^{14 “}The Lord helps the fallen
    and lifts those bent beneath their loads.
¹⁵ The eyes of all look to you in hope;
    you give them their food as they need it.
¹⁶ When you open your hand,
    you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing.”

Psalm 145:14-16, NLT

The psalm continues to reveal aspects of God’s personality. Imagine God lying on a psychiatrist’s couch. Questions are asked and the Almighty deigns to answer. Ridiculous you suggest.

But this entire Psalm is God being thought about– mostly through David’s life experience. And David has a handle on the character of God (or, God has a handle on David.)

Commentary

V. 14, ^“The Lord helps the fallen
    and lifts those bent beneath their loads.”

God is in the business of “people repair.” “Helps and lifts.” This is how God thinks and acts and behaves toward broken down people. He loves it when we are weak, when life has run us over, when we are crushed.

We are all carrying loads. Some are bearing more than others. But the Lord is ready to pick us up were we have collapsed.

“He will not crush the weakest reed
    or put out a flickering candle.
    He will bring justice to all who have been wronged.”

Isaiah 42:3, NLT

V. 15, “The eyes of all look to you in hope;
    you give them their food as they need it.”

Disciples are desperately dependent on God. They have come to this sincere place of hope. They believe that there will always be provision made for them. Philip Yancey wrote about this,  

“A God wise enough to create me and the world I live in is wise enough to watch out for me.”

V. 16, “When you open your hand,
    you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing.”

Everything comes from His hand. Satisfaction guaranteed through an iron-clad covenant– through the blood of Jesus. His deep care and concern will meet us on our path. He sets a “table for us, in the presence of our enemies.”

ybic, Bryan

 

Related articles

• Life is Hard, But God is Really Good: Psalm 145:8-10 (psalmslife.com)
• God in Control: Psalm 145:12-13 (psalmslife.com)
• The True King: Psalm 145 (psalmslife.com)