Great is the Lord

This past week I heard Psalm 145:9 quoted, and I wrote it down as a devotional idea. Later I re-read the verse and then read the entire Psalm for context. I realized I couldn’t write on just verse 9. I loved the whole Psalm, and I learned some fun (for me), new technical details as I studied it (Check out Mark Futato’s Psalms, Proverbs (Cornerstone Biblical Commentary).

First, in my Bible verse 1 begins with, “A Song of Praise. Of David.” The Hebrew word for “song of praise” is tehillah, and it isn’t used in any other title in the psalms. We can skim over this, but this title that isn’t used elsewhere should alert us to something unique beginning with this psalm. Mark Futato referred to it as the climax of the book of Psalms that continues on through the end of the book in Psalm 150:6, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!” As we look at this Psalm more closely, it should move us to praise the Lord as well.

The second technical detail I thought was interesting is in the structure of the Psalm. “Two kinds of lines characterize this psalm. One kind expresses the psalmist’s intention to praise the Lord or asserts that others will praise the Lord. The other kind is praise proper, where the psalmist recounts who God is or what God has done. The focus of praise is on the Lord who reigns as king forever (145:1, 13); the psalm draws out key aspects of what that reign is like throughout the whole creation He has made.”[1]

This Psalm, from beginning to end, is about praising our great God. Some of you may be in a difficult circumstance as you read this and don’t feel like praising God. This Psalm is also for you. Part of the psalmist’s praise for who God is and what He has done focuses on His heart for the needy and afflicted. I love how in verse 3 the psalmist says that God’s greatness is unsearchable or without number. Nothing and no one can begin to compare to Him, and yet, in verse 18, David says that “The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.” Whatever your circumstance, our great God is near to you.

God’s compassion for the hurting is further illustrated. Verse 8 tells us that God is gracious, merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The word for abounding is the same Hebrew root word used in verse 3 for great and greatness, and again in Psalm 57:10, “For Your steadfast love is great to the heavens.” God’s love towards you extends to the heavens (beyond measure). Verse 9 states that God is good to all. Romans 8:28-29 confirms His goodness towards those who are in Christ.

God’s compassion for the hurting doesn’t stop there. Verse 14 encourages us that “the Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.” In verse 15, God gives food in due season. Verse 17 states that God’s kindness is in all His works. In verse 19, God “fulfills the desire of those who fear Him; He also hears their cry and saves them.” In verse 20, God “preserves all those who love Him.” Great is the Lord! And these were just the verses that speak directly to those who are hurting.

I have a friend who has experienced numerous losses of loved ones over the past couple years as well as health issues, parental care giving and other trials. She decided that regardless of circumstances, she was going to choose JOY, and she has shared that JOY journey with many others. It doesn’t mean she is ignoring the grief, pain or hardships, but in the midst of it all, her gaze is still fixed on her great God who is worthy of praise. So, she chooses JOY. She chooses praising God.

Psalm 145 begins with David choosing to praise God. “I will extol You, my God and King, and bless Your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless You and praise Your name forever and ever” (vs 1-2). He also declares that others will praise God (vs 4, 10b) and that creation praises God (vs 6-7, 10a, 11-12). We too can choose to praise God right here, right now, regardless of our circumstances. We can praise Him in the good times, and we can praise Him in the trials because God is great forever and ever. He is always worthy of all our praise.

Reflection

1. Read Psalm 145. Write down all the “God is” or “God does” statements. There are more of those statements than there are verses. God is worthy of all praise.

2. Which of the “God is” statements stood out to you personally? Especially if you are in a difficult situation right now, which “God is” statement was most encouraging to you?

3. How often do you praise God? Is it just a Sunday morning, corporate worship thing or throughout the week, throughout the day? Some ways you can grow in your praise is a thankful journal. Try to write down one thing each day. Write out cards or sticky notes with verses that praise God. Take the next 6 days to read Psalms 145-150. Use them as a launch pad for praising God. Listen to hymns and praise songs that specifically are praising God for who He is and what He has done.

[1] Futato, M. D. (2009). The Book of Psalms. In Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, Vol 7: The Book of Psalms, The Book of Proverbs (p. 427). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.