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).