A praise psalm by David.
1 I will exalt you, my God, the King. I will praise your name forever and ever. 2 Every day I will praise you. I will extol your name forever and ever. 3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised! His greatness is unsearchable. 4 One generation will commend your works to another, and will declare your mighty acts. 5 Of the glorious majesty of your honor, of your wondrous works, I will meditate. 6 Men will speak of the might of your awesome acts. I will declare your greatness. 7 They will utter the memory of your great goodness, and will sing of your righteousness. 8 The LORD is gracious, merciful, slow to anger, and of great loving kindness. 9 The LORD is good to all. His tender mercies are over all his works. 10 All your works will give thanks to you, LORD. Your saints will extol you. 11 They will speak of the glory of your kingdom, and talk about your power; 12 to make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, the glory of the majesty of his kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. Your dominion endures throughout all generations. The LORD is faithful in all his words, and loving in all his deeds. 14 The LORD upholds all who fall, and raises up all those who are bowed down. 15 The eyes of all wait for you. You give them their food in due season. 16 You open your hand, and satisfy the desire of every living thing. 17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and gracious in all his works. 18 The LORD is near to all those who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. 19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear him. He also will hear their cry, and will save them. 20 The LORD preserves all those who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. 21 My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD. Let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary, 1706
Verses 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.
Verses 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.