Chapter 145
Themes, discussion questions, Christ connections, and denomination lenses.
Just read this chapter →Scripture
KJV1I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.
2Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.
3Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.
4One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.
5I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works.
6And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness.
7They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness.
8The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.
9The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.
10All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee.
11They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power;
12To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.
13Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.
14The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.
15The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season.
16Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.
17The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.
18The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.
19He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.
20The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.
21My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.
“The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.”
Overview
Psalm 145 is David's grand acrostic hymn of praise — the only psalm specifically titled 'A Psalm of Praise.' David vows to extol God as his King and bless His name forever. Every day he will bless the LORD, and His greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise God's works to another. The LORD is gracious, full of compassion, slow to anger, and of great mercy. He is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. The LORD upholds all that fall, opens His hand and satisfies every living thing, is near to all who call upon Him in truth, and preserves all who love Him.
Key Themes
The Unsearchable Greatness of God
God's greatness cannot be fully measured or comprehended — generation after generation will praise His works and still not exhaust His glory.
God's Universal Goodness and Mercy
The LORD is good to all and His tender mercies extend over all His works — His compassion is not limited but reaches every creature.
God's Nearness to Those Who Call
The LORD is near to all who call upon Him in truth — the infinite, unsearchable God is also the intimate, accessible God.
Study Questions
Why is this the only psalm titled 'A Psalm of Praise,' and what sets it apart?
What does it mean that God's greatness is 'unsearchable' (v. 3)?
How do the descriptions of God's character — gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, great in mercy (v. 8) — shape our view of Him?
What does it mean that the LORD 'satisfiest the desire of every living thing' (v. 16)?
How does the psalm move from God's greatness to God's nearness? Why are both important?
Connection to Christ
Jesus is the fullest revelation of the God described here — gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, and abounding in love. He opens His hands to feed the multitudes and satisfies the deepest desires of the soul. He is the King of the everlasting kingdom and the one who is near to all who call upon Him in truth. In Christ, God's unsearchable greatness becomes intimately personal.
Personal Reflection
Take time to journal or meditate on what God is teaching you through Psalms 145. How can these truths transform your thinking and actions today?