Great Is the Lord; A Song of Praise. Of David.

1I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. 2Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. 3Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. 4One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. (Psalm 145:1-4)

This psalm is subtitled a "song of praise" which the study notes say the Hebrew word used in this psalm and this one alone is "psalm." The Psalms are used for all kinds of things: taking our concerns to God (laments); praising God (praise); giving thanks to God; "imprecatory" (help from evil); Messianic; and several others.

As we have noted this week in our conversation on the Second Commandment (using God's name appropriately and not misusing it), we use his name to praise, worship, and teach about him. David praises God in this psalm and notes we will teach his mighty acts to another.

The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 9The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. (Psalm 145:8-9)

Another use of God's name is to go to him in prayer, seeking forgiveness and grace. David notes this in the use of Yahweh (covenant God - steadfast love - LORD). The God of grace and mercy who delivered Israel and delivers us today.

The Lord preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. 21My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever. (Psalm 145:20-21)

God assures us of eternal peace and life through his Son, Jesus Christ. He, and he alone, preserves us and destroys the wicked and wickedness that we find in this life, including the evil within our own spirit. We follow Christ, and as the New Adam, we seek to leave behind our evil and iniquities.

When we use God's name, we pray we use it to praise him and share the good news of the life he gives us through his steadfast and redeeming love.

Pray with me; Gracious God, great are your deeds. Great is your faithfulness. You do not change, and all we need is provided by your hand. You give strength for today and hope for tomorrow. In all we say or do, we bring praises to you, O Lord. In Christ's name, Amen.*

*"Great is Thy Faithfulness" paraphrase; Thomas Chisolm, 1923