Go! And Praise: Living In The Presence Of A Mighty God - Psalm 145 Series

Go! And Praise: Living in the Presence of a Mighty God - Psalm 145

Introduction

Imagine standing at the edge of a vast canyon. The wind whispers through the cliffs, and you look down to see a river carving its way through the earth, persistent, powerful, unstoppable. You cannot stop it; you cannot contain it. And in that moment, you feel awe, humility, even reverence.

This is the kind of awe the psalmist David is inviting us to in Psalm 145. It is a call to magnify the Lord, to praise Him daily, and to declare His greatness. But David’s psalm is not just about words—it’s about relationship. It’s about recognising God’s goodness, mercy, and faithfulness, and responding with a heart fully surrendered to Him.

Today, in our Go! And… series, we will explore how we can Go! And praise the Lord in a world that often ignores His majesty, and how praising God transforms our lives today.

Psalm 145 (NLT):

1 I will exalt you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever.

2 Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever.

3 Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness.

4 One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts.

5 They speak of the glorious splendour of your majesty and I will meditate on your wonderful works.

6 They tell about the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your mighty deeds.

7 They celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

8 The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.

9 The Lord is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation.

10 All your works will thank you, Lord, and your faithful followers will bless you.

11 They will speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell about your mighty power,

12 so that all people may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendour of your kingdom.

13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. You rule throughout all generations.

The Lord always keeps his promises; he is gracious in all he does.

14 The Lord helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath the weight of oppression.

15 The eyes of all look to you in hope, and you give them their food at the proper time.

16 You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does.

18 The Lord is near to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth.

19 He will fulfil the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cries and saves them.

20 The Lord protects all who love him, but he destroys the wicked.

21 I will praise the Lord! All people will join me in praising him—yes, forever!

Point 1 – Magnify the Lord Daily (Psalm 145:1–3)

“I will exalt you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness.”

David begins with a personal commitment: he will exalt God. The Hebrew word for “exalt” here is ruwm, meaning to lift up, to make high. It is an active, intentional lifting of God above all else in our lives.

David, the shepherd-king, understood daily dependence on God. His psalm was both a personal devotion and a communal encouragement for Israel to see God’s greatness as the foundation of worship.

In a world where schedules are busy and stress is relentless, praising God can easily slip from our routine. Yet, the psalm reminds us: every day is an opportunity to lift God high. Whether it’s in traffic, at work, or at home, we can “bless His name.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 (NLT): “Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Hebrews 13:15 (NLT): “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name.”

Max Lucado writes, “When you focus on God’s goodness, your heart overflows with praise, and worry loses its grip.”

Imagine a lighthouse shining every night, never failing to point the way. Our daily praise is like that light—guiding our hearts and reminding us that God’s greatness never wavers.

Point 2 – God’s Kingdom Is Compassionate and Just (Psalm 145:8–9, 17–19)

“The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. The Lord is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation... The Lord is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does. The Lord is near to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth. He will fulfil the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cries and saves them.”