Scriptural text: Psalm 145
Lesson Context: Psalm 145 is an acrostic. That means that each line, verse, or section starts with a word that begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet, which has 22 letters. There are nine psalms that are acrostic in nature, the other eight being Psalms 10, 25, 34, 37, 9-10, 111, 112, and 119. Other acrostics in the Bible are Proverbs 31:10-31 and the entire book of Lamentations. (International Sunday School Lessons KJV 2024-2025)
l. Praiseworthy God, Part l (Psalm 145:1, 10-13): A. What’s So! (vv. 1, 10-12).
v. 1. “I will extol thee, my God, O king, and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.” To extol is to praise, to lift high, to exalt. David honored and promoted the name of God in the most personal of ways:
He did it with a direct address (You).
He did it with a personal reference (my God).
He did it with a surrendered heart (O King).
He did it unendingly (forever and ever …every day). (David Gutzik Bible Commentary)
v. 10. “All thy works shall praise thee, O Lord, and thy saints shall bless thee.”
Creation itself praises God, and does so out of grateful duty. Yet even more than the rivers and hills praising God (Psalm 98:8). God’s people (His saints) should gratefully praise and bless the LORD. (David Guzik Bible Commentary)
vss. 11-12. “They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power. To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.” David again sensed the responsibility of God’s people to tell the wider world the greatness of what God has done (His mighty acts) and who our King is (the glorious majesty of His kingdom). (David Guzik Bible Commentary)
B. So What? (v. 13) “Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.” The psalmist understood that God’s rule extends beyond any given moment or era. New Testament writers understood this as well (1 Timothy 1:17; 2 Peter 1:11). While all things pass away, God’s merciful concerns for His creation does not. (International Sunday School Lessons KJV 2024-2025)
ll. Compassionate God (Psalm 145:14-20): A. Strengthens and Provides (vv. 14-16).“The Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.” Many children of God who have been ready to fall into sin, to fall into despair, have tasted his goodness in preventing their falls, or recovering them speedily by his graces and comforts. And with respect to all that are heavy laden under the burden of sin, if they come to Christ by faith, he will ease them, he will raise them. (Matthew Henry Blue Letter Bible Commentary) vvs. 15-16. “The eyes of all wait upon thee, and thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest thine hand, and satisfieth the desire of every living thing.” The humble put their expectation on God, looking to Him for their needs. They pray, give us this day our daily bread (Matthew 6:11), and God answers their prayer in due season. God’s care for creation extends beyond His provision for men and women. As Jesus would later say, God cares for the birds and the grass of the field (Matthew 6:26-30). God does this with a wonderfully open hand and heart to His creation. (David Guzik Bible Commentary) v. 18. “The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.” God’s responsiveness to His praying people demonstrates His graciousness. “To all who call upon him in truth:”…because there is a counterfeit and false sort of worshipping, and calling upon God, which is debarred from the benefit of this promise.” (Dickson, cited in Spurgeon)
lll. Praiseworthy God, Part ll (Psalm 145: 21): v. 21. “My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord, and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.” It is sensed that David meant this as a declaration. Having written so eloquently about who God is and what He has done for His people, David’s firm decision was to use his mouth to praise and bless God again and again.