Today is Super bowl Sunday. There is no bigger sports phenomena in the world for a combination of viewership, marketing, advertising and hype. As excited as people get for sporting events, it’s no exaggeration that there are Super bowl fanatics. Celebrating their favourite team, and player, they gather together today with their friends, and with great enthusiasm for this special event.
The final section of Davidic psalms (Ps. 138–145) is concluded by a song of praise in Psalm 145 that extols the universal kingship of God and his gracious and just provision for all his creatures. Psalm 145 is the capstone of all the acrostic, or alphabetic, psalms (see also 9–10; 25; 34; 37; 111–112; 119). Like four other acrostic psalms (9–10; 25; 34), this one is incomplete: the Hebrew alphabet having twenty-two letters, only twenty-one verses appearing in this psalm (Hindson, E. E., & Kroll, W. M. (Eds.). (1994). KJV Bible Commentary (p. 1185). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.).Among all the psalms with titles, this is the only one that uses the word ‘praise’ (Heb., tehillâh), which word also reappears in the final verse (‘in praise of the LORD’, tehillat yhwh). In heaven, we shall praise the Lord forever and forever, but now is the time to get prepared as we praise Him from day to day. No matter how dark and difficult the day may be, there is always something for which we can praise the Lord—even if it is only that the situation is not always this bad! (Wiersbe, W. W. (2004). Be exultant (1st ed., p. 210). Colorado Springs, CO: Cook Communications Ministries.)
People celebrate what they are most excited about. What runs through our minds and what is shown in our enthusiasm, shows what we delight in. Regardless of what we profess, we show what or whom we most value. It’s not hard to listen to our words, see in our enthusiasm and watch our activities to understand our value system. When God has transformed a heart and brought revival through His people there is a change in their thoughts, language, actions, but most specifically in their worship. Through The Revival of Praise and Worship, God and His actions is the language of a people’s praise, and the worshipful delight of their hearts.
In Psalm 145, we see The Revival of Praise & Worship through the adoration of 1) God’s Greatness (Psalm 145:1–6) 2) God’s Goodness (Psalm 145:7–10) 3) God’s Government (Psalm 145:11–13) and 4) God’s Grace (Psalm 145:14–21).
The Revival of Praise & Worship through the adoration of:
1) God’s Greatness (Psalm 145:1–6)
Psalm 145:1–6 I will extol 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, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. 4 One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. 5 On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate. 6 They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness. (ESV)
The language which opens this song of praise concerning the great king and his kingdom. With the expression: “I will”, each member of the congregation pledges (themselves) to this (Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 1122). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.).
• Worship begins with every person committing themselves to recognizing and humbling themselves before God. It is not something a leader does for them, or the collective effect, or even something Christ can do for you, but what He enables for you to do. He enables us to worship and praise my God and King.
To extol Him means to exalt or bless Him. In other words, to declare the praises and honors belonging to Him (Beeke, J. R., Barrett, M. P. V., & Bilkes, G. M. (Eds.). (2014). The Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible (p. 877). Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books.) At times when God was praised by his people, language such as that in these psalms (and David’s doxology in 1 Chron. 29:10–13) provided a reservoir from which appropriate expressions could be drawn. What does this ultimate King deserve? What can we give him when we come into his presence? It was usual to bring kings gifts, but there is no mere thing that we can give God that God does not possess already. Everything is already his. The only thing we can give is our praise, or worship. To extol and bless His name (Boice, J. M. (2005). Psalms 107–150: An Expositional Commentary (p. 1250). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.). To praise God’s name means responding to His revealed character; in this psalm (v:1, 11–13) (Lennox, S. J. (1999). Psalms: a Bible commentary in the Wesleyan tradition (p. 423). Indianapolis, IN: Wesleyan Publishing House.)
• Revival centers not around human accomplishments or feelings, but around awareness and praise of God the King. The evidence of true revival is seen in worship that is therefore not centered around human emotion or desire but around God and His kingdom. When this kind of worship begins to penetrate the use of time, talent and resources, from the family to the society, then we see the evidence for revival.
In verse 2, the pledge is given of constant praise: “every day…forever and ever”, that will be rendered to the King. Praise is worship; it is acknowledging God to be what he truly is: the sovereign, holy, just, righteous, merciful, awesome, and majestic God we discover him to be in Scripture. Worship is not coming to God to get things from him, though we are free to do that too. It is not even confessing our sins or pleading for grace, though these flow from worship naturally. It is acknowledging God to be God. Indeed, it is doing precisely what David does in the remainder of this composition. David is not going to praise God merely on the Sabbath, though the seventh day (or for us the first day of the week, Sunday) is explicitly set aside for that purpose. Rather, he is going to praise God “every day,” Monday through Sunday, “forever and ever” David’s belief was that he would be worshiping God in heaven even after his worship on earth was ended. You will be worshiping God forever also, along with the other redeemed saints from all other ages of world history. (Boice, J. M. (2005). Psalms 107–150: An Expositional Commentary (pp. 1250–1251). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.).
• Genuine revival will have a continuing effect. Emotionalism comes and goes based on current events. Genuine revival is the revival of praise and worship that begins now and continues into eternity.
The first half of verse 3 echoes Psalms 48:1 and 96:4. The Psalmist calls on the redeemed to worship indicating that the LORD is: “greatly to be praised”. This regards how we worship. The greatness is in the approach and manner. In our approach, it is one of preparation. In the manner, it is expected to be of genuine delight. God desires no mere rushed spectators but heart felt delight in Him. We are expected to worship Him in “spirit and in truth”. (Jn. 4:23).
The Psalmist in the second part of the verse acknowledges our limitation in worship that: “his greatness is unsearchable/no one can fathom”. God’s power and might are so great that finite human minds are unable to comprehend them fully. This verse teaches the doctrine of the incomprehensibility of God. People can have a true understanding of God but never a complete or exhaustive one.( Sproul, R. C. (Ed.). (2015). The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition) (p. 1000). Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust.)
This concept is reflected in Job 5:9; 9:10 and Isaiah 40:28. Here, the psalmist draws attention to the way in which the LORD God is distinguished from his creatures. His greatness is such that it does not come within human scrutiny, for He transcends all of his creation. No one is able to penetrate His depths of knowledge. God is so great that the human mind cannot fathom Him (Isa. 40:28; Job 5:9; 9:10; 11:7; Rom. 11:33; Eph. 3:8), but the human heart can love Him and tell others how great He is. God’s character and God’s awesome works furnish us with more material than we could ever exhaust, and we will have all of eternity to keep learning more! (Wiersbe, W. W. (2004). Be exultant (1st ed., p. 211). Colorado Springs, CO: Cook Communications Ministries.)
Please turn to Deuteronomy 6 (p.151)
God’s ‘works’ and ‘mighty acts’ are the subject of repeated praise in verse 4, generation after generation. It was part of the responsibility of parents and elders to teach successive generations about the great deeds of the LORD (cf. Deut. 6:4–9; cf. Psalm 78:1–8).
Deuteronomy 6:1-9 “Now this is the commandment—the statutes and the rules—that the LORD your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it, 2 that you may fear the LORD your God, you and your son and your son’s son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be long. 3 Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey. 4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (ESV)
• The reason for God’s commandments, statutes, and rules is for our welfare: v.2: “that your days may be long”. The instruction is for life, lit. “all the days of your life”. But the intent is not merely outward action, but inward heart change “that you may fear the LORD your God”. Our children and grandchildren will see that God is real in our lives when we truly revere Him, v. 4 we are “careful to do” His will and that our devotion, v.5 is “with all our heart, and with all our soul and with all our might”. V6 includes on our heart, In early Hebrew, “heart” included what we call the “mind”.( Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 341). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.)
• The responsibility is not of the corporate assembly or school but of mom and Dad to v.7 to “teach them diligently”, through every time, place and activity of our lives: “when we sit in our house, and when we walk by the way and when we lie down and when we rise”. Revival must happen in the home before it happens in the church.
In verse 5, as the people meditated upon what the LORD had done in Psalm 145:4, they would be moved to praise the wonder of his actions in creation and redemption. The cluster of terms referring to God’s person and works emphasizes his exalted position and His great power. 5 On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
• When one aspect of God becomes our default or predominate focus, like His love, it is easy to reduce who He is, to one that responds of our selfish wants. But when His complete person and works are compared, then our hearts and minds are revived and directed in true praise and worship.
Finally, the summary of God’s works in verse 6 characterized as: “awesome deeds” reflecting His “greatness” is to draw attention to the overwhelming power and majesty of God’s actions. To celebrate God’s goodness is clearly to take part in praiseful worship, as the worshiper will: “declare (His) greatness”.
Illustration: In a book entitled Is a Blue Whale the Biggest Thing There Is? Robert Wells takes us from a size we can grasp to one we can’t. The largest animal on earth is the blue whale. Just the flippers on its tail are bigger than most animals on earth. But a blue whale isn’t anywhere near as big as a mountain. If you put one hundred blue whales in a huge jar, you could put millions of whale jars inside a hollowed-out Mount Everest. But Mount Everest isn’t anywhere near as big as the earth. If you stacked one hundred Mount Everests on top of one another, it would be just a whisker on the face of the earth. And the earth isn’t anywhere near as big as the sun. You could fit one million earths inside of the sun. But the sun, which is a medium-size star, isn’t anywhere near as big as a red supergiant star called Antares. Fifty million of our suns could fit inside of Antares. But Antares isn’t anywhere near as big as the Milky Way galaxy. Billions of stars, including supergiants like Antares, as well as countless comets and asteroids, make up the Milky Way galaxy. But the Milky Way galaxy isn’t anywhere near as big as the universe. There are billions of other galaxies in the universe. And yet, filled with billions of galaxies, the universe is almost totally empty. The distances from one galaxy to another are beyond our imagination. And the Creator of this universe is God, who with a Word spoke it all into being, who is present everywhere in this universe and beyond, who upholds it all with his mighty power. Great is our God and greatly to be praised! (Larson, C. B. (2002). 750 engaging illustrations for preachers, teachers & writers (p. 201). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.)
The Revival of Praise & Worship through the adoration of:
2) God’s Goodness (Psalm 145:7–10)
Psalm 145:7–10 They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness. 8 The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 9 The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. 10 All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD, and all your saints shall bless you! (ESV)
The awesome deeds of God spring forth from His “goodness”. Genuine worship recounts His: “abundant goodness” and singing aloud of His “righteousness”. His goodness is not earned but an “abundant” overflow of His desire to bless. If His people will not long after His “abundant goodness”, then they seek pleasure in sin. Since He is holy and “righteous”. He will not wink at sin or turn a blind eye at rebellion. His “abundant goodness” is only an outflow of His righteousness.
Please turn to Romans 8 (p.944)
God’s own declaration of his character in verse 8 (Exod. 34:6) once more forms the basis for praise (cf. Pss. 86:5 and 103:8). God is “gracious and merciful”. The word ‘gracious’ (channûn) comes first in the Hebrew text in order to fit the acrostic pattern. He is “slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love”. Showing wrath is not God’s preferred option; he gives humans time to repent.( Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 1123). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.) Towards all his creation the LORD shows himself as the God of abundant love and compassion. While God’s unfailing love (chesed in Hebrew) is often defined as His covenant love, this verse locates it within God’s nature, not just in His commitments and actions. ( cf. Ps 25:10)( Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Ps 145:8). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.)
The Lord’s grace and mercy is climactically poured out in the salvation in Christ
Romans 8:31-34 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. (ESV)
• Beginning in v.31 with a rhetorical question that assumes the negative, Paul shows God’s grace and mercy in an argument from the greater to the lessor. Since God has given us the greater measure of abundant love in the sacrifice of His son, won’t he give the lesser gift (v. 32) of graciously giving us all things necessary for life and godliness? God shows His mercy to us in forgiving confessed sin and showing the sacrifice of Christ to be acceptable to pay the penalty of that sin, in v. 34, by raising Christ from the dead. He continues to show His covenant faithfulness in having Christ be our continuing intercessor.
Verse 9 describes God as: “good to all”. Although this applies to His “common grace” in sending rain on the just and the unjust (Mt. 5:45) the ultimate evidence of this is in the end of the verse here, describing how: “his mercy is over all that he has made”. Because God is longsuffering and patient, calling people to repentance, the moment He does not strike down everyone the moment they sin and transgress His holy law, He is showing mercy.
Both human beings and inanimate creation are depicted as rendering give thanks to God in verse 10. Divine Revelation is reflected in all God has created, as Ps. 19:1 expresses: The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. His providential care extends to his believing followers (Matt. 6:25–34). In teaching his disciples, Jesus applied the principle of God’s care of the birds to show how much more The faithful followers described here as “all your saints shall bless you!” refers to praise believers will offer, which can be seen in those followers exercising covenant loyalty in their relationship with God and (fellow human beings) (Hughes, R. B., & Laney, J. C. (2001). Tyndale concise Bible commentary (p. 227). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.).
Illustration: Samuel Scull settled on a farm in the Arizona desert with his wife and children. One night a fierce desert storm struck with rain, hail, and high wind. At daybreak, feeling sick and fearing what he might find, Samuel went to survey their loss. The hail had beaten the garden and truck patch into the ground; the house was partially unroofed; the henhouse had blown away, and dead chickens were scattered about. Destruction and devastation were everywhere. While standing dazed, evaluating the mess and wondering about the future, he heard a stirring in the lumber pile that was the remains of the henhouse. A rooster was climbing up through the debris, and he didn’t stop climbing until he had mounted the highest board in the pile. That old rooster was dripping wet, and most of his feathers were blown away. But as the sun came over the eastern horizon, he flapped his bony wings and proudly crowed. That old, wet, bare rooster could still crow when he saw the morning sun. And like that rooster, our world may be falling apart, we may have lost everything, but if we trust in God, we’ll be able to see the light of God’s goodness, pick ourselves out of the rubble, and sing the Lord’s praise (Larson, C. B. (2002). 750 engaging illustrations for preachers, teachers & writers (pp. 411–412). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.).
The Revival of Praise & Worship through the adoration of:
3) God’s Government (Psalm 145:11–13)
Psalm 145:11–13 11 They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power, 12 to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. [The LORD is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.] (ESV)
The ‘Kingdom’ here conveys the idea of the universal reign of God over all of creation. The Redeemed have the task of proclaiming the greatness of God and the glorious nature of his kingdom. The purpose of this proclamation has a missionary intent, in that all people may come to know how gracious and condescending God is in coming to us.
When revival happens in the people of God, the effect is not contained with them as verse 12 indicates. When we experience the greatest events in our lives, we will want to share it. There is a drive “to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom”. It is shared not so much as a duty, but as delight. If we love others, we desire the best for them. When we can observe and articulate from our lives the glorious workings of God, then we have a compelling testimony. The things of this world (cares/worries) grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.
The assertion in verse 13 that “Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations”, expresses the fact that: ‘The LORD will reign for ever and ever’ (Exod. 15:18), and similar words occur in Daniel 4:3 and 4:34. Unlike earthly kingdoms, God’s kingdom is not temporary but eternal. God’s kingship over his people administered through Christ, the Davidic Messiah (Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 1123). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.).
“All generations” can testify to His mighty acts (v. 4) because the LORD shows utter dependability. His words stand sure, and having made a commitment He upholds His creation and in this way demonstrates his faithfulness. The last part of this verse is in brackets: [The LORD is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.] Verse 13c, d represents the fourteenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, the letter nun; these lines are missing in the Masoretic text, but they are found in the Septuagint and the Syriac, and in the margin of one Hebrew manuscript. The word ‘faithful/loving’ is a Hebrew word (châsîd) used here of God, whereas it more commonly is used of his loyal covenant servants (cf. Pss. 4:3; 12:1; 18:25; and 31:23). (Bratcher, R. G., & Reyburn, W. D. (1991). A translator’s handbook on the book of Psalms (p. 1166). New York: United Bible Societies.)
Poem: 1911 An Eye That Never Sleeps
There is an eye that never sleeps, Beneath the wing of night; There is an ear that never shuts, When sink the beams of light; There is an arm that never tires. When human strength gives way; There is a love that never fails, When earthly loves decay (Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (p. 488). Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc.).
Finally, The Revival of Praise & Worship through the adoration of:
4) God’s Grace (Psalm 145:14–21)
Psalm 145:14-21 14 The LORD upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. 15 The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. 16 You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing. 17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works. 18 The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. 19 He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them. 20 The LORD preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. 21 My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever. (ESV)
Verse 14 is a statement of the general and repeated actions of the LORD. He upholds/sustains those who are stumbling (Pss. 37:17, 24; 54:4; 119:116) and raises up/restores those bowed down in distress or by humiliation (Ps. 18:6). He is faithful, and ever concerned for those in trouble—stumbling on life’s way, bowed down with afflictions; these he supports and raises up.( Eaton, J. (2003). The Psalms: a historical and spiritual commentary with an introduction and new translation (p. 474). London; New York: T&T Clark.)
The language and ideas in verse 15 are very close to Psalm 104:27–28. Both people and animals are fed from the hands of a gracious creator who, as the heavenly Father, cares even for those who neither sow nor reap (Matt. 6:26). They are given food in due season. In life there are seasons of plenty and lean seasons. The creatures of nature are not slothful in gathering and storing for lean times. Humanity must learn trust and be diligent to prepare for those times when we must wait.
Please turn to Philippians 4 (p.982)
Like a good father who desires His children to seek him, verse 16 describes how God desires to open His hand, to satisfy the desire of every living thing. What the animals need from God is food. Men and women need many things, but what we need most of all is God. Saint Augustine said in his Confessions: “Thou hast formed us for thyself, and our hearts are restless, till they rest in thee.” God promises to give us himself if we come to him through Christ. Then he also meets every other right desire we may have (Boice, J. M. (2005). Psalms 107–150: An Expositional Commentary (p. 1254). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.).
Paul testified in Philippians 4:
Philippians 4:15-20 15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. 18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
• One of the ways God will satisfy the desire of every living thing is to use human secondary means to accomplish this satisfaction. Those who are generous toward God will find that he is generous toward them and will supply their every need … in Christ Jesus. He promises not to satisfy the want, but the need. Peter wrote, “His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence” (2 Peter 1:3).True revival finds its source and satisfaction in God.
In the manner in which He operates, verse 17 describes how the LORD always deals in accordance with the norms he has set. He is gracious and righteous (Ps. 116:5), and His laws are right (Ps. 119:137). Verse 17b is the repetition of verse 13b. God is upright, or just, in responding to those who have needs and call on him, those who are in peril and seek salvation (Boice, J. M. (2005). Psalms 107–150: An Expositional Commentary (p. 1254). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.).
While those far off from the LORD will not know His ready response to their cry (Isa. 29:13), verse 18 indicates how, for those: who call on Him in truth He is ready to respond by drawing near to help. He whose commands are true is ever near (Ps. 119:151).
The LORD’S people in verse 19 are described by two terms also used elsewhere in the Psalms. They are ‘those who fear him’ (22:23; 25:12, 14; 33:18; 119:63) and those , in verse 20, ‘who love him’ (5:11; 97:10; 119:132). Love and reverence for the LORD are fully compatible. Here the ‘desire’ is not for food (cf. v. 16) but for salvation/deliverance from danger or distress. While the wicked are brought to destruction, the LORD preserves his own people (Hebrew shâmar, the same verb as in Ps. 121:7–8). As in verse 14, the participial form (‘watches over’, shômêr) conveys the idea of continuous action. In contrast, the wicked will be destroyed by decisive divine action.
Finally, the opening call to praise (vv. 1–2) is resumed in verse 21, but carried a stage further. Not only will the psalmist engage in praise, but he calls on all creatures to share in it. “All flesh/Every creature’ (Heb., kol-bâsâr, ) may refer only to humans (Ps. 65:2), but the similar phrase ‘everything that has breath’ (kol-neshâmâh) describes humans and animals in Psalm 150:6. Therefore the psalm ends with an invitation to all living things to join in perpetual praise to the LORD. This psalm provides an excellent concluding summary for Psalms, since it emphasizes the providential and redemptive love of the Lord, which is the theme of the whole book (Brug, J. F. (1989). Psalms 73–150 (2nd ed., p. 273). Milwaukee, WI: Northwestern Pub. House.)
(Format Note: Some base commentary from Harman, A. (2011). Psalms: A Mentor Commentary (Vol. 1–2, pp. 989–995). Ross-shire, Great Britain: Mentor.)
