Psalms

Psalms 145: Praise the great and gracious King

Begin in prayer

Before David promises praise for every day and generation, let us remember the goodness we have left unspoken. Ask the Lord to bring us to Jesus and give us truthful hearts and thankful voices.

It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked toward me.

Daniel 4:2

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word, and help us to see Christ. Show us that the great and gracious Lord reigns forever, feeds His creatures and saves those who fear Him. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

David vows daily and everlasting praise to God the King, whose greatness cannot be searched out. One generation will tell another His mighty acts, remembering His goodness and singing His righteousness. The gracious, merciful Lord is good to all, and His saints declare the glory of His everlasting kingdom. Faithful words and loving deeds belong to the King who upholds the falling and raises the bowed down. Every creature waits upon His open hand for food in season. The righteous Lord hears and saves those who fear Him, preserves those who love Him and draws near when people call in truth. The wicked will be destroyed, while David's mouth and all flesh are called to bless God's holy name forever.

As you read Psalms 145, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The great and gracious LORD reigns forever, feeds His creatures, saves those who fear Him and destroys the wicked.

David is a king, yet he begins by calling God his King. His daily praise grows into testimony that one generation passes to the next. The words gracious, merciful and slow to anger recall God's own description to Moses after Israel worshipped the golden calf. His people praise the King whose everlasting rule reaches down to lift the fallen and feed hungry creatures. Calling in truth brings a sincere heart before God, so prayer must agree with what the person means. He hears and saves those who fear Him and preserves all who love Him. He will destroy all the wicked, and all flesh is called to bless His holy name forever.

How does Psalm 145 show us that the great and gracious LORD reigns forever, feeds His creatures, saves those who fear Him and destroys the wicked?

The great LORD deserves daily praise told from one generation to another.

David will praise the King each day and forever. God's greatness cannot be searched out. Remembered works move from meditation into speech and song, giving the next generation knowledge of His goodness.

The gracious LORD rules forever and brings His goodness to the weak.

The Lord is merciful, slow to anger and good to all. His saints tell the glory of His everlasting kingdom. Faithful words and loving deeds include lifting those who fall and providing food for living creatures.

The LORD hears truthful prayer, keeps those who love Him and destroys the wicked.

God is near to all who call in truth. He hears and saves those who fear Him, and preserves those who love Him. The wicked will be destroyed, so His goodness calls for holy praise and reverence.

Memorise

Yahweh is near to all those who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

Psalm 145:18

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what thankless words must I bring to the Lord Jesus for forgiveness?

David sings, “Yahweh is near to all those who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” He hears and saves those who fear Him. His goodness deserves daily praise handed to the next generation.

Our thankless, insincere hearts have sinned against this righteous King. Jesus bore His people's punishment and died so that the guilty might be forgiven and brought near to God. He rose again. His completed obedience and sacrifice have paid their whole debt and secured their forgiveness, accomplishing the rescue their own praise could never earn.

Turn from empty words and trust the Lord Jesus. All who call upon Him in faith receive forgiveness. Tell someone younger one work that shows His goodness, and ask Him for a truthful heart in prayer. The LORD reigns forever and feeds His creatures, and His people praise Him every day.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the great and gracious Lord reigns forever, feeds His creatures and saves those who fear Him. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Praise the great and gracious King, tell His goodness and ask for truthful prayer and preserving love. Bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such to be his worshipers.

John 4:23

Great and gracious King, Your goodness reaches every living thing and Your kingdom endures forever. Please forgive our thankless words and bring us to Jesus for the pardon His completed sacrifice provides. Give our children truthful hearts that call upon You. Feed the hungry, lift the fallen, judge wickedness and make Your saving works known through our praise to coming generations. Amen.