Psalms 145:20

The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.

The LORD {H3068} preserveth {H8104} all them that love {H157} him: but all the wicked {H7563} will he destroy {H8045}.

ADONAI protects all who love him, but all the wicked he destroys.

The LORD preserves all who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy.

Jehovah preserveth all them that love him; But all the wicked will he destroy.

Psalms 145:20 (KJV): "The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy."

This powerful verse from the Psalms offers a dual declaration about God's character: His unwavering faithfulness to those who seek Him and His righteous judgment against those who oppose Him. It encapsulates both divine preservation and divine justice, highlighting the distinct destinies of the righteous and the wicked.

Context

Psalm 145 is a "Psalm of Praise" (Tehillah in Hebrew), one of the few psalms explicitly designated as such in the Masoretic Text. Attributed to David, it is an acrostic psalm, meaning each verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet (though one letter is missing in the KJV/Masoretic text, present in the Septuagint). The entire psalm is a magnificent ode to God's greatness, goodness, power, and everlasting kingdom. Verses leading up to verse 20 speak of God being "nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth" (Psalm 145:18) and fulfilling the desire of those who fear Him (Psalm 145:19). Verse 20 serves as a concluding summary, affirming God's active involvement in the lives of His people and His ultimate authority over all creation.

Key Themes

  • Divine Preservation and Protection: The verse assures believers that the LORD actively watches over and keeps those who genuinely love Him. This preservation encompasses not just physical safety, but spiritual security and sustenance. It speaks to God's covenant faithfulness and His commitment to His chosen ones.
  • Divine Justice and Judgment: In stark contrast, the verse declares God's intent to destroy the wicked. This is a testament to God's perfect righteousness; He cannot tolerate evil indefinitely. His justice ensures that defiance against Him will not go unpunished, bringing about a necessary separation between light and darkness.
  • The Importance of Love for God: The condition for preservation is explicitly stated: "them that love him." This love is not merely an emotion but a deep commitment involving loyalty, obedience, and devotion to God's commands and character, as seen in John 14:15.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Preserveth" (Hebrew: shamar): This word means to guard, keep, watch over, or protect. It implies active, diligent care, not passive oversight. It's the same word used for God "keeping" Israel or for keeping God's commandments.
  • "Love him" (Hebrew: ahav): This term denotes a deep, affectionate, and loyal love. In a covenantal context, it signifies faithfulness and adherence to the relationship, as exemplified in Deuteronomy 6:5, "Thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart."
  • "Wicked" (Hebrew: rasha): This describes those who are guilty, unrighteous, and impious, often characterized by rebellion against God's law and a disregard for justice.
  • "Destroy" (Hebrew: shamad): This is a strong verb meaning to annihilate, lay waste, or utterly wipe out. It underscores the severity and finality of God's judgment against persistent evil, echoing warnings found throughout the Old Testament.

Reflection and Application

Psalms 145:20 offers both comfort and challenge for believers today. For those who genuinely love the LORD, it is a profound source of reassurance that God is their vigilant protector and keeper. This truth can bring peace in times of trouble, knowing that God's preserving hand is upon their lives (Romans 8:28). It also reminds us that our love for God is the foundation of our relationship with Him, leading to His active involvement in our well-being.

Conversely, the verse serves as a solemn warning to those who reject God or live in persistent wickedness. It declares that God's justice will ultimately prevail, and unrepentant evil will face His righteous judgment. This dual outcome underscores the moral order of the universe, where God is both gracious Savior and just Judge. It calls us to examine our own hearts: do we truly love Him, demonstrating that love through our lives, or are we aligned with the ways of the wicked? The path of life and the path of destruction are clearly laid out.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Exodus 20:6

    And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

  • John 10:27

    My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

  • John 10:29

    My Father, which gave [them] me, is greater than all; and no [man] is able to pluck [them] out of my Father's hand.

  • Romans 8:28

    And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.

  • Romans 8:30

    Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

  • Psalms 97:10

    Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.

  • Psalms 31:23

    O love the LORD, all ye his saints: [for] the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.
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