詩篇第一四五篇是一首字母篇，可以作為所謂「讚美詩篇」（146~150篇）詩集最後部份的導論。我們可以從第三節（也是主要的一節）中看到本篇的主題。詩人獻給上帝的所有讚美都是由於上帝的偉大。雖然大衛描述，上帝的偉大是不可測度的（羅11：33），他還是做了一件奇妙的工作，說明了上帝的偉大。當然，在聖靈的默示和幫助之下，大衛才能有如此的識見。

        上帝的偉大應大受讚美，所以大衛已盡其可能地這樣做了。他想他對上帝的讚美可以作為一個範例，好使別人聽到之後，也能像他那樣一起來讚美上帝。他要頌揚上帝、讚美上帝、思想上帝、傳揚上帝、說到上帝、宣揚上帝、談論上帝，以及每天都要用他的口讚美耶和華（145：1、2、5、6、7、11、12、21）。還有誰比「大君」所膏立的大衛王更適合擔任祂之下的領袖呢？讚美萬王之王，包括向別人傳講他本人及其他人親身體驗到的上帝的奇妙大能作為。大衛這一代的人代表國家努力向下一代的人傳講上帝的大能作為。他們憑著記憶（也即口傳）及歌唱讚美上帝的偉大（145：4、7）。

        我們在上帝的奇妙屬性，如恩典、同情、慢慢發怒（長期受苦）及憐憫之中，也可進一步見到上帝的偉大（145：8）。上帝本為善，並且向祂的受造物施行一般的恩典。誠然，上帝賜雨水給義人，也給不義的人，而且所有的受造物都倚靠祂維生，以及在祂的裡面才有最後的滿足（145：9、15~16；太5：45）。被造的國度讚美耶和華，以及上帝的聖徒也都讚美與頌揚祂。為了達成這個目標。他們必須向全人類傳說祂的榮耀和大能，包括祂永恆王國的榮耀（145：13）。

        當那些喜愛和敬畏上帝的人向祂呼求時，祂當然會接近他們，垂聽他們的禱告，拯救他脫離兇惡，以及保守他們。上帝在祂所行的這些榮耀與公義的事之中，再一次彰顯祂的偉大。不過，耶和華的另一個公義的道路就是向惡人施行公義的審判。上帝是不能容忍邪惡的事的。祂會在祂所定的時候，消滅地面上的所有邪惡，然後凡是有血氣的人都要履行他們被造之時賦予的責任、也就是：「都要永永遠遠稱頌祂的聖名」（145：21）。

        這一詩集中的最後五篇詩篇稱之為「讚美詩篇」。由於它們都是用來讚美耶和華的，它們在開始和結束時，都歡呼「哈利路亞」（讚美耶和華）。這是結束詩篇的最奇妙愉快的音符。雖然它們都是類似的，它們之間還是存有少些不同之處。

        在詩篇第一四六篇中，作者要求會眾齊聲讚美耶和華，並且展示，他已以行為表達他口裡所傳說的。他發誓，祇要他有一口氣存在，他就要讚美耶和華。他依據他個人的經驗說話，警告他的百姓不可相信王子（或是貴族，這詞經常用來指有錢有勢的人），也不可相信人類的幫助，因為他們都是不可靠的。在任何時候，人都會死的。因為生命是如此地脆弱。但是耶和華──永遠保守真理的上帝──是永恆的，也是全能的。我們可以倚靠祂、以及盼望祂的人才是快樂的人。祂被稱為「雅各的上帝」，也即暗示，祂喜愛無助的罪人，也要拯救他們。

        我們在詩人對上帝的描述中看到，耶穌基督在地行了這些奇事。祂不僅使瞎眼的得看見，也治了那些「彎腰」的人（太9：30；路13：30），但是祂也使在靈性上瞎眼的人張開屬靈的眼睛，而且祂在今天也行這些奇事。上帝的同情與慈愛就是驅策力，促使祂將公正賜給被壓迫的人，將食物賜給飢餓的人，將救濟物品賜給貧窮的人，以及將保護賜給旅行的人或是寂寞的人。我們一再讀到耶和華的慈愛。這一點可以加強那些想效法耶穌的信徒的信心，而且我們自己也應向別人顯示上帝的同情與慈愛。

        耶和華上帝啊，我們感謝您，因為您默示的聖經已向我們啟示了您自己。您已用各種方向我們顯示您的偉大，使我們禁不住要讚美您。我們總是感到您的存在，因為您就居住在我們的讚美中。奉主耶穌基督聖名，阿們！

English

        Psalm 145 is an acrostic poem that serves as an introduction to the final section of the psalter which is called the Hallelujah psalms (146-150). The theme of Psalm 145 is found in verse three (key verse). All the praises that the psalmist offers to God are because of His greatness. Although David rightly expresses that the totality of God's greatness is unsearchable (Rom. 11:33), he does a wonderful job in searching it out and illustrating it. His remarkable insight, of course, came with the help of the Holy Spirit's inspiration.

        God's greatness is to be greatly praised, which David does in every way possible. He desires his praises to God to be exemplary so that others may hear them and join him. He extols, blesses, meditates, declares, speaks, utters, talks, and every day makes known with his mouth the praises of the Lord (145:1,2,5,6,7,11,12,21). Who is more fitted to do so than the king whom the Great King had appointed as leader under Him? Praising the King of kings includes telling others of His mighty acts which have been personally experienced or which were experienced by others. David's generation made an effort to tell God's mighty deeds on behalf of the nation to the next generation. This was done through memory (oral transmission) and through singing songs (145:4,7).

        The greatness of God is further illustrated in His wonderful attributes of grace, compassion, slow to anger (long-suffering), and mercy (145:8). God is good and shows general grace to all His creation. Indeed, God sends the rain on the just and the unjust alike and all His creation depends on Him for life and only in Him can there be ultimate satisfaction (145:9, 15-16; Matt. 5:45). The created realm praises the Lord and the saints of God both praise and bless Him. To do this they must talk of His glory and power to all mankind, including the glories of His everlasting Kingdom (145:13).

        When those who love and fear God cry out to Him, He will certainly be near and He will hear, save, and preserve them. In these very gracious and righteous works of God, His greatness is once again evident. Another righteous way of the Lord, however, is in bringing just punishment upon the wicked. God cannot tolerate evil. At the appointed time, He will abolish evil from the face of the earth and then all flesh will perform the duty for which they were created, namely to "bless His holy name forever and ever" (145:21).

        The last five psalms of the psalter from a small collection called the "Hallelujah Psalms". Since they are dedicated to praising the Lord, they all begin and end with the exclamation of "Hallelujah" (Praise Yahweh"). This is a wonderful and joyful note upon which to end the Book of Psalms. Although they are all similar, each one has a different emphasis.

        In Psalm 146, the writer calls upon the congregation to praise the Lord and to show that he practices what he preaches. He vows that as long as he has breath, he will praise the Lord. He speaks from personal experience when he warns the people not to trust in princes (or noblemen, a term commonly used of rich and powerful men), nor in any human being for help since they cannot be reliable. At any time a person could die, for life is so fragile. But the Lord "Who keeps truth forever" is eternal and all-powerful. Upon Him we can depend, and the one whose hope is in Him is happy. God never lets us down. He is called the "God of Jacob", which implies that He loves and redeems the helpless sinner.

        In the psalmist's description of God, we can see that Jesus Christ on earth did these very things. He not only gave sight to the physically blinded and healed those who were "bowed down" (Matt. 9:30; Luke 13:30), but He also opened the eyes of the spiritually blinded and raised up those whose spirits were low, as He still does today. God's compassion is the driving force which causes Him to give justice to the oppressed, food to the hungry, relief to the needy and protection to the traveller or the one lonely. Over and over again, we read of the loving-kindnesses of the Lord. This should reinforce to believers who desire to be like Jesus, that we too must show the compassion and love of God.

        Lord God, thank You for Your inspired Word which is a revelation of Yourself to us. Your greatness is made evident to us in so many ways, and we cannot help but praise You. May we always sense Your presence as You dwell in the midst of our praises.