What does Psalms 145:3 Mean?

Context Summary

This psalm is an acrostic, the verses beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The couplet for the fourteenth letter, Nun, between Psalms 145:13-14, has no place in the text. Some versions have supplied the omission as follows: "The Lord is faithful in all His words and holy in all His works." This is virtually a repetition of Psalms 145:17.

The word all is characteristic of this psalm. It was the Te Deum of the Hebrew Church. The Jews said that its threefold repetition was the best preparation for the praises of the world to come. Speaking of this psalm and those following, Dr. Gilfillan says: "They are the Beulah of the Book; the sun shineth night and day. Coming at the close of all the prayerful, penitential, and mournful psalms, they unconsciously typify the joy and rest of glory." The theme of the psalm is God. He is great, Psalms 145:3; gracious, Psalms 145:8; good, Psalms 145:9; upholdeth, Psalms 145:14; is righteous, Psalms 145:17; is nigh, Psalms 145:18; preserved, Psalms 145:20. And the main aspect of His handiwork is the creation and maintenance of a universe of happy beings who subsist on His bountiful care. His tender mercies are over all His works. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 145

¹  David praises God for his fame
⁸  For his goodness
¹¹  For his kingdom
¹⁴  For his providence
¹⁷  For his justice, holiness, and savings mercy