Psalm 145

1 Ein Lobgesang. Von David. Ich will dich erheben, mein Gott, du König, und deinen Namen preisen immer und ewiglich.

2 Jeden Tag will ich dich preisen, und deinen Namen loben immer und ewiglich.

3 Groß ist Jehova und sehr zu loben, und seine Größe ist unerforschlich.

4 Ein Geschlecht wird dem anderen rühmen deine Werke, und deine Machttaten werden sie verkünden.

5 Reden will ich von der herrlichen Pracht deiner Majestät und von deinen Wundertaten.

6 Und sie werden sprechen von der Kraft deiner furchtbaren Taten, und deine Großtaten werde ich erzählen.

7 Das Gedächtnis deiner großen Güte werden sie hervorströmen lassen, und deine Gerechtigkeit jubelnd preisen.

8 Gnädig und barmherzig ist Jehova, langsam zum Zorn und groß an Güte.

9 Jehova ist gut gegen alle, und seine Erbarmungen sind über alle seine Werke.

10 Es werden dich loben, Jehova, alle deine Werke, und deine Frommen dich preisen.

11 Sie werden sprechen von der Herrlichkeit deines Reiches und werden reden von deiner Macht,

12 um den Menschenkindern kundzutun seine Machttaten und die prachtvolle Herrlichkeit seines Reiches.

13 Dein Reich ist ein Reich aller Zeitalter, und deine Herrschaft durch alle Geschlechter hindurch.

14 Jehova stützt alle Fallenden und richtet auf alle Niedergebeugten.

15 Aller Augen warten auf dich, und du gibst ihnen ihre Speise zu seiner Zeit;

16 Du tust deine Hand auf und sättigst alles Lebendige nach Begehr.

17 Jehova ist gerecht in allen seinen Wegen und gütig in allen seinen Taten.

18 Nahe ist Jehova allen, die ihn anrufen, allen, die ihn anrufen in Wahrheit.

19 Er tut das Verlangen derer, die ihn fürchten; ihr Schreien hört er und rettet sie.

20 Jehova bewahrt alle, die ihn lieben, und alle Gesetzlosen vertilgt er.

21 Mein Mund soll das Lob Jehovas aussprechen; und alles Fleisch preise seinen heiligen Namen immer und ewiglich!

Psalm 145 Commentary

Chapter 145

David extols the power, goodness, and mercy of the Lord. (1-9) The glory of God's kingdom, and his care of those that love him. (10-21)

Verses 1-9 Those who, under troubles and temptations, abound in fervent prayer, shall in due season abound in grateful praise, which is the true language of holy joy. Especially we should speak of God's wondrous work of redemption, while we declare his greatness. For no deliverance of the Israelites, nor the punishment of sinners, so clearly proclaims the justice of God, as the cross of Christ exhibits it to the enlightened mind. It may be truly said of our Lord Jesus Christ, that his words are words of goodness and grace; his works are works of goodness and grace. He is full of compassion; hence he came into the world to save sinners. When on earth, he showed his compassion both to the bodies and souls of men, by healing the one, and making wise the other. He is of great mercy, a merciful High Priest, through whom God is merciful to sinners.

Verses 10-21 All God's works show forth his praises. He satisfies the desire of every living thing, except the unreasonable children of men, who are satisfied with nothing. He does good to all the children of men; his own people in a special manner. 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. He is very ready to hear and answer the prayers of his people. He is present every where; but in a special way he is nigh to them, as he is not to others. He is in their hearts, and dwells there by faith, and they dwell in him. He is nigh to those that call upon him, to help them in all times of need. He will be nigh to them, that they may have what they ask, and find what they seek, if they call upon him in truth and sincerity. And having taught men to love his name and holy ways, he will save them from the destruction of the wicked. May we then love his name, and walk in his ways, while we desire that all flesh should bless his holy name for ever and ever.

Chapter Summary

David's [Psalm] of praise. This psalm is rendered by Ainsworth "a hymn of David"; and the whole book of Psalms is from hence called "the Book of Hymns"; see Ephesians 5:19; It seems to have been a psalm David took great delight in, and it may be that he often repeated and sung it, as it was made by him with great care and contrivance, in a very curious manner, as well as he was assisted in it by divine inspiration; for it is wrote in an alphabetical order, each verse: beginning with the letter of the alphabet in course, and goes through the whole, excepting one letter; and very probably it was composed in this form that it might be the more easily committed to memory, and retained in it. The Jews have a very high opinion of it; their Rabbins say, that whoever says this psalm thrice every day may be sure of being a child of the world to come. This is mentioned by Arama and Kimchi; and which the latter explains thus, not he that says it any way, but with his mouth, and with his heart, and with his tongue. It seems to have been written by David after the Lord had granted him all his requests put up in the preceding psalms, and had given him rest from all his enemies; and when he turned his prayers into praises; for this psalm is wholly praise from one end to the other; and so are all the five following ones; they begin and end with "hallelujah": nor is there a single petition in them, as I remember; so that it may in some sense be said, "here the prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended." It no doubt, as Cocceius observes, belongs to the Messiah and his kingdom, which is everlasting, Psalm 145:13.