Psalm 145: Pure Praise

The other day, I had a short chunk of time to read some scripture. I decided to read a Psalm. The one I chose for no particular reason was Psalm 145. This turned out to be a blessing, as it was exactly the kind of Psalm I had hoped to find. I think the ESV chapter heading must have drawn me in: “Great is the LORD”. This was the kind of Psalm I had been hoping to find.

As God pulls me in, training me from day to day, I desire more and more to praise him, to meditate on his sovereignty, to delight in his existence, to acknowledge his majesty - to glorify him simply because he is God, before and above all things. This is the reason that Psalm 145 was so refreshing to read.

This Psalm begins with, “A Song of Praise. Of David.” This alone stirs my heart. A song of praise. The forethought makes me giddy inside, the idea of God being praised - is there anything more right? This title gets me eager to read the passionate David's words.

In verses 1, 2, 10, and 21, David uses the term “bless” as a form of praise for God and his name. Let me share with you a small excerpt from Richard Foster's book, Prayer.

“Blessing is jubilant praise, praise raised to its highest point. 'Bless the Lord, O my soul,' enjoins the Psalmist, 'and all that is within me, bless his holy name' (Ps. 103:1). Luke closes his Gospel with the enthralling words of blessing 'and they were continually in the temple blessing God' (Luke 24:53). When we are brought into experiences of blessing God, the soul is enraptured in praise.” - Richard Foster, Prayer, pp.84-85

I am thankful to Foster because I had never given thought to the meaning of this term “bless.” Do we, as a Church, bless God as we should?

Other forms of praise expressed in this Psalm include:

• declaring God's mighty acts, greatness, glorious kingdom, and power
• passing down recollections of God's works from generation to generation
• meditating on God's majesty and wondrous works
• singing of God's righteousness
• giving thanks to God
• proclaiming to God his own glory and goodness

David recalls how merciful God is, how slow to anger, how good he is to his creation. He delights in God's enduring dominion, his kindness in all his works. He ponders God's mercy as he “upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing.” He reminds us that the Lord is near to “all who call on him in truth” and “fulfills the desire of those who fear him.”

David concludes this Psalm of praise by saying:

“My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.”

Oh, how we need to speak the Lord's praise, to remind one another of God's enduring mercy and dominion, not just today, but every day, never breaking the habit. We need to bless his holy name, and invite others to do the same. Let our meditation on Psalms of praise such as this add more praise to our hearts - always keeping God in his position of absolute majesty.