Passing-Thought

Psalm 145 is the prelude for the crescendo of eschatological praises to Yahweh which conclude the Psalter.  Musically, the Psalter is moving inexorably from lament to endless praise and thanksgiving to God for all his works.  David the king, ordained to represent God’s eternal rule upon the earth, honors God as his eternal king:

I will extol You, my God, O King, And I will bless Your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless You, And I will praise Your name forever and ever.

(vv. 1-2)

David leads all people in this praise by teaching why all are to praise Yahweh:

³ Great is the LORD, and highly to be praised, And His greatness is unsearchable.

The amount of praise God deserves is proportional to his greatness.  The muchness of God warrants much praise. And David’s exemplary praise makes much of God.  But not only is God great, His greatness is “unsearchable”. Not only is it impossible to make too much of God’s muchness, but his muchness is for our getting lost in making much of him.  David praises God by inviting him to reflect upon the future implications of His greatness. His unsearchable greatness will be read and rehearsed through all future generations from the musical score of his redemptive works and the goodness of his covenant fidelity and saving justice.

⁴ One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts.

⁵ On the glorious splendor of Your majesty And on Your wonderful works, I will meditate.

⁶ Men shall speak of the power of Your awesome acts, And I will tell of Your greatness.

⁷ They shall eagerly utter the memory of Your abundant goodness And will shout joyfully of Your righteousness.

In this manner, David continues the rest of the psalm to delight in unpacking what remains eternally dense, even in its expansion.