Psalm 145. The five previous Psalms were on-PRAYER. Beginning with Psalm 145- 150 have to do with-PRAISE. David gives us “fuel” for our fire of faith and worship in this Psalm. The Psalmist reflects on the greatness of God. His character. His reflections turn to reasons to PRAISE,Rejoice. Reasons to meditate upon, memorize and recall in our own times of testing’s, triumphs or seasons of quiet. Familiarize  yourself with Reasons to Praise Him for Who He “IS.” David teaches us a couple of good lessons here. He begins in verses 1-2 “I will praise You, my God and my King, I will praise You forever… everyday I will praise You…” Daily, David DETERMINED to praise the Lord. He “will” irrespective of what others do, he has determined what he “will” do. Praising God for His character is not dependent upon favorable circumstances or how we “feel” but an attitude of mind, a bowing in reverence and awe at who He is and a CHOOSING, that Is based on His worthiness. you “WILL” Praise Him! To “Praise” God is to “speak well” of Him!

LESSON 1- PRAISE – THE CHOICE OF YOUR WILL.

“I WILL Praise you my God and my King”- verse 1. David bows and acknowledges God as his God, his King, in whom he is in submission to. Note the word “my.” V2- “every day I WILL  praise You and extol Your Name forever and ever.”

 Note the “I WILL,’ statements…

  •  “I will praise {extol} You, my God, O King…” (v.1)
  • “I will praise{bless} Your name forever and ever.” (v.1)
  • “Every day I will praise You…” (v.2)
  • “…I will praise Your name forever and ever.” (v.2)
  • “…on Your wonderful works, I will meditate.” (v.5)
  • “…I will tell of Your greatness.” (v.6)

NOTE –“I Will Praise…I will…I will…I will…I will… will meditate…I will tell… EVERYDAY, FOREVER AND EVER”- The Psalmist is deliberate, definite in what  he “WILL,” do. It is a choice of will. You or I do not drift into this. It is a CONSCIOUS CHOICE. Irrespective of feelings, or what others may or may not do, the psalmist shows us the CHOICE to be made and CONTINUALLY exercised!

LESSON 2-  PRAISE is to be INTELLIGENT – {BECAUSE OF WHO GOD “IS” REVEALED AS IN HIS WORD! } 

THINKING THROUGH THE SCRIPTURE. He gives us reasons to “Praise” Him, it is based on the character of God who and what He “IS,”- FACT- HE PRESENTLY “IS” AND FOREVER WILL BE…

David looking back on his life…  gives us reason in our own lives to join in and praise the Lord for He “IS…” Present-tense, eternally so! 

V 3- “Great IS the Lord… He IS most worthy of praise… His greatness IS beyond discovery.”

v5  “… Glorious”

v5  “… Wonderful”

v6  “… Awesome”

v 8 ” The Lord IS Kind and Merciful

v 9 “The Lord IS Good to Everyone

v 13 “Your Kingdom IS an everlasting Kingdom…”

v 13 “The Lord IS Faithful in all He says”

v 17- “The Lord IS Righteous in everything He Does…”

v 18 “The Lord IS Near to all who call upon Him”

Look again at some of the reasons David Praises his God and King. He has passed it on  and now we too may join in also as v 4-6 says, “– One generation  commends Your works to another; they tell of Your mighty acts. They speak of the Glorious splendor of Your majesty.“

PRAISE HIM.  TELL OTHERS OF HIS MIGHTY WORKS.  SPEAK OF HIS WONDROUS CHARACTER.

MEDITATE; Familiarize yourself with Him in this psalm and begin by a choice of YOUR will to Praise-Speak Well of Him. The Psalmist in v 5 says, “I WILL MEDITATE ON YOUR WONDERFUL WORKS.” He says “I WILL,” not based on his “feelings,” but by choice he “MEDITATES,” on the character of God aright. It is easy for people to come up with wrong views of God if not based on His Word. His Word is the lens the Holy Spirit uses to make known to us who God is. THINK , THINK, THINK, RIGHT ABOUT GOD. This, David shows us what he did. His WORD filters, purifies, informs our thinking, so we may praise Him and worship Him in truth, in accordance with who He has revealed Himself as. {Read Luke 24:27,45,}.  A great prayer is,“Open my eyes that I might see wonderful things from Your Law.”– {Psalm 119:18}.

Throughout your day there are things you have to give your thoughts to, but in those times when you have “free” time with your mind, TRAIN YOUR MIND to choose to go to the LORD. You could get a 3 by 5 card and write a verse on it from PSALM 145 concerning His character and when you have opportunity, read it, Meditate on it word for word, phrase for phrase in its totality, praying it and choosing to PRAISE Him and PROCLAIM Him!

PRAISE IS…

1. A CHOICE OF YOUR WILL.

2. Praise Him INTELLIGENTLY, as HE REVEALS HIMSELF in HIS WORD.

3. As you familiarize yourself with Him you will have opportunities to TELL others of His greatness and His Works in Scripture and in your own life.

Praise the KING!