Psalms 145
Psalms 145 is part of “Book V: The Deuteronomy Book” (107–150) in the outline of Psalms.
Psalms 145 summary
The five foregoing psalms were all of a piece, all full of prayers; this, and the five that follow it to the end of the book, are all of a piece too, all full of praises; and though only this is entitled David's psalm yet we have no reason to think but that they were all his as well as all the foregoing prayers. And it is observable, 1. That after five psalms of prayer follow six psalms of praise; for those that are much in prayer shall not want matter for praise, and those that have sped in prayer must abound in praise. Our thanksgivings for mercy, when we have received it, should even exceed our supplications for it when we were in pursuit…
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The five foregoing psalms were all of a piece, all full of prayers; this, and the five that follow it to the end of the book, are all of a piece too, all full of praises; and though only this is entitled David's psalm yet we have no reason to think but that they were all his as well as all the foregoing prayers. And it is observable, 1. That after five psalms of prayer follow six psalms of praise; for those that are much in prayer shall not want matter for praise, and those that have sped in prayer must abound in praise. Our thanksgivings for mercy, when we have received it, should even exceed our supplications for it when we were in pursuit of it. David, in the last of his begging psalms, had promised to praise God (Psa 145:9), and here he performs his promise. 2. That the book of Psalms concludes with psalms of praise, all praise, for praise, is the conclusion of the whole matter; it is that in which all the psalms centre. And it intimates that God's people, towards the end of their life, should abound much in praise, and the rather because, at the end of their life, they hope to remove to the world of everlasting praise, and the nearer they come to heaven the more they should accustom themselves to the work of heaven. This is one of those psalms which are composed alphabetically (as Ps. 25 and Ps. 34, etc.), that it might be the more easily committed to memory, and kept in mind. The Jewish writers justly extol this psalm as a star of the first magnitude in this bright constellation; and some of them have an extravagant saying concerning it, not much unlike some of the popish superstitions, That whosoever will sing this psalm constantly three times a day shall certainly be happy in the world to come. In this psalm, I. David engages himself and others to praise God (Psa 145:1, Psa 145:2, Psa 145:4-7, Psa 145:10-12). II. He fastens upon those things that are proper matter for praise, God's greatness (v . 3), his goodness (Psa 145:8, Psa 145:9), the proofs of both in the administration of his kingdom (Psa 145:13), the kingdom of providence (Psa 145:14-16), the kingdom of grace (Psa 145:17-20), and then he concludes with a resolution to continue praising God (Psa 145:21) with which resolution our hearts must be filled, and in which they must be fixed, in singing this psalm. David's psalm of praise.
Source: Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Key verses in Psalms 145
Psalms 145 (GNV)
Geneva Bible 1599 (public domain)
I Will Extol You, My God and King
1A Psalme of David of Praise. O my God and King, I will extold thee, and will blesse thy Name for euer and euer. 2I will blesse thee dayly, and prayse thy Name for euer and euer. 3Great is the Lord, and most worthy to be praysed, and his greatnes is incomprehensible. 4Generation shall praise thy works vnto generation, and declare thy power. 5I wil meditate of the beautie of thy glorious maiestie, and thy wonderfull workes, 6And they shall speake of the power of thy fearefull actes, and I will declare thy greatnes. 7They shall breake out into the mention of thy great goodnes, and shall sing aloude of thy righteousnesse. 8The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great mercie. 9The Lord is good to all, and his mercies are ouer all his workes. 10All thy workes prayse thee, O Lord, and thy Saints blesse thee. 11They shewe the glory of thy kingdome, and speake of thy power, 12To cause his power to be knowen to the sonnes of men, and the glorious renoume of his kingdome. 13Thy kingdome is an euerlasting kingdome, and thy dominion endureth throughout all ages. 14The Lord vpholdeth all that fall, and lifteth vp all that are ready to fall. 15The eyes of all waite vpon thee, and thou giuest them their meate in due season. 16Thou openest thine hand, and fillest all things liuing of thy good pleasure. 17The Lord is righteous in all his wayes, and holy in all his workes. 18The Lord is neere vnto all that call vpon him: yea, to all that call vpon him in trueth. 19He wil fulfill the desire of them that feare him: he also wil heare their cry, and wil saue them. 20The Lord preserueth all them that loue him: but he will destroy all the wicked. 21My mouth shall speake the prayse of the Lord, and all flesh shall blesse his holy Name for euer and euer.