A Meditation On The Many Reasons To Praise God

Psalm 145

Our psalm for today is one of praise to God for all that He has done for us.  This is the first of the last set of six praise psalms that conclude the Book of Psalms.  It is also the last psalm that is specifically ascribed to King David.

King David starts by giving praise to God (vs. 1-2) and then proceeds through his psalm, giving us many reasons why we, too, should praise the Lord.  In verse 3 we read that the Lord is great, and His greatness is so vast, it is beyond knowing.  We can’t even begin to properly and fully describe Him!  His wonderful acts go on from one generation to another (vs. 4).  We need to remember that, and not fail to tell our children and grandchildren about our wonderful and great God.

In verse 5 David tells us of how he frequently meditates on God’s majesty and the many things He has done for Him.  Though David was the king, there were many times throughout his life when his days were full of significant troubles.  David turned to God and depended on Him, and the Lord rewarded His faith.  Now he meditated on these mighty acts, God’s faithfulness and love.  David meditated on the goodness and righteousness of God, upon the perfect attributes of His very character (vs. 5 - 7).

One of the attributes of God that David praises Him for is His graciousness and mercy (vs. 8 - 9).  Just in these two verses alone we can see so many reasons to praise God - gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, good, tender mercies.  He knew that without His grace and mercy, he had no hope.  God’s mercy is His withholding from us the punishment that is our due.  His grace is bestowing upon us blessings that we do not deserve.

Because of all the mighty works of God, both done for us and throughout all of creation, we should not keep silence, but sing His praise (vs. 10 - 13).  There are some who have said that one’s religious faith should just be kept to oneself, private, just between himself and God.  That is not what King David says here in these verses.  He says to speak of God’s glory, and to talk of His power.  We are to make it known to others all about the wonders of our mighty God, for His kingdom is forever and He rules over all.

Next David brings to our remembrance how God cares for us and provides for us (vs. 14 - 16).   We have all fallen at some time in one way or another.  Sometimes we’ve fallen literally, and hurt ourselves.  Other times it may have been a lost job resulting in an economic fall, or a devastating heartbreak bringing an emotional fall.  In all of those the Lord God has not abandoned us, but promises to uphold and lift us up.  He has also promised to provide for all of our needs, both food and any other.  He is our provider, not ourselves.  Because of His love for us He gives us what we need.

As David closes out this psalm, he praises God for His righteousness, His being right and just in all of His dealings (vs. 17 - 21).  He praises Him for His graciousness and love to us.  David remembers how God is near to us when we pray (vs. 18).  As this verse states, He hears the prayers of those who call upon Him in truth.  Jesus is the Truth (John 14:6), and God will hear the prayers of those who come to Him in Jesus’s Name.   When we pray, He is right there with us, near to us.  God has promised that He will provide for all of the needs of those who fear or have a holy awe, respect and obedience for Him.  Sometimes we may feel that no one knows or hears us when we cry, but verse 19 assures us that God does hear our cries.

Verse 20 speaks of the end of the wicked, those who have not entered into salvation and a covenant relationship with God through Jesus, which is an eternity in the lake of fire, eternally punished and away from God (II Thessalonians 1:9, Revelation 20:11-15).  Those who love Him, though, are kept and guarded by Him.  We need have no fear for our future.

As we look back over this psalm, the last in the Book of Psalms with David’s name attached to it, we can remember his life and all the trials and turmoils that he dealt with, as see the way that he chose to respond to them.  David realized that the best way to deal with troubles is to meditate on God, thinking of His many character qualities.  Then spend time focusing on praising Him.  That was David’s way, and a good pattern to follow.