Psalm 145 Part 1

The last of 9 acrostic psalms and the last of David’s psalms. It is a monumental anthem of praise learned from a lifetime of following the almighty. 
The opening word ‘To extol’ is to praise, to lift high, to exalt. David honoured and promoted the name of God in the most personal of ways: ‘You’ is a direct address, my God is a personal reference, ‘O King’ signifies a surrendered heart, and ‘forever and ever’ is unending. The opening word is addressed to “My Elohim” (plural for God.) Afterward, there are 9 references to Yahweh. While David was the king, by addressing God as King he is acknowledging the “King of Kings.”

To bless God ‘everyday’ is to praise him with personal affection. This exercise grows easier as we advance in experience and grow in grace. Notice how David piled praise upon praise, declaring God’s greatness and great worthiness to be praised. 
David looked for God’s people to encourage each other in praise. In the exhortation to intergenerational change (v4-7) an older generation might inspire a younger generation to praise by remembering God’s mighty acts in an extraordinary history. A young generation might stir praise in an older generation by declaring the fresh and new things God was doing. If only we would listen to each other we would joyfully add each chapter to the ‘wondrous works’ of God.

In this amazing psalm, David meditated not only on the great things God did (His wondrous works), but he also paid attention to God’s glorious splendour. The idea is of the glory and wonder of who God actually is. This knowledge should lead our song. The more we know of God the more acceptably shall we bless him through Jesus Christ. When we think of the aspects of God’s glorious splendour – His majesty, His wisdom, His constant presence, His complete knowledge, His unlimited power, His loving and wise plan and purpose for our eternal destiny – all this should stir up praise within us. This is over and above His ‘wondrous works’ of creation, His providence, rescue, salvation now, and in the age to come. This also should stir up praise within us.