In Nos. 56 and 62 of "An Outline" we have seen how the full Hebrew alphabet of twenty-two letters has been used in commencing each verse or series of verses, in Proverbs 31 and Psalm 119: Psalms 25, 34 and 145 are also alphabetical psalms, but in this last, the Holy Spirit has seen fit to omit the Hebrew letter Nun, so that there are only twenty-one verses in this psalm. How very fitting it is that this psalm should have the title. "David's psalm of praise," for it immediately precedes the last five psalms, each of which begins and ends with "Praise ye the Lord," or "Hallelujah."
The Name of Jehovah, the covenant-keeping God of Israel, who brought His people into relationship with Himself, is used throughout by the psalmist, save in Ps. 145:1, where he addresses the self-subsisting. Eternal One as "My Elohim, O King." He extols his God, blesses Him every day, looks forward to the time of His kingdom, for then he will praise His Name for ever and ever. These first two verses form the introductory section of the psalm, and express the feelings of the godly remnant of Israel in view of the coming kingdom of Messiah, the God of Israel.
Ps. 145:3-7 form the second section of the psalm, and is occupied with the greatness of Jehovah, which is beyond all searching; and He is to be praised exceedingly. The works of Jehovah are praised by each generation to the one that succeeds it, and they declare His mighty acts, for "He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel."
David could speak personally of "the glorious honour" of Jehovah's majesty, and of His wondrous works; and the remnant could join to tell of His terrible acts, and of the great deeds declared by the psalmist. In the coming day, the godly remnant of Israel will learn afresh the greatness of Jehovah's power, when the Lord Himself comes to deliver them from their foes, and to subjugate all who have opposed them. In that day there shall be the fulfilment of the words, "They shall abundantly utter the memory of Thy great goodness, and shall sing of Thy righteousness" (verse 7).
In the next section, Ps. 145:8-12, we have the thoughts and feelings of the remnant as they ponder the coming kingdom. They have known Jehovah as "gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger and of great mercy." Nor is His goodness confined to Israel, for He is "good to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works." When the Lord takes His kingdom, all His works shall praise Him, and all His saints shall bless Him. To the "children of men," to all who have ears to hear, the remnant, blessed of God, will find their delight in making known the power and mighty acts of their Lord, and in speaking of the glory and splendour of His kingdom.
The fourth section begins in Ps. 145:13 by proclaiming that Jehovah's kingdom "is a kingdom of all ages," and takes us down to verse 20, in which the psalmist speaks of Jehovah preserving those who love Him, and destroying the wicked, which He will indeed do before His millennial kingdom is introduced. Jehovah's dominion will never give place to another, for "Thy dominion is throughout all generations."
While waiting for the coming kingdom, the godly remnant prove the unfailing care of Jehovah, for He "upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down." Their eyes are waiting upon Him, and he sustains them whatever the conditions through which they are passing. The One who meets their needs has infinite resources, from which He satisfies "the desire of every living thing."
On account of the rejection of Messiah, Israel will have to pass through a time of unparalleled suffering, the "time of Jacob's trouble," but the remnant will be brought through it all by the Lord. In their sorrow they know that "the Lord is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works." They have confidence in the Lord, saying that He is near to those who in truth call upon Him, and He will grant the desire of those who fear Him, hearing their cry, and coming to save them. While the divine judgments are poured out, "The Lord preserveth all them that love Him: but all the wicked He will destroy."
The features of the godly remnant are clearly marked in these verses. They wait upon the Lord, they call upon Him in truth, they fear Him, and they love Him, and they have confidence in His care for them and in His salvation.
Ps. 145:21 is the closing section, and speaks of what shall mark the coming kingdom. The leader of the praise says, "My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord," then he calls upon all flesh to "bless His holy Name for ever and ever." Are we not reminded by these words of Him who says, "My praise shall be of Thee in the great congregation … all the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before Thee"? (Psalm 22:25, 27).
The omission of the letter Nun by the Spirit of God would surely suggest that Psalm 145 could not supply the full measure of Jehovah's praise. All the praise of the five following psalms are necessary, the Hallelujahs of the beginnings and the endings, to fill up the tribute of praise on earth, and "in His sanctuary," and in the "firmament of His power." To give full measure, there is also needed the tributes of praise of Revelation 5:9-14, and the Hallelujahs of Revelation 19:1-6, praise that shall fill heaven, and the wide universe of God, praise to God and to the Lamb.
H. Taberner.