Psalm 145: Praying Through The Psalms

Psalm 145 is a beautiful hymn of praise, exalting the greatness of our God, Yahweh. In this blog post, we will break down this Psalm into manageable sections, exploring each pair of verses using the World English Bible (WEB), providing a brief commentary, and offering a prayer to help us connect with the deep spiritual themes present in these verses.

Verses 1-2:

“I will exalt you, my God, the King. I will praise your name forever and ever. Every day I will praise you. I will extol your name forever and ever.”

The psalmist begins by expressing an unceasing desire to exalt and praise God. This isn’t a sporadic or conditional praise but a perpetual commitment to honor and lift up the name of God. The word “exalt” in Hebrew is “agadelkha” (אֲגַדֵּלְךָ), which means to lift up or magnify. It signifies an act of honoring and lifting God above all else. It reminds us of the importance of acknowledging God’s supreme authority and sovereignty in our lives.

For in heaven, just like the angels’ circle God’s throne for eternity and receive more and more revelation of His majesty, we too will experience the same. Heaven is all about soaking in the beauty of God’s brilliance and love.

Dear Heavenly Father, we are inspired by the psalmist’s unwavering devotion. We pray that our hearts may be filled with a similar commitment to praise your name every day of our lives. Help us, O Lord, to recognize your sovereignty and greatness.

When the world tries to steal our joy or distract us from you, gently remind us of your steadfast love and commitment. For we are easily led astray like sheep, and we need your constant guidance as the Great Shepherd and Bishop of our souls.

Verses 3-4:

“Great is Yahweh, and greatly to be praised! His greatness is unsearchable. One generation will commend your works to another, and will declare your mighty acts.

The psalmist acknowledges the infinite greatness of God and the importance of passing down His mighty works from one generation to the next. God’s greatness is beyond human comprehension, but we can still share His deeds and testimonies with those who follow us. As believers, it’s integral that we continue to pass the baton of faith each generation as the world gets darker and less receptive to the gospel of Christ.

Almighty God, we stand in awe of your boundless greatness. May we be faithful witnesses, sharing your wondrous deeds and mighty acts with the generations to come. Help us to recognize the importance of preserving and declaring your marvelous works.

O Gracious King, give us the power of your Holy Spirit to confidently proclaim the truth of your Word. Even when the culture calls good evil and evil good, may we continue to stand up for what is pure, right, good, noble, and trustworthy.

Verses 5-6:

“I will meditate on the glorious majesty of your honor, on your wondrous works. Men will speak of the might of your awesome acts. I will declare your greatness.”

Meditation on the majesty of God and the declaration of His greatness go hand in hand. As we meditate on His works, we are inspired to speak of His might and declare His greatness to others. God calls us to worship Him with all our heart, MIND, soul, and strength, and by meditating on His word, we are exercising the mind to exalt the Lord.

Heavenly Father, grant us the wisdom and understanding to meditate on your glorious majesty and wondrous works. May our meditation lead to a heartfelt declaration of your greatness, so others may also come to know your awesomeness.

Awesomeness is used quite a lot in our society, but it should only be reserved for you. Why? Because the word “Awesome” is awe-inspiring, and only the necessary being, the God who is eternal and holy distinct, shall be given this type of adoration. Thank you for being such an amazing, awesome God!

Verses 7-8:

“They will utter the memory of your great goodness, and will sing of your righteousness. Yahweh is gracious, merciful, slow to anger, and of great loving kindness.

The psalmist highlights God’s qualities of goodness, righteousness, grace, and mercy. These attributes are worth remembering and singing about. God’s character is consistently loving and patient. And we know, just like any good movie, the protagonist of the story always triumphs over the antagonist. The positive attributes will be the final victor, as God is the epitome of these qualities and is contrasted with the devil, who is the Father of lies.

Loving and merciful Father, we thank you for your unending goodness, righteousness, and loving kindness. May our lives be a testament to your grace, and may our songs resound with praise for your righteous ways.

Heavenly King, we know that your attributes of goodness, grace, and mercy will ultimately triumph over Satan, our defeated foe. You are the way, the truth, and the life, and Satan is the father of lies. Lord, keep us safe from the devil and may your Holy Spirit surround us like a wall of fire–being the glory in the midst of us.

Verses 9-10:

“Yahweh is good to all. His tender mercies are over all his works. All your works will give thanks to you, Yahweh. Your saints will extol you.”

God’s goodness extends to all His creation, and everything He has made praises Him. The saints, His people, are called to extol and give thanks to Him. Jesus said that if no one praises, even the rocks will cry out. For its natural for the created world that God made to give him the adoration He fully deserves.

Gracious Lord, we are thankful for your universal goodness and tender mercies. Help us, as your saints, to be a reflection of your love and to offer thanks and praise for all that you have created.

Almighty God, give us the wisdom, courage, and strength to extol you to every tribe, tongue, and nation. Let us constantly proclaim the works of your righteousness to the entire world. May your gospel, the good news that God saves sinners, be preached to the whole world through your mighty saints.

Verses 11-12:

“They will speak of the glory of your kingdom, and talk about your power, to make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, the glory of the majesty of his kingdom.”

The psalmist emphasizes the duty to speak about God’s kingdom and power, making known His mighty acts and the majesty of His rule. We are compelled by what God has done in Jesus to share this truth to the whole world. For His kingdom come, his will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. May we continue to spread his kingdom, heralding the name of the king.

Majestic King may our words be a testament to the glory of your kingdom and the power that you possess. Let us be ambassadors for your majesty and make your mighty acts known to all. Give us wisdom and a sound mind to articulate your truth to a world in desperate need of you.

Verses 13-14:

“Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. Your dominion endures throughout all generations. Yahweh is faithful in all his words, and loving in all his deeds.”

These verses reassure us of God’s eternal rule and His faithfulness in both His words and deeds. His love and care for His creation are unwavering. This verse reflects the idea of God’s faithfulness in all His words and His eternal reign. The Hebrew word often translated as “faithful” in this context is “ne’eman” (נֶאֱמָן), which means trustworthy, reliable, or faithful.

Eternal God, we are grateful for the assurance that your kingdom endures forever. May we trust in your faithfulness and be reminded of your love and care in all that you do. In the midst of life’s challenges and uncertainties, we find our refuge in your unchanging dominion. You are our rock, our fortress, and our guide, and we rest in the assurance that your kingdom endures throughout all generations.

Verses 15-16:

“Yahweh upholds all who fall and raises up all those who are bowed down. The eyes of all wait for you. You give them their food in due season.”

God is a sustainer and provider. He upholds the fallen and satisfies the needs of all living creatures in their appointed time. This phrase underscores that all living beings, both humans and animals, depend on God for sustenance. In Hebrew, it is expressed as “Einey kol ‘elekha yesabberu” (עֵינֵי כֹּל אֵלֶיךָ יִשַּׂבְּרוּ). It reminds us of our reliance on God’s provision.

Faithful Provider, we thank you for your loving care and support for those who stumble and are bowed down. We trust in your perfect timing and provision for our needs. We depend on you fully for our sustenance. Without you, we would not exist. Continue to uphold us by your mighty hand, and may we be able to stand faithful and endure until you return to rescue us from this broken world.

Verses 17-18:

“Yahweh is righteous in all his ways, and gracious in all his works. Yahweh is near to all those who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”

In Hebrew, this is expressed as “Tzaddik Adonai bechol-drakhav vachasid bechol-ma’asav” (צַדִּיק יְהוָה בְּכָל-דְּרָכָיו; וְחָסִיד, בְּכָל-מַעֲשָׂיו). These words affirm God’s righteousness and faithfulness in all His actions. This assures us of His moral perfection and His unwavering commitment to His promises and covenant. These verses remind us of God’s righteousness and graciousness in all His works. He is near to those who call on Him with a sincere heart.

Righteous and gracious God, we seek your presence and guidance in truth. Thank you for being near to those who call upon you. As we lift our voices to you in prayer and worship, we do so with sincerity and truth, seeking a deeper and more authentic relationship with you. Help us to approach you with open and humble hearts, that we may draw nearer to you and experience your abundant grace.

We are also thankful for your nearness to us. You are always within our reach, ready to hear our prayers and respond to our needs. We acknowledge that our genuine and sincere approach to you is met with your close presence and loving care.

Verses 19-20:

“He will fulfill the desire of those who fear him. He also will hear their cry, and will save them. Yahweh preserves all those who love him, but he will destroy all the wicked.”

God is attentive to the prayers of those who fear and love Him. He responds with salvation and protection, while those who oppose Him will face judgment. Your word tells us that you are willing that no one perish, but all come to repentance and faith. You tell us to love our enemies and do good to those who persecute us for righteousness’s sake. May we continue to show the unlimited grace and mercy to those around.

Merciful God, we place our trust in your promise to fulfill the desires of those who revere you and to hear their cries. We also ask for your guidance to stay on the path of love, and we pray for your justice to be done in due time. Please rescue us and help us be kind and loving towards those who persecute us for believing in Jesus. May they come to know the one true God and repent of their sins.

Verses 21:

“My mouth will speak the praise of Yahweh. Let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.”

The psalm concludes with a declaration of praise, calling all living beings to bless God’s holy name eternally. וִיבָרֵךְ כָּל-בָּשָׂר” (Vi-yevarekh kol-basar – “Let all flesh bless”): This portion extends the call to worship to all living beings, emphasizing inclusivity. It encourages every living creature to participate in blessing and acknowledging God’s holiness.

Heavenly Father, we echo the psalmist here. Lord, we ask for the grace to make our praise and worship a lifelong and unceasing practice. May our lives be a continuous testimony to Your greatness and holiness, and may our worship endure forever and ever.

In times of joy and in moments of challenge, may our praise be unwavering. As we lift our voices and hearts to You, may Your name be exalted, and may Your presence be felt in our lives. We say all of this in your son Jesus Christ’s mighty name. Amen.