GREATNESS-Psalm 145
Forever: “Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations” (Ps 145:13).
GREATNESS: “I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom” (Ps 145:1-3).
GOD’S GREATNESS and KINGDOM FOREVER. Outline:
- Praise (Ps 145:1-2, 21).
- Works [Deeds] (Ps 145:3-7).
- Compassion (Ps 145:8-9).
- Kingdom (Ps 145:10-13).
- Provision (Ps 145:14-16).
- Righteousness (Ps 145:17-20).
Psalm 145 is the last psalm of David, and the last of 8 acrostics where each verse begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet, of which no less than 5 bear his name. The motif and overarching theme of Psalm 145 are God’s attributes and acts [who God is and what he does]: it is the praise and exaltation of God for His greatness, goodness, and the everlasting kingdom of God. It is recited in the 3 daily synagogue prayer services. The alternation between speaking to God and speaking about God in the 3rd person is typical of many psalms.
Questions:
- How would you evaluate and assess your own life of “praising God” (Ps 145:1-3, 10, 21)? Of meditating on God’s “wonderful works” (Ps 145:5)?
- Why is God “most worthy of praise” (Ps 145:3)?
- Do you praise God with your feeling and emotion (Dt 6:5)? And/Or with your thoughtful reflection (Phil 4:8)?
- What does the repeated “I will” teach you about praising God (Ps 145:1-2, 5-6)?
- Why this repetition words, synonyms or phrases in this psalm (Ps 145:1-3, 21; 4-7, 10-13; 8-9, 14-16, 18-20)?
- What do you mainly speak about to others (Ps 145:4-6, 11; 2 Tim 2:15; 4:1-2)? How (1 Pet 3:15)? Why tell the next generation (Ps 145:4; 2 Tim 2:2)?
- Does this change your perspective on your daily life and challenges?
- How does this psalm portray the character of God (Ps 145:3, 8-9; Exo 34:6)?
- What attributes are mentioned (Ps 145:3-6, 7, 13, 17, 20)?
- In the face of crosses and losses, suffering and tragedy how is God good to all (Ps 145:9; Mt 5:45)?
- Does this psalm encourage you to respond to God’s greatness and goodness (Ps 145:8-9, 14-15, 18-20)?
- Do you experience God upholding/lifting you when you are falling (Ps 145:14)?
- How many times is the word “all” repeated (Ps 145:13-20)? What does this teach you about God?
- How might this psalm foreshadow the coming of Christ and His kingdom (Ps 145:13, 19, 20)?