Psa 145:17 | KingComments | STEP | He is not only the Creator of the universe, but also its Sustainer. We will see this in the coming verses. The greatness of the LORD in His supreme administration of the universe does not prevent Him from being concerned with all the needs of men. On the contrary, it is an aspect of His greatness that He despises nothing ( ). He “sustains all who fall”, that is, all who are weak and have no strength to stand ( ). He also raises up all who are weighed down by a burden. All His creatures depend on Him. The remnant, in whom is the Spirit of Christ, says to the LORD: “The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food in due time” ( ; ). God provides for all the needs of His creatures; they all receive food at the time they need it (cf. ). He is the great Caretaker of His creation. He maintains His great garden with great ease and great skill, overlooking no one and nothing. All that God has to do is to open His hand, and all that lives is satisfied ( ; ). His hand, the picture of His actions, is at work in His creation to bless all that is in it, from man to beast. His opened hand shows that He gives mildly and abundantly (cf. ). He allows crops to germinate and grow, so that they become food or can be processed into food, and all living things can satisfy themselves with it. He does this according to their desire. This action of God in His creation shows that He is “righteous in all His ways” and “kind in all His deeds” ( ). From “all His ways” that He treads to accomplish His purpose, it is clear that He is “righteous”. No one will ever be able to accuse Him of unrighteousness. On the contrary, in His ways it is evident that He is walking in a right way. “All His deeds” show that He is “kind”, meaning that nothing of any of His works is harmful to anyone and none of it is useless. On the contrary, in His works it appears that He is kind to all His creatures. It are blessings that the LORD can give because they are based on the covenant. Everything He does makes sense and involves blessing for all His creatures. His righteousness and His lovingkindness are always in perfect harmony with each other. If God already cares for His creation in this way, how much more will He care for those who are connected to Him. Those who are connected Him and enjoy His special care are characterized by three aspects: they are those “who call upon Him” ( ), “who fear Him” ( ) and “all who love Him” ( ). Of the first category it says that they are “all who call upon Him” ( ). It is added as a further provision that it is “all who call upon Him in truth” (cf. ). All who call upon Him in truth, that is, in truthfulness, without any hypocrisy, may count on Him being “near” to them ( ). He comes to them personally to have fellowship with them. This is what Paul experienced. While in captivity, he can say that the Lord is “near” ( ). The second category has as a characteristic that they “fear Him”, that is, they have reverence and awe for Him ( ). When they cry out to Him, He “hears their cry and will save them” (cf. ). He is always available to those who fear Him to fulfill their desire for salvation from their distress. The third category includes “all who love Him” ( ). They are kept by the LORD so that the wicked will not harm them. The wicked will encounter Him as the God Who judges wickedness ( ). Not one wicked person remains, for “all the wicked He will destroy”. All who love Him will have nothing more to fear from the wicked.

‏ Psalms 145:17

What the LORD Does and Is

He is not only the Creator of the universe, but also its Sustainer. We will see this in the coming verses. The greatness of the LORD in His supreme administration of the universe does not prevent Him from being concerned with all the needs of men. On the contrary, it is an aspect of His greatness that He despises nothing (Job 36:5). He “sustains all who fall”, that is, all who are weak and have no strength to stand (Psa 145:14). He also raises up all who are weighed down by a burden.

All His creatures depend on Him. The remnant, in whom is the Spirit of Christ, says to the LORD: “The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food in due time” (Psa 145:15; Psa 104:27). God provides for all the needs of His creatures; they all receive food at the time they need it (cf. Mt 6:26). He is the great Caretaker of His creation. He maintains His great garden with great ease and great skill, overlooking no one and nothing.

All that God has to do is to open His hand, and all that lives is satisfied (Psa 145:16; Psa 104:28). His hand, the picture of His actions, is at work in His creation to bless all that is in it, from man to beast. His opened hand shows that He gives mildly and abundantly (cf. Deu 15:8 ; 11). He allows crops to germinate and grow, so that they become food or can be processed into food, and all living things can satisfy themselves with it. He does this according to their desire.

This action of God in His creation shows that He is “righteous in all His ways” and “kind in all His deeds” (Psa 145:17). From “all His ways” that He treads to accomplish His purpose, it is clear that He is “righteous”. No one will ever be able to accuse Him of unrighteousness. On the contrary, in His ways it is evident that He is walking in a right way.

“All His deeds” show that He is “kind”, meaning that nothing of any of His works is harmful to anyone and none of it is useless. On the contrary, in His works it appears that He is kind to all His creatures. It are blessings that the LORD can give because they are based on the covenant. Everything He does makes sense and involves blessing for all His creatures. His righteousness and His lovingkindness are always in perfect harmony with each other.

If God already cares for His creation in this way, how much more will He care for those who are connected to Him. Those who are connected Him and enjoy His special care are characterized by three aspects: they are those “who call upon Him” (Psa 145:18), “who fear Him” (Psa 145:19) and “all who love Him” (Psa 145:20).

Of the first category it says that they are “all who call upon Him” (Psa 145:18). It is added as a further provision that it is “all who call upon Him in truth” (cf. Psa 51:6). All who call upon Him in truth, that is, in truthfulness, without any hypocrisy, may count on Him being “near” to them (Psa 34:19). He comes to them personally to have fellowship with them. This is what Paul experienced. While in captivity, he can say that the Lord is “near” (Phil 4:5).

The second category has as a characteristic that they “fear Him”, that is, they have reverence and awe for Him (Psa 145:19). When they cry out to Him, He “hears their cry and will save them” (cf. Isa 65:24). He is always available to those who fear Him to fulfill their desire for salvation from their distress.

The third category includes “all who love Him” (Psa 145:20). They are kept by the LORD so that the wicked will not harm them. The wicked will encounter Him as the God Who judges wickedness (Psa 101:8). Not one wicked person remains, for “all the wicked He will destroy”. All who love Him will have nothing more to fear from the wicked.