Psalm 145
THIS is another "alphabet" psalm, omitting the fourteenth, but otherwise including in the original language as the first letter of each verse, in order, the twenty two letters of the Hebrew alphabet. It is the last psalm bearing David's name, and we judge that it is the Lord Jesus in spirit who here speaks,—the leader of His people's praise (Psalm 22:22-2622I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. 23Ye that fear the Lord, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel. 24For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard. 25My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him. 26The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek him: your heart shall live for ever. (Psalm 22:22‑26)).
Think of what a change this will mean for the earth, when Jehovah's praise shall be on every tongue from sea to sea. Today on every hand, we may say, God is not in their thoughts; then, when judgment long withheld has swept the world, the inhabitants will learn righteousness. The believer's heart wells up in a deep Amen! to verse 3,
"Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable." Psalm 145:33Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable. (Psalm 145:3). The lines of a hymn read:
"His love is as great as His power, And knows neither measure nor end."
The reminders of this precious truth are found throughout the psalm.
It is a psalm for meditation rather than for exposition. In it we read of Jehovah's majesty, His unsearchable greatness, His terrible acts, His great goodness and His righteousness. We linger over the thought of His graciousness and mercifulness, His tender mercy. He, and He only, upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all that are bowed down. Who is like unto Him?
The eyes of all wait upon Him and He gives them their food in its season; He opens His hand and satisfies the desire of every living thing. Righteous in all his ways, yet He is near unto all that call upon Him in truth. He is also the fulfiller of the desire of them that fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them; He keeps all that love Him; and, solemn prospect! All the wicked will He destroy. This word "destroy" does not mean to annihilate, but to remove their power to do evil; God will exercise His power upon them in judgment.
What a God is ours! Revealed to us in the person of His dear Son, we may well raise our voices in His praise,
Worthy of homage and of praise;
Worthy by all to be adored;
Exhaustless theme of heavenly lays,
Thou, Thou art worthy, Jesus Lord!
Messages of God’s Love 2/28/1932