive act of saving, creating a powerful crescendo that highlights the unwavering and holistic nature of God's commitment to those who revere Him.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 145:19 profoundly reveals the character of God as intimately involved and deeply compassionate, challenging any notion of a distant or indifferent deity. It underscores His sovereignty, not merely as a detached ruler, but as a loving Father who actively attends to the needs and prayers of His children. The verse highlights the reciprocal nature of the covenant relationship: as humanity offers reverence and cries out in dependence, God responds with faithful provision and salvation. This divine responsiveness is rooted in His unwavering goodness and righteousness, assuring believers that their trust in Him is never misplaced. It teaches that true "fear of the Lord" is not a burden but a pathway to experiencing His abundant grace and power, aligning human will with divine purpose.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This verse offers immense encouragement and a clear blueprint for a thriving spiritual life, reminding us that our relationship with God is not passive but dynamic, characterized by our reverence and His responsive power. For our desires to be fulfilled, they must first be shaped by a genuine "fear of the LORD"—a deep, abiding respect and obedient awe that aligns our will with His. When our longings mirror His righteous purposes, we can pray with confidence, knowing that He delights in meeting them. Furthermore, the assurance that He "will hear their cry" empowers us to bring every burden, every plea, and every desperate need before Him, knowing that no prayer is too small or insignificant for His attentive ear. This should ignite a fervent prayer life, marked by unwavering faith and persistent supplication, as we trust in His comprehensive ability to "save" us from whatever challenges we face, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. Ultimately, Psalms 145:19 calls us to a life of humble dependence and bold prayer, confident in the character of a God who is both mighty to save and intimately concerned with the well-being of His beloved children.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What kind of "desire" does God promise to fulfill for those who fear Him?
Answer: The "desire" (Hebrew: râtsôwn) God promises to fulfill is not any selfish or worldly craving, but rather the righteous longings and aspirations of those who genuinely "fear Him" (Hebrew: yârêʼ). This "fear" signifies a profound reverence, awe, and obedient submission to God, meaning their desires are aligned with His will and character. When our desires are purified and shaped by God's Spirit, reflecting His good pleasure, then we can be confident that He will bring them to fruition, as Psalms 37:4 encourages us to "Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart."
Does God always "save" us from every difficulty, or is there a deeper meaning to "save them"?
Answer: The Hebrew word for "save" (yâshaʻ) is a broad term encompassing deliverance, help, preservation, and rescue. While God certainly can and often does provide physical and immediate rescue from difficulties, the term also carries a deeper, comprehensive meaning. It refers to God's ultimate power to deliver from sin, spiritual bondage, and eternal death. Therefore, "He will save them" speaks to God's complete ability to bring about salvation in all its forms—physical, emotional, and spiritual—according to His perfect will and timing. This ultimate salvation is most fully realized in Christ, as highlighted in Acts 4:12, which declares, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 145:19 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the quintessential one who perfectly "feared" the Lord, living a life of absolute obedience and reverent submission to the Father's will, even to the point of death on the cross (Philippians 2:8). In Him, the righteous desires of God's heart for humanity—to redeem, restore, and reconcile a fallen world—were perfectly fulfilled. Furthermore, Jesus Himself was the one who "cried out" to the Father in His deepest anguish, notably in Gethsemane (Luke 22:44) and on the cross (Matthew 27:46), and the Father "heard" His cry, raising Him from the dead and vindicating His perfect life and sacrifice (Acts 2:24). Through Christ, God's promise to "save them" is definitively and comprehensively realized. He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, offering not just temporary deliverance but eternal salvation to all who believe in Him (John 3:16). Thus, in Christ, we find the perfect example of one who feared God, whose cries were heard, and through whom God's saving power is fully extended to all who call upon His name.