Psalm 145: Praise for the Greatness and Goodness of God

Psalm 145 is one of the most beautiful declarations of praise in Scripture. Traditionally attributed to King David, it exalts the divine majesty, celebrates God’s works and emphasizes the Lord’s faithfulness to everyone. As we delve into Psalm 145, we are invited to recognize the incomparable greatness of the Creator, His constant mercy and His care for all creation.

In this article we will study Psalm 145 in depth—its context, structure, central themes and spiritual applications. We will explore it verse by verse and highlight key words such as worship, gratitude, goodness, justice and the eternal kingdom.

Psalm 145 Complete

¹ I will exalt You, my God, my King, and I will bless Your name for ever and ever.
² Every day I will bless You and praise Your name for ever and ever.
³ Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; His greatness is unsearchable.
⁴ One generation shall praise Your works to another and shall declare Your mighty acts.
⁵ I will speak of the glorious splendor of Your majesty and of Your wonderful works.

⁶ They will speak of the power of Your awesome deeds, and I will declare Your greatness.
⁷ They will abundantly proclaim the memory of Your great goodness and will sing of Your righteousness.
⁸ The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and great in mercy.
⁹ The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works.
¹⁰ All Your works shall praise You, Lord, and Your faithful ones shall bless You.

¹¹ They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom and talk of Your power,
¹² to make known to humanity Your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of Your kingdom.
¹³ Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures through all generations.
¹⁴ The Lord upholds all who fall and raises up all who are bowed down.
¹⁵ The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food at the proper time.

¹⁶ You open Your hand and satisfy 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 near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.
¹⁹ He fulfills the desire of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them.
²⁰ The Lord preserves all who love Him, but He destroys all the wicked.
²¹ My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and every creature will bless His holy name for ever and ever.

Explanation of Psalm 145

Psalm 145:1

I will exalt You, my God, my King, and I will bless Your name for ever and ever.

David begins with a personal declaration of worship. He recognizes God as his King and promises to exalt Him eternally. This praise is not momentary; it is constant and spans the ages.

Psalm 145:2

Every day I will bless You and praise Your name for ever and ever.

The psalmist reaffirms his commitment to praise God daily. This verse shows that worship does not depend on circumstances but must be a continual practice in the believer’s life.

Psalm 145:3

Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; His greatness is unsearchable.

Here the divine majesty stands out. God’s greatness is so immense that it cannot be fully comprehended, which makes Him even more worthy of praise.

Psalm 145:4

One generation shall praise Your works to another and shall declare Your mighty acts.

David emphasizes the importance of transmitting the faith. The testimony of God’s works must be passed from generation to generation, strengthening the continuity of praise.

Psalm 145:5

I will speak of the glorious splendor of Your majesty and of Your wonderful works.

Praise is also expressed through speech. David commits to proclaiming God’s majesty and the wonders He performs, exalting His glory.

Psalm 145:6

They will speak of the power of Your awesome deeds, and I will declare Your greatness.

The term “awesome deeds” refers to God’s powerful actions that inspire awe and reverence. The psalmist wants to make this power known, proclaiming His greatness.

Psalm 145:7

They will abundantly proclaim the memory of Your great goodness and will sing of Your righteousness.

This verse highlights two attributes: goodness and righteousness. The people are called to remember God’s goodness in abundance and to celebrate His righteousness in song.

Psalm 145:8

The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and great in mercy.

This is one of the most repeated descriptions of God in the Bible. We see that He is patient and loving, always willing to forgive before punishing, reflecting His longsuffering nature.

Psalm 145:9

The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works.

God is not selective in His goodness. He is good to everyone, and His care extends over everything He created, demonstrating His universal love.

Psalm 145:10

All Your works shall praise You, Lord, and Your faithful ones shall bless You.

Creation and the faithful together exalt God. Everything He made displays His glory, and those who know Him consciously bless Him with gratitude.

Psalm 145:11

They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom and talk of Your power,

God’s servants have the responsibility to testify about the divine kingdom—declaring its glory and announcing the power He exercises over all things.

Psalm 145:12

to make known to humanity Your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of Your kingdom.

This verse shows the purpose of praise: making God’s works known to all peoples, revealing that His kingdom is majestic and worthy to be proclaimed.

Psalm 145:13

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures through all generations.

God’s kingship has no end. Unlike human kingdoms, the divine rule is eternal, passing through every generation without losing strength or justice.

Psalm 145:14

The Lord upholds all who fall and raises up all who are bowed down.

God not only reigns with power but also with compassion. He stretches out His hand to those who stumble and strengthens the downcast, being a refuge for the needy.

Psalm 145:15

The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food at the proper time.

The psalmist highlights universal dependence on God. All creation waits for divine provision, which comes at the right time—just and abundant.

Psalm 145:16

You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.

This verse expresses God’s generosity. He satisfies not only physical needs but also the deep longings of the soul with His provision.

Psalm 145:17

The Lord is righteous in all His ways and holy in all His works.

God is perfectly just and pure in everything He does. His decisions are right, and His actions reflect holiness, serving as a model for all who follow Him.

Psalm 145:18

The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.

God’s presence is guaranteed to those who seek Him sincerely. Truth here implies integrity, faith and genuine surrender to the Lord.

Psalm 145:19

He fulfills the desire of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them.

Those who revere God can trust that their desires will be met. He hears prayers attentively and acts with salvation.

Psalm 145:20

The Lord preserves all who love Him, but He destroys all the wicked.

Love for God brings protection, whereas turning away from Him leads to ruin. Divine justice ensures that good will be preserved and evil will come to an end.

Psalm 145:21

My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and every creature will bless His holy name for ever and ever.

The psalm ends with a universal call to worship. David declares he will continue praising and wishes all humanity to join in the same exaltation.

Structure and Features of Psalm 145

Psalm 145 is an acrostic psalm, meaning each verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. This style demonstrates the intent to convey fullness and order in praising God. Unlike many other psalms that contain laments, this one is exclusively a hymn of praise.

A psalm of David

The heading identifies this as a psalm of David, underscoring the personal and profound nature of the worship. David, as king and servant of the Lord, shows a devoted heart surrendered to God’s majesty.

Central theme: continual praise

The main theme is unceasing praise of God’s divine greatness. David longs for every generation to proclaim the Lord’s works, recognizing His power, mercy and justice.

The Greatness of God in Psalm 145

Psalm 145 opens by exalting God’s name eternally and continuously:

“I will exalt You, my God, my King, and bless Your name for ever and ever.”

This verse sets the attitude of total reverence before God, placing Him at the center of worship. The repetition of praise over time indicates that worship of God never loses its relevance.

The Lord is great and worthy of praise

David declares that the greatness of God is unsearchable, meaning it is beyond human comprehension. This recognition invites believers to reflect on the vastness of the Lord’s works.

Generations proclaim His deeds

Another key point in Psalm 145 is the role of generations. Each generation must tell the next about God’s wonders, creating spiritual continuity and reinforcing the collective memory of God’s people.

The Goodness of God Revealed

Beyond highlighting majesty, Psalm 145 exalts the goodness and mercy of the Lord. David says:

“The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and great in mercy.”

This phrase is essential for understanding the divine character. God is not only powerful but also compassionate. He is not quick to anger and shows patience toward His people.

The Lord is good to all

This verse broadens the reach of divine goodness. God acts not only with the righteous or with Israel but shows kindness over all creation, revealing the universal aspect of His love.

His mercies are over all His works

Every creature is touched by God’s mercy. Psalm 145 shows that divine benevolence is evident even in the small details of everyday life.

The Eternal Kingdom of God

Another theme emphasized in Psalm 145 is the Lord’s eternal rule. David declares that the kingdom of God lasts for ever and His dominion endures through all generations.

God upholds and lifts the fallen

This statement offers comfort and hope. The Lord not only rules but also cares: He lifts the fallen and upholds the oppressed. His kingship is marked by justice and compassion.

All eyes look to Him

Food, sustenance and life come from the Lord’s hand. Psalm 145 shows that all creation depends on God—He opens His hand and satisfies the desires of every living being.

Divine Justice and Nearness

Psalm 145 also highlights that God is just in all His ways and holy in all His works. His righteousness is seen both in punishing evil and rewarding the faithful.

The Lord is near to those who call on Him

God’s nearness does not depend on social standing or human strength but on the sincerity with which He is sought. He is near to all who call on Him in truth, that is, with faith and integrity.

He fulfills the desire of those who fear Him

To fear the Lord represents reverence and obedience. God is not indifferent to His children’s cries; He responds to those who fear Him.

Conclusion of Praise in Psalm 145

Psalm 145 ends with a personal and collective resolution to praise God. David states:

“My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and every creature will bless His holy name for ever and ever.”

This conclusion reinforces that praise is not merely individual but a call to all humanity. The invitation is for everyone to recognize and worship the Lord’s name eternally.

Applying Psalm 145 to Daily Life

Cultivate the habit of praise: Like David, develop the practice of exalting God daily.
Teach future generations: Share God’s deeds with children, grandchildren and others—an implicit command in the text.
Recognize divine goodness: Even in tough times, Psalm 145 invites us to remember God’s goodness and compassion.
Seek God’s presence in truth: God is close to those who sincerely call on Him, requiring an intimate and constant relationship.

Psalm 145 and Similar Psalms

Psalm 145 shares themes with other psalms of praise and exaltation, such as:

Psalm 103, which highlights God’s mercy and compassion.
Psalm 33, celebrating the faithfulness and power of the Lord’s word.
Psalm 146, which continues the Psalms’ sequence of praise.
Psalm 8, focusing on God’s majesty over creation.

Studying Psalm 145 alongside these texts deepens our understanding of biblical worship.

Frequently Asked Questions about Psalm 145

What is the main theme of Psalm 145?

The central theme is praise for God’s greatness, goodness and justice, with emphasis on His eternal faithfulness and care for creation.

What does it mean that Psalm 145 is acrostic?

It means the verses follow the Hebrew alphabet in sequence, demonstrating order and fullness in expressing praise.

How can I apply Psalm 145 daily?

By praying its verses, reflecting on God’s greatness and maintaining a constant attitude of gratitude. It can serve as a daily devotional foundation.

Why did David write Psalm 145?

David expresses his recognition of God’s kingship and his desire to proclaim the Lord’s wonders to future generations. It is a song of complete worship.

Is there a connection between Psalm 145 and the New Testament?

Yes. Psalm 145 points to divine attributes reaffirmed by Jesus—such as mercy, faithfulness and nearness to believers. The “eternal kingdom” mentioned by David is also confirmed by Christ in His teachings.

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