1A Psalm of praise. Of David. I will exalt You, my God and King; I will bless Your name forever and ever. 2Every day I will bless You, and I will praise Your name forever and ever. 3Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised; His greatness is unsearchable. 4One generation will commend Your works to the next, and will proclaim Your mighty acts— 5the glorious splendor of Your majesty. And I will meditate on Your wondrous works. 6They will proclaim the power of Your awesome deeds, and I will declare Your greatness. 7They will extol the fame of Your abundant goodness and sing joyfully of Your righteousness. 8The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion. 9The LORD is good to all; His compassion rests on all He has made. 10All You have made will give You thanks, O LORD, and Your saints will bless You. 11They will tell of the glory of Your kingdom and speak of Your might, 12to make known to men Your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of Your kingdom. 13Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful in all His words and kind in all His actions. 14The LORD upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. 15The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food in season. 16You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. 17The LORD is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His deeds. 18The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call out to Him in truth. 19He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them. 20The LORD preserves all who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy. 21My mouth will declare the praise of the LORD; let every creature bless His holy name forever and ever.
Matthew Henry's Commentary
David extols the power, goodness, and mercy of the Lord. (1-9) The glory of God's kingdom, and his care of those that love him. (10-21) 1-9 Those who, under troubles and temptations, abound in fervent prayer, shall in due season abound in grateful praise, which is the true language of holy joy. Especially we should speak of God's wondrous work of redemption, while we declare his greatness. For no deliverance of the Israelites, nor the punishment of sinners, so clearly proclaims the justice of God, as the cross of Christ exhibits it to the enlightened mind. It may be truly said of our Lord Jesus Christ, that his words are words of goodness and grace; his works are works of goodness and grace. He is full of compassion; hence he came into the world to save sinners. When on earth, he showed his compassion both to the bodies and souls of men, by healing the one, and making wise the other. He is of great mercy, a merciful High Priest, through whom God is merciful to sinners. 10-21 All God's works show forth his praises. He satisfies the desire of every living thing, except the unreasonable children of men, who are satisfied with nothing. He does good to all the children of men; his own people in a special manner. Many children of God, who have been ready to fall into sin, to fall into despair, have tasted his goodness in preventing their falls, or recovering them speedily by his graces and comforts. And with respect to all that are heavy laden under the burden of sin, if they come to Christ by faith, he will ease them, he will raise them. He is very ready to hear and answer the prayers of his people. He is present every where; but in a special way he is nigh to them, as he is not to others. He is in their hearts, and dwells there by faith, and they dwell in him. He is nigh to those that call upon him, to help them in all times of need. He will be nigh to them, that they may have what they ask, and find what they seek, if they call upon him in truth and sincerity. And having taught men to love his name and holy ways, he will save them from the destruction of the wicked. May we then love his name, and walk in his ways, while we desire that all flesh should bless his holy name for ever and ever.