Psalm 145
"The LORD is near to all who call"
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- A verse number shows the Bible’s exact words.
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What does it say?
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The whole passage, in shortThe main points of the whole passage, in a few sentences.
David praises God his King every day: his greatness is beyond understanding, and one generation tells the next about his works. The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, and good to all. His kingdom lasts forever. He lifts up all who fall, and "the eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food in season." The LORD is near to all who call on him.
Where it is in the Bible: Psalm 145
Before You Read
Who wrote it. David (145:1). It's the last psalm in the book with his name on it.
What it is. A song of praise to God the King. Like Psalm 25, each verse starts with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
What it's about. God's greatness and his kindness. He is King of an everlasting kingdom, and he lifts up everyone who falls.
How to read it. Notice how often David says "all": all who fall, all who are bowed down, all who call on him.
Map of the Psalm
| Section | Verses | What it says |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Every Day I Will Bless You | 145:1-7 | Great is the LORD |
| 2. Gracious and Compassionate | 145:8-13 | His kingdom lasts forever |
| 3. He Lifts Up All Who Fall | 145:14-16 | The eyes of all look to him |
| 4. Near to All Who Call | 145:17-21 | God hears and saves |
Section by Section
Section 1 of 4Every Day I Will Bless You
"I will exalt You, my God and King; I will bless Your name forever and ever" (145:1).
"Every day I will bless You" (145:2).
"Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised; His greatness is unsearchable" (145:3).
Unsearchable means you can never get to the bottom of it.
"One generation will commend Your works to the next" (145:4). Parents tell children, and children tell their children.
Section 2 of 4Gracious and Compassionate
"The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion" (145:8).
"The LORD is good to all; His compassion rests on all He has made" (145:9).
Everything God made thanks him, and his people tell about his kingdom.
"Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures through all generations" (145:13).
Section 3 of 4He Lifts Up All Who Fall
"The LORD upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down" (145:14).
"The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food in season" (145:15).
"You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing" (145:16).
Section 4 of 4Near to All Who Call
God is fair and kind in everything he does.
"The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call out to Him in truth" (145:18).
"He hears their cry and saves them" (145:19).
"Let every creature bless His holy name forever and ever" (145:21).
Meaning
What does it mean?
Read It
What Does This Mean?
| The text says | It means |
|---|---|
| "My God and King" (145:1) | God is the true King. |
| "His greatness is unsearchable" (145:3) | God is greater than we can ever understand. |
| "One generation will commend Your works to the next" (145:4) | Faith is passed down. |
| "The LORD is good to all" (145:9) | God's kindness reaches everyone. |
| "Lifts up all who are bowed down" (145:14) | God helps people weighed down by trouble. |
| "You open Your hand" (145:16) | Every meal is God's gift. |
| "Near to all who call on Him" (145:18) | God is close when we pray. |
Back Then
Kings in the ancient world were often cruel and distant. David describes a King who is kind, near, and lifts up the fallen.
Jewish tradition says that whoever prays this psalm three times a day has a share in the world to come. It's prayed often in Jewish worship.
Literal Reader Alert
Does God give everyone everything they want? God "satisfies the desire of every living thing" by giving food and life. He knows what we truly need.
If God is good to all, why do people go hungry? God provides, and he calls his people to share. Hunger is often a sign that people haven't shared what God gave.
How People Feel
| Who | Feeling | Why |
|---|---|---|
| David | Full of praise | God is great (145:3) |
| The fallen | Lifted up | God holds them up (145:14) |
| Everyone | Satisfied | God opens his hand (145:16) |
For you
What does it mean for me?
Your Turn
Where do you need God today? Tap one.
I've fallen
The LORD upholds all who fall.
I'm weighed down
He lifts up all who are bowed down.
I'm about to eat
Pray verses 15-16. Every meal is his gift.
I feel far from God
The LORD is near to all who call on him.
You Might Have Heard
"God is too big to care about little things like dinner."
What's true: God is greater than we can understand.
What the passage is mainly about: The same psalm that says "His greatness is unsearchable" (145:3) also says "You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing" (145:16). The great King feeds the birds and you.
Where Jesus is: He fed the five thousand, lifted up the fallen, and taught us to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread."
Good News
The King is near.
"The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call out to Him in truth" (145:18).
He lifts up the fallen and opens his hand to feed his creatures.
The LORD is a great and everlasting King, and he is gracious and compassionate. He lifts up all who fall, feeds every living thing, and is near to all who call on him.
Big Idea
The LORD is a great and everlasting King, gracious and compassionate. He lifts up all who fall, opens his hand to feed every living thing, and is near to all who call on him.
If this passage brings up big feelings, talk with someone you trust, like a parent, pastor, or counselor.
For leaders and parentsLuther, church readings, and notes for teaching.
From Luther
In the Small Catechism, Luther teaches families to pray before meals: "The eyes of all look to You, O Lord, and You give them their food in due season. You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing."
In Church
Many churches follow the Revised Common Lectionary. It sings Psalm 145 on several summer Sundays, including the feeding of the five thousand in Years A and B.
We quote Luther for what he got right about grace. He also wrote terrible things about Jewish people. Read our note on that.
Memorize
How do I keep it?
One line from this story to learn by heart. Practice a little now. It will come back later so it sticks.
The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call out to Him in truth.
How did that feel?
Using this at church
Read in church on
- Lectionary 14 Year APsalm, Psalm 145:8-14
- Lectionary 17 Year BPsalm, Psalm 145:10-18
- Lectionary 18 Year APsalm, Psalm 145:8-9, 14-21
- Lectionary 25 Year APsalm, Psalm 145:1-8
For a newsletter or sermon notes
Psalm 145, explained in plain words. David praises the great King who lifts up all who fall and feeds every living thing. About 9 minutes. https://freescripture.org/stories/psalm-145/
Lines for the next eight Sundays, on Digital Lutheran Church