Each and Everyone Psalm 145

Read: Psalm 145:1-21

Introduction:

A mouse looked out through a crack in a farmhouse wall and was distraught to discover a mousetrap. When he went to tell his buddies, the chicken said, "Sorry, pal, not my problem." The pig said, "I'll pray for you." The cow was busy and said, "Come back later." Dejected, the mouse was left alone to handle his problem.

That night, a poisonous snake got caught in the mousetrap and when the farmer's wife went to investigate she got bitten. She developed a raging fever, and everyone knows you treat a fever with chicken soup. So the farmer took his axe to the barn for the main ingredient! As his wife's condition deteriorated and neighbours gathered, he had to butcher the pig to feed them. Finally she died. So many people came to the funeral that he ended up slaughtering the cow to make dinner for them all. In the end, everybody lost!

Sometimes when things don’t seem relevant to us - they still are connected to us:

That is the case with this Psalm.

It is an acrostic (meaning in the Hebrew each verse begins with a Hebrew letter) Praise Psalm and the only one designated so in a superscription. It sets the tone for the last five Psalms which all begin with “Praise the LORD!”

In fact that phrase is repeated at least five times through the last five Psalms.

The Psalmist David is trying to get people to Praise the Lord.

In Jewish Tradition a practicing family were instructed to repeat this psalm three times daily.

While I want us to understand the importance of Praising the Lord - I also want us to notice some reasons for praising the Lord.

These reasons are many even in this passage but I want to deal with specific ones tonight.

The keywords in this Psalm have to deal with all,

Christian philosopher and theologian Nicholas Wolterstorff coined what he called the “each and every principle”. This principle teaches that God is concerned with each and every living being.

This Psalm teaches that principle clearly,

Lets look at these together:

1. God is Good to all - Psalm 145:9

“The Lord is good to all: And his tender mercies are over all his works.” (Psalm 145:9, KJV 1900)

Now before someone misunderstands me - I don’t mean that God never allows bad things to happen, or that everyone is going to have a fantastic fun filled life.

But I do mean that God does show tender mercies to everyone.

And according to the scriptures - His mercy endureth forever.

His loving-kindness - not getting what we justly deserve -

His goodness and mercies are so closely intertwined that David said they follow Him all the days of his life.

So it is with us - The Lord is good to all - everyone - we all receive God’s goodness.

2. The Lord Sustains All - Psalm 145:14

“The Lord upholdeth all that fall, And raiseth up all those that be bowed down.” (Psalm 145:14, KJV 1900)

That word upholdeth - doesn’t mean what I thought it meant - I assumed it meant he would hold me up - but that term actually means - “to supply with necessities and support.”

This of this wonderful truth - God gives the support we need. He is there to lift, help, supply

as Annie Johnson Flint put it -

“When we reach the end of our hoarded resources -

Our Father’s full giving has only begun”

Have you ever experienced this reality? I have several times -

I did today - now while all the stress wasn’t lifted - I woke up this morning, it was Wednesday and I still didn’t have direction for this service - it wasn’t because I hadn’t prayed, studied and read - I’m not sure why -

But I began to panic and grow more and more concerned as I read and prayed and looked for that direction. Finally I went over to the church and decided I wasn’t leaving until I had direction - I was falling fast -

As I prayed, and sang, and read - I felt God lead me to this passage.

3. God is Near Everyone - Psalm 145:18

“The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, To all that call upon him in truth.” (Psalm 145:18, KJV 1900)

That is a beautiful thought. I love the title of Max Lucado’s book When God Came Near.

One songwriter put it this way, “He’s as close as the mention of His name.”

Think of that - God is nigh unto all that call upon Him sincerely.

This word nigh means - not far distant in time, space, degree or circumstance.

“That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:” (Acts 17:27, KJV 1900)

If I understand this - you can feel God is a million miles away - and just a sincere and honest call unto the Lord and he will be there before you can say “Amen!”

Think of the examples in the Bible -

The Children of Israel - anytime they got into trouble they had a promise from God if they would turn toward the temple and pray that GOd would hear and help them.

Jonah - down in the belly of the big fish - he prayed and God heard.

Peter while walking on the sea- he cried and The LOrd was nigh

Over and over you find this the case -

Think of the Man at the pool of Bethesda who waited for 38 years. For 38 years that is a year less than I have been alive - it seemed God was far away - but in a moment when he looked to Jesus and told Him honestly his heart - God was right there.

I picture Jesus thinking years before maybe before he even came down to earth about this man who was waiting for someone to come and help HIm - and

I tell you tonight God is nigh -

DO you have a burden - Call upon HIm He is Nigh

4. The Lord Preserves all - Psalm 145 :20

Now this is the only one that comes conditionally. According to the Psalmist God preserves all those that love Him.

Loving Him means that you are serving and obeying Him, that you are following Him -

We have a God worthy to be praised who:

Is Good to all

Sustains all

Is near to all

And Preserves all who Love Him.

Each and every one - what a great and loving and praise worthy God.