3. The unending life of the singer.— C. A. D.
Verses 1-2. The four "I wills" of praise. Praise to the King; praise to the divine character; praise for all time; praise for all eternity.
Verse 2. Every day; for ever.
1. Day by day for ever God and I will endure.
2. Day by day for ever our present relations will continue. He the God, I the creature; he the Father, I the child; he the blessing, I the blest.
3. Day by day for ever he shall have my homage.— W. B. H.
Verse 3.
1. The dignity of man is here implied in his capacity for praising God greatly.
2. His immortality in his capacity for praising his unsearchable greatness.— G. R.
Verse 3. ( last clause. ) The unsearchable greatness of God. Consider it,
1. As a fact amply demonstrated.
2. As a rebuke to despondency: see Isa 40:28.
3. As the stay of a soul oppressed by mysteries.
4. As indicating a subject for our everlasting study.— J. F.
Verse 4.
1. Our obligation to past generations.
2. Our duty to generations to come.— G. R.
Verses 5-7. The Antiphon.
1. To praise God is a personal duty: "I will."
2. Its right performance will excite others to engage in it: "And men shall."
3. The accompaniment of others in praise will react upon ourselves. "And I will"; "And they shall abundantly", etc.
4. Such praise widens and expands a it rolls along. Beginning with God's majesty and works, it extends to his acts, greatness, goodness, and righteousness.— C. A. D.
Verses 5-7.
1. Subjects for praise.
(a) Divine majesty.
(b) Divine works.
(c) Divine judgments.
(d) Divine greatness.
(e) Divine goodness.
(f) Divine righteousness.
2. Of whom is it required.
(a) Personal; "I will speak."
(b) Universal; "men shall speak."— G. R.
Verses 6-7.
1. The awe struck talk . Silent as to mercies and promises, men must speak when God's terrible acts are among them.
2. The bold avowal . One individual declares God's greatness in power, wisdom, truth and grace. This leads others to the same conclusion, and hence—
3. The grateful outpouring . Many bless the Lord's great goodness in a song fresh, free, constant, joyous, refreshing, abundant, like the gush of a spring.
4. The select song. They utter goodness but sing of righteousness. This is a noteworthy topic for a discourse.
Verse 7. See "Spurgeon's Sermons", No. 1468: "The Philosophy and Propriety of Abundant Praise."
Verse 8.
1. Grace to the unworthy.
2. Compassion to the afflicted.
3. Forbearance to the guilty.
4. Mercy to the penitent.— G. R.
Verse 9. The universal goodness of God in no degree a contradiction to the special election of grace.
Verse 10. See "Spurgeon's Sermons", No. 1796: "Concerning Saints."
Verse 11. The glory of Christ's kingdom. The glory of this kingdom is manifested,
1. In its origin.
2. In the manner and spirit of its administration.
3. In the character of its subjects.
4. In the privileges that are attached to it.— Robert Hall.
Verses 11-12. Talk transfigured.
1. The faculty of talk is extensively possessed.
2. Is commonly misused.
3. May be nobly employed.
4. Will then be gloriously useful.— C. A. D.
Verses 11-13. To show the greatness of God's kingdom, David observes,
1. The pomp of it. Would we by faith look within the veil, we should "speak of the glory of his kingdom" (Ps 145:11); "and the glorious majesty of it" (Ps 145:12).
2. The power of it. When "they speak of the glory of God's kingdom", they must "talk of his power", the extent of it, the efficacy of it.
3. The perpetuity of it (Ps 145:13). The thrones of earthly princes totter, and the flowers of their crowns wither, monarchs come to an end; but, Lord, "thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom."— Matthew Henry.
Verse 14. The grace of God in his kindness to the undeserving and the miserable, who look to him for help.
1. He "upholdeth all that fall."
(a) A description, embracing (1) Sinners who have fallen lowest: (2) Backsliders who have tripped most foully.
(b) An act implying (1) Pity which draws nigh; (2) Power which places the fallen upon their feet; (3) Preservation which keeps them standing.
2. He "raiseth up all those that are bowed down." Consolation for those who are—
(a) Bowed down with shame and penitence.
(b) Oppressed with perplexities and cares.
(c) Weighted with a sense of weakness in the presence of onerous duties.
(d) Depressed because of prevailing error and sin around them.— J. F.
Verse 14. Help for the fallible.
1. Whatever our present position we are liable to fall. Sickness. Loss. Friendlessness. Sin.
2. However low we fall we are not below the reach of God's hand.
3. Within the reach of God's hand we shall experience the action of God's love. "Upholdeth." "Raiseth up."— C.A.D.
Verses 15-16. Universal dependence and divine support. The Psalmist here teaches—
1. The Universality of Dependence amongst creatures: "The eyes of all wait upon thee." We depend upon God for "life, and breath, and all things." Entire dependence should beget deep humility.
2. The Infinitude of the Divine Resources: "And thou givest them their meat." His resources must be,
a) Infinitely vast.
b) Infinitely various. Both sufficient and adapted for all.
3. The Timeliness of the Divine Communications: "In due season. "A reason for patience if his gifts seem delayed.
4. The Sublime Ease of the Divine Communications: "Thou openest thine hand", and the countless needs of the universe are satisfied. An encouragement to believing prayer.
5. The Sufficiency of the Divine Communications: "And satisfiest the desire of every living thing." "God giveth to all liberally." Our subject urges all men to,
(a) Gratitude. Constant provision should lead to constant thankfulness and consecration.
(b) Trust. (1) For temporal supplies. (2) For spiritual supplies. "Grace to help in time of need" will surely be given to all who look to him.— William Jones, in "The Homiletic Quarterly", 1878.
Verse 17.
1. What God declares himself to be.
2. What his people find him to be.
3. What all creatures will ultimately acknowledge him to be.— G. R.
Verses 18-20. Gather from these verses the character of God's people.
1. They call upon God.
2. They fear God.
3. They have desires towards God.
4. They have answers from God.
5. They love God.
Verse 18. ( last clause. ) True prayer, in what it differs essentially from mere formalism.
Verse 18. At the palace gates.
1. Directions to callers.
(a) "Call upon him"; let the repetition suggest pertinacity.
(b) Call "in truth"; sincerely, with promises, in appointed way.
2. Encouragement for callers. Jehovah is nigh, with his ready ear, sympathizing heart, and helpful hand.— W. B. H.
Verses 18-19. The blessedness of prayer.
1. Definition of prayer: "calling upon God."
2. Variety in prayer: "call, desire, cry."
3. Essential characteristic of prayer: "truth."
4. God's nearness in prayer.
5. Assured success of prayer. "He will fulfil, hear, save."— C. A. D.
Verse 20. Those who love God are preserved from excessive temptation, falling into sin, despair, apostasy, remorse, famishing; preserved in trial, persecution, depression, death; preserved to activity, holiness, victory, glory.
Verse 20. Solemn Contrasts.
1. Between human characters. "Them that love him." "The wicked."
2. Between human destinies. "Preserveth." "Destroy."— C. A. D.
Verse 20. How the love of God is the opposite of wickedness, and wickedness inconsistent with the love of God.
Verse 21. Individual praise suggests the desire for universal praise. We like company in a good deed; we perceive the inadequacy of our own song; we desire others to be happy; we long to see that done which is right and good.