Friday, June 22, 2018

Looking at PSALM 145

Psalm 145:

"This psalm is known for several distinguishing marks:
--it is the last acrostic psalm,
--the last Davidic psalm,
--the only psalm to be called a praise psalm in the superscription,
--and the first of the six great praise psalms that conclude the collection.
 
After the characteristic call to praise (verses 1-2),
David offers four key reasons to praise the Lord in the section called the cause for praise (verses 3-20).
*The Lord is great (verse 3),
*He is gracious and merciful (verses 8-9),
*He sustains all who fall (verse 14),
*and He is righteous in His ways and kind in His deeds (verse 17).
--The conclusion is a renewal of the call to praise (verse 21).
 
David penned this most exquisite conclusion
to his 75 psalms in the Psalter.
Here, the king of Israel extols and celebrates the King of Eternity
for who He is,
what He has done,
and what He has promised.
 
Not only rich in content, this psalm also duplicates a majestic acrostic design using the 22 letters of the Hebrew Alphabet. Psalm 145 begins the great crescendo of praise that completes the psalter and might be called “The Final Hallel” (Psalms 145-150).
I.          Commitment to Praise (145:1-2);
Every day will I bless thee; vs.2
II.         God’s Awesome Greatness (145:3-7);
Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; vs.3
III.       God’s Great Grace (145:8-13);
The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works. vs.9
IV.       God’s Unfailing Faithfulness (145:14-16);
The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down. vs.14
V.        God’s Unblemished Righteousness (145:17-20);
The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. vs.17
VI.       Recommitment/Exhortation to Praise (145:21).
My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever. vs.21.
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