Psalm 145

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 145:21

Let all flesh bless his holy name - He is good to all, wants to save all, actually feeds and preserves all. And as near as שמר shamar is to שמד shamad , so near is he a Savior to those who stand on the brink of destruction, if they will look to him. For the application of all this Psalm to the Church of Christ, see the analysis. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 145:1

Verse 1 1.I will extol thee, my God and my king. David does not so much tell what he would do himself, as stir up and urge all others to this religious service of offering to God the praises due to his name. The design with which he declares God to be beneficent to the children of men is, to induce them to cultivate a pious gratitude, he insists upon the necessity of persevering in the exercise; for since God is constant in extending mercies, it would be highly improper in us to faint in his... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 145:4

Verse 4 4.Generation to generation, etc. Here he insists upon the general truth, that all men were made and are preserved in life for this end, that they may devote themselves to the praise of God. And there is an implied contrast between the eternal name of God, and that immortality of renown which great men seem to acquire by their exploits. Human excellencies are eulogized in histories; with God it stands differently, for there is not a day in which he does not renew remembrance of his... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 145:7

Verse 7 7.They shall speak forth, etc. As the verb נבע, nabang, means properly to gush out, some suppose, that, as applied to speech, it means not simply speaking, but an overflowing utterance, like water rushing from a fountain, and the verb ירננו, yerannenu, in the close of the verse, answers to this, meaning to shout, or sing aloud. To celebrate the memory of the Lord’s goodness, is the same with recalling to memory what we have personally experienced of his goodness. We cannot deny God’s... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 145:8

Verse 8 8.Jehovah is gracious, etc. He opens up the goodness of which he spoke by using several expressions, as that God is inclined to mercy, (for such is the proper meaning of the word חנון, channun,) and that he helps us willingly, as one sympathizing with our miseries. It is to be noticed that David has borrowed the terms which he here applies to God from that celebrated passage in Exodus 34:6; and as the inspired writers drew their doctrine from the fountain of the law, we need not wonder... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 145:9

Verse 9 9.Jehovah is good to all, etc. The truth here stated is of wider application than the former, for the declaration of David is to the effect, that not only does God, with fatherly indulgence and clemency, forgive sin, but is good to all without discrimination, as he makes his sun to rise upon the good and upon the wicked. (Matthew 5:45.) Forgiveness of sin is a treasure from which the wicked are excluded, but their sin and depravity does not prevent God from showering down his goodness... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 145:10

Verse 10 10.All thy works, etc. Though many would suppress God’s praises, observing a wicked silence regarding them, David declares that they shine forth everywhere, appear of themselves, and are sounded, as it were, by the very dumb creatures. He then assigns the special work of declaring them to believers, who have eyes to perceive God’s works, and know that they cannot be employed better than in celebrating his mercies. What is added — they shall speak the glory of thy kingdom — I consider... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 145:14

Verse 14 14.Jehovah upholding all the falling. He gives instances of the goodness and mercy of God, such as make it evident that God reigns only for the promotion of the general welfare of mankind. Bythe falling, and those who are bowed down, he means figuratively those who are overwhelmed by adversity, and would sink at once, were not God to extend his hand for their support. God, in short, has respect to the troubles of men, and helps such as are in distress, so that all ought not only to... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 145:15

Verse 15 15.The eyes of all hope in thee. David adduces an additional proof of God’s goodness, in giving food to all living creatures, and thus showing himself in the character of the father of a family. Some interpreters, led by the term hope, which is employed, restrict the application to men, as being endued with reason and intelligence, to seek their food from their heavenly father, while the beasts seek it only in a gross manner, by sight or smell. But although not endued with the exercise... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 145:16

Verse 16 16.Thou openest thine hand, etc. The figure is a beautiful one. Most men pass over without observation the singular goodness of God apparent in this admirable ordering of things in nature, and David therefore represents him as stretching out his hand to distribute to the animals their food. We sinfully confine our attention to the earth which yields us our food, or to natural causes. To correct this error David describes God as opening his hands to put the food into our mouths. The... read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 145:21

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 145:1

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 145:4

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 145:7

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 145:8

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 145:9

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 145:10

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 145:14

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 145:15

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 145:16

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