Psalms 145

Psalms 145:1

Psalm 145: The Missing NunDavid’s “Psalm of Praise” is an acrostic, each verse beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. However, in the traditional (Masoretic) Hebrew text, the letter “nun,” corresponding to our “n,” is missing between verses 13 and 14. The ancient Greek, Syriac, and Latin versions add the following: “The Lord is faithful in all His words, and gracious in all His works.” In the twentieth century this same linethe missing “nun” linewas also found in Hebrew in the Dead Sea Scrolls. 145:1-3 The theme of the Psalm is the greatness of the Lord. The psalmist is consumed with a holy determination to extol, bless and . . . praise his God and King both in time (every day) and in eternity (forever and ever). The gist of his endless song will be that God is great, that His greatness is worthy of great praise, and that His greatness is infinite in its dimensions. 145:4 The works and mighty acts of God will be extolled from one generation . . . to another. The song will never die. 145:5 The psalmist himself will gratefully meditate on the glorious splendor of God’s majesty as revealed in His wondrous works of deliverance. 145:6 Men shall rehearse the power of God’s awesome acts of judgment, and David will continue to declare the Lord’s greatness. 145:7 People everywhere will enthusiastically pour out the fame of the Lord’s great goodness. And the greatness of His righteousness will be the theme of joyful singing. 145:8 The Lord’s greatness extends to His grace and compassion. He is great in His self-control and great in mercy. 145:9, 10 His goodness extends to all, without discrimination, and He is compassionate toward all His creatures, without exception. All His works give thanks to Him, though inaudibly. Their very existence demonstrates His wisdom and power. And His saints join in blessing Him for His infinite perfections. 145:11-13 Then there is the greatness of His kingdom. His is the power and glory. His own people tell the rest of mankind the greatness of His deeds and the bright-shining perfections of His rule. The kingdom is everlasting, enduring throughout all generations. 145:14 The LORD is great in His preservation of those who are going down under the burdens of life. And He raises up those who have buckled under the pressures and problems. 145:15, 16 Then too, He is great in His provision. All creatures look to Him in dependence and in expectation, and He provides them their food as it is neededa marvelous organizational feat of growth, preparation, and distribution. With no greater effort than opening His hand, He feeds His numberless creatures throughout the universe. What a great God He is! 145:17 He is great in His righteousness and kindness. Nothing He does is wrong or unmerciful. Only in God do these virtues perfectly unite. 145:18 He is great in His condescension and availabilityalways near those who sincerely seek Him. 145:19 He is great in His salvation. No one who approaches Him in contrition and faith is ever turned away. 145:20 He is great in His watch-care over all who love Him. He invites them to cast all their cares on Him. Finally, He is great in His wrath. Eventually, all the wicked will be destroyed. 145:21 David’s mind was made upHe would praise this great God forever, and He would exhort everyone else to do the same. Which leads me to say this about the missing “nun”: While all the rest of the universe is praising the Lord, don’t you be the missing one!