Devotional Short Note on Psalm 145: The title of this Psalm is used in the Hebrew Text for the name of the Psalms, Tehilla = praise. Three words summarize clusters of verses in this Psalm: “always” in vv. 1-2; “great” in vv. 3-8 and “all…” in vv. 9-21. The Psalm is written alphabetically except one letter in the middle, nun, is left out.

Under the umbrella of “always” David says that he wants to praise God as King “for ever and ever” (145:1c; and 145:2b). It must be “every day” (145:2a).

Then David switched to the umbrella concept of “great [gadol]”. The Lord is great (145:3a); His greatness unsearchable (145:3b); generation to generation shall speak of “Your mighty acts” (145:4b). The splendor of His majesty, His wondrous works will he speak of (145:5b). Not only himself but others will speak of His greatness (145:6b). His great [rab] goodness they shall talk about (145:7a) and that He has great mercy (145:8b).

Under the last umbrella that David switched to, he wishes to look at the word “all” [kol]. The word appears 16x in these last verses. If it does not appear in every phrase it appears in one of the two combined phrases that makes a verse. In 145:19 there is no sign of “all”. “He will fulfill the desire of them that fear Him, He also will hear their cry and will save them” (145:19). This verse is the key to success in a relationship with God. If a person practice and engage with this ingredient in their faith, they will be part of the “all” list in the rest of the chapter.

The “all” word includes a number of aspects about the Lord: He “is good to all” (145:9a); His “mercies are over all His works” (145:9b); “all His works shall praise You” (145:10a); His is “a kingdom for all ages” (145:13a); His “dominion endures throughout all generations” (145:13b); He “upholds all that fall” (145:14a); He “raises up all those that are bowed down” (145:14b); “all wait for You” (145:15a); He “satisfies every living thing with favor” (145:16b); He is “righteous in all His ways” (145:17a); He is “gracious in all His works” (145:17b); He is “close to all them that call upon Him” (145:18a); “[close to] all that call upon Him in truth” (145:18b); He “preserves all them that love Him” (145:20a); “all the wicked He will destroy” (145:20b); “let all flesh bless His holy name for ever and ever” (145:21b).

From I that will bless the Lord (145:1-2), David succeeded to convince the reader, faithful or not, that all should bless the Lord at the end of the Psalm (145:21).