Psalm 145 (4)

Introduction: Begin by reading an account of Moses’s interaction with God in Exodus 33:17-23, 34:6-9 This self revelation of God to Moses sets the tone for the verses 8-9 in Psalm 145. This truth about God causes us to ask like the Psalmist did in Psalm 113:5 asks… “Who is like the Lord our God?”

Review...

The Lord is...

God (1)

King (1)

Great (3)

Glorious (5)

Good (7)

Righteous (7)

Transition: In order to help us meditate on the excellencies of the Lord, I've suggested to you that what we discover in Psalm 145 are two major hooks in the mud room of our lives to hang key attributes of God. Those are His greatness and goodness. Under these major attributes of God we are seeking place all the multi faceted characteristics of God in order that we might know what He is like and fear Him. Bless Him. Praise Him and as a result be full of His wisdom.

Today, from verse 8-9 we’ll seek to highlight 4 more excellencies of the Lord. Four key aspects of God’s character that I believe flow out of His goodness. I want to begin by sharing them with you, then we’ll notice them as we read Psalm 145 together.

The Lord is...

Gracious

Merciful

Patient

Love

Transition: Read the text and pray.

Summary of four. (vs. 8)

The Lord is Gracious

This means that the Lord bestows favor upon those who do not deserve it.

As Is. 30:18 tells us…

Isaiah 30:18 ESV

Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.

The Lord is Merciful

This means that the Lord withholds judgment, and extends compassion to those who deserve wrath and condemnation.

Patient

This means that the Lord is slow to anger. He is righteous, and justified in any anger that He determines to show. However, He is patient in delivering His wrath. (II Peter 3:9 tells us that…

2 Peter 3:9 ESV

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

The Lord is Love

This means that the Lord is abounding in loyal faithfulness. It is rooted in the Hebrew word Hesed, which describes the Lord’s covenantal, promise keeping love. This is the total devotion of God to keep His own promises. Notice, that He abounds in this kind of love.

Transition: That is a very brief summary of verse 8, now..

Question: Spend remainder of our time answering a couple questions.

How has the Lord revealed Himself to be gracious, merciful, patient, and abounding in love?

Verse nine answers this question by focusing on one major aspect of God’s goodness and mercy. The Lord’s goodness and mercy extends to all that He has made. The Lord’s goodness and mercy has no boundaries.

Notice a key observation of the text: Up to this point in Psalm 145 the word translated as “all” in our English Bibles has not been used. Including verse 9 the word “all” is used 17 times. The repetition of this word emphasizes the infinite nature of God (His total-ness, His wholeness). There is no limit to His greatness and goodness. All creation benefits from God’s goodness and mercy. How?

Existence: We are living rational beings, able to think and process information and interpret reality.

Provisions: Sunlight, rain, breath

Perception: Able to witness beauty in God’s creative works like; stars, mountains, microscopic cells, etc.

What are the implications of God’s mercy and goodness extending to all that He has made?

Answer: All are without excuse and need the righteousness of Christ.

All are without excuse.

In the letter inspired by God through the apostle Paul to the Romans 1:18-20 the same logic is used to make the point that all of creation is without any legitimate excuse before God. No one can accuse God of being unjust, because He has demonstrated his goodness and mercy to all. As a result all are condemned, and have fallen short of God’s glory.

The truth we are gleaning from Psalm 145 is two fold. In one since we are observing the greatness and goodness of God. However, we also see the clear exception of the great and Good God. We see that it is the mandate of the King, the standard of His righteousness, the expectation of the Lord that all of His creation give Him thanks, that His saints bless Him, gaze at His glory, call on Him in truth, love Him, bless His holy name forever an ever. It is kind of God to reveal to His creation the desired expectation of our creator.

However, even as we see the splendor of God, we immediately recognize that we are guilty of giving praise to other things. Even as we witness the truth of God’s perfect consistency we are reminded of our failure to give Him glory.

Transition: How is it possible for us to give God glory? This is the second part of our answer...

All need the righteousness of Christ.

(Matthew 5:43-48) Jesus uses the same truth of God’s unfettered love, His unrestrained mercy, His kindness without chains, His grace without distinction in order to raise the bar of righteousness. To show God’s standard of love. And Jesus is the One who has loved His enemies perfectly.

For those who are not in Christ this truth sets the record straight for what God requires. If your not a Christian today you just ask yourself, “how will I ever stand before a God of perfect love and give a reason for His acceptance of me?” The only way to be accepted by God is to have the righteousness of Christ applied to your account. If the Holy Spirit is using this truth to awaken your heart to new life today, I would encourage you to at this moment receive Christ, welcome this good news, repent of your sin and trust in Christ. Confess Him from a new heart as Lord and Savior.

For those who are in Christ we should pay special attention to this truth. Our position in Christ was not accomplished by our own merit. It was accomplished by the grace of God who though we were enemies and far off from His promises, were brought near by His goodness and mercy. We need reminded today as His disciples, that we continue to desperately need His grace and mercy in order to love like we have been loved.

When we are in Christ, we can extend His love to others. If we as those who have been adopted by God have been loved like that, then who are we to ever withhold love from another? We should consider this the next time we are tempted to cast off or hate a person who is lost in sin and blatantly rebelling against God. Young Christian, consider this truth before quickly spouting off at your mom or dad. Those of us who are Christian parents, we’d best be contemplating the extravagant grace that God has shown us as we seek to raise the souls He has given us stewardship over. Citizens of Heaven, we should meditate on this reality before we complain or criticize our earthly citizenship. Consider that before spewing out venom on another human being who has been made in the image of God. Think long and hard about the way God has treated you before you type up your next social media post.

Only because He has by His grace awakened new life in us by the truth about Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. Only because God has been rich in mercy and loved us while we were yet sinners. Only because through faith in Christ we demonstrate that God is at work in us and He that started it will complete that work of grace.

Conclude by reading I John 4