Although there are many psalms of praise, Psalm 145 is the only psalm specifically identified as a Psalm of praise. The entire psalm speaks of praise, of why we are to praise God and then words in praise of God.
One question Antony Billington explores in his bible study on this psalm is how God is great but is also good. What is the difference between these two I wonder?
For me our Great God is our Divine God, somewhat separate, held in authority and elevated way above us. Our Good God is our Father of all creation, present where we are, accessible to all. However the two are not exclusive of each other. Our Great and Good God encompasses all people and all of creation.
The greatness of God is demonstrated by the psalmist’s use of words such as beyond understanding, splendour, mighty, wonderful, awesome and great, when describing the works, acts or deeds of this Great God. And the goodness is demonstrated by the descriptions of His abundant goodness, how He is rich in love, trustworthy and faithful.
This sounds too good to be true, can this Great and Good God love me?
Yes! He is faithful to all his promises, and loving towards all he has made. He lifts all who fall or who are bowed down.
We are even given ideas of how we can praise this Great and Good God.
When we tell others how great and good God is to us, we are praising Him. When we speak of the splendour of God, we praise Him. When we gaze at the wonder of the universe, or the beauty of a sunset, or the majesty of a mountaintop, we praise Him. When we see how vaccines can be developed to prevent deadly infection, or how astrophysicists can develop ways of looking at other planets, or how we can harness the elements to create “clean” electricity, we are praising God.
Praising God is not just about singing a rousing hymn or worship song, it’s also about living our daily lives in praise of Him, the Great and Good God of all creation.
When did you last praise God? Praise him in the next thing you do!
TFTD: Based on Spring Harvest 2021 Bible study series “Worshipping the God of all in all of life” Edited by Mark Greene from licc which looks at the topic of worship in the Psalms.