Reasons to Praise the Lord: The Anatomy of Adoration
Base Text: Psalm 145:8–20
Introduction
Psalm 145 is a masterpiece of worship, a song of praise penned by David. This is not a superficial hymn or a repetitive chant; it is a profound declaration based on a lifetime of personal experience. David was not speculating about God; he had tasted and seen that the Lord is good. He had felt the warm embrace of God’s mercy, witnessed the staggering display of His power, and leaned on the unshakable pillar of His faithfulness.
God deserves our unconditional commitment because He has been consistently good to us. In light of this, the question for us today is not: "Has God been good?" The evidence of our lives proves that He has. The real question is: "What are we doing with that goodness?" David provides us with ten powerful, scriptural reasons why our only logical response is to overflow with praise.
I. God is Merciful (v. 8)
Psalm 145:8 — "The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love."
We praise God because He does not treat us as our sins deserve. This revelation is not new; it is the very way God described Himself to Moses in Exodus 34:6–7. He is gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.
• Doctrinal Emphasis: Mercy is the foundation of divine forgiveness. If God were to interact with us based solely on strict justice, none of us could stand. We praise Him because His mercy triumphs over judgment.
II. God is Good (v. 9)
Psalm 145:9 — "The Lord is good to all."
Jesus Himself affirmed that "No one is good except God alone" (Mark 10:18). God is not good because of circumstances; He is good by nature. He is the source of every "good and perfect gift" (James 1:17).
• Doctrinal Truth: The goodness of God is not just a comfort; it is a catalyst. Romans 2:4 tells us that God’s kindness is intended to lead us to repentance. We praise Him because everything beautiful in our lives traces back to His hand.
III. God is Powerful (v. 12)
Psalm 145:12 — "Your mighty acts."
Our God is not just a deity with strength; He is El Shaddai, the Almighty God (Genesis 17:1). From the moment He spoke the universe into existence, He demonstrated that His word creates reality.
• Doctrinal Principle: As Job confessed, "No purpose of yours can be thwarted" (Job 42:2). We praise Him because He governs, He controls, and He sustains the very atoms of the universe. He has the power to pull down strongholds and the power to raise the dead.
IV. His Kingdom is Eternal (v. 13)
Psalm 145:13 — "Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom."
Human empires rise and fall, but the Kingdom of God remains. Jesus told Pilate, "My kingdom is not of this world" (John 18:36). We have been invited into a kingdom that cannot be shaken (Hebrews 12:28).
• Central Doctrine: God is the eternal, immortal, and sovereign King. We praise Him because we belong to a realm that will never suffer a coup, a decline, or an end.
V. God Sustains Those Who Fall (v. 14)
Psalm 145:14 — "The Lord upholds all who fall."
The Christian life is not a walk of perfection, but a walk of restoration. Though a righteous man may fall seven times, he rises again because God holds his hand (Proverbs 24:16).
• Doctrinal Emphasis: God’s faithfulness is our safety net. He always provides a way of escape so we can endure (1 Corinthians 10:13). We praise Him because He is the God of the second, third, and thousandth chance.
VI. God Provides for His Children (v. 15)
Psalm 145:15 — "You give them their food at the proper time."
God is the Great Provider. He gives life, breath, and everything else to all people (Acts 17:25). Jesus taught that if we seek His kingdom first, all our needs will be added to us (Matthew 6:33).
• Doctrinal Principle: Divine provision is an expression of God’s fatherly care. We praise Him because we are not orphans in a cold universe; we are children at a King’s table.
VII. God is Just (v. 17)
Psalm 145:17 — "The Lord is righteous in all his ways."
Our God cannot lie (Tito 1:2). He is perfectly just, and He has set a day when He will judge the world with righteousness (Acts 17:31).
• Doctrinal Truth: Every person will be rewarded according to their deeds (2 Corinthians 5:10). We praise Him because in a world of corruption and unfairness, God’s justice is perfect, pure, and final.
VIII. God is Near to Those Who Seek Him (v. 18)
Psalm 145:18 — "The Lord is near to all who call on him."
The promise of Jeremiah 29:13 holds true: when we seek Him with all our hearts, we find Him.
• Doctrinal Truth: God is not a distant "first cause" or an indifferent force. He is accessible to the sincere heart. We praise Him because the Creator of the stars is close enough to hear a whisper.
IX. God Hears the Cry of the Godly (v. 19)
Psalm 145:19 — "He fulfills the desires of those who fear him."
God’s ears are attentive to the cry of the righteous (Psalm 34:15). To "fear the Lord" is not to be terrified, but to walk in reverence, obedience, and a hatred of evil.
• Application: When we align our will with His through obedience, our prayers find a direct line to the throne of grace.
X. God Watches Over Those Who Love Him (v. 20)
Psalm 145:20 — "The Lord watches over all who love him."
Jesus defined love for God as obedience: "If you love me, keep my commands" (Juan 14:15).
• Doctrinal Truth: True love is demonstrated in action. For those who walk in that love, God acts as a shield and a preserver. We praise Him because He is our eternal Guardian.
See Also
- What Shall You Do with Jesus Called the Christ?
- 5 Reasons the Church Must Guard Against Internal Dangers
- How to Become a Friend of God
Conclusion
Why should we praise God? We praise Him because He is the only one who is merciful when we fail, good when we lack, powerful when we are weak, and near when we are lonely. David’s experience became his song. Your experience with God’s faithfulness should become your testimony.
Praise is not an emotional luxury; it is a spiritual necessity. It shifts our eyes from our problems to our Provider.
