Missionary Bob Mach preached a message rooted in the beloved acrostic psalm of David. Psalm 145 stands unique among David’s psalms as “A Praise of David,” a hymn so treasured in Jewish tradition that it was recited three times daily. In this uplifting sermon, Missionary Bob invites us to behold our complete God through four majestic attributes revealed in the text: His greatness, His power, His righteousness and holiness, and His mercy.
God’s Greatness (vs. 3, 5, 6)
“Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable” (Psalm 145:3 KJV). No human mind can fully grasp the grandeur of God. The Scriptures alone give us glimpses: Israel trembled at Mount Sinai when the Lord displayed His glory and greatness; Isaiah declared that all nations are as nothing before Him and asked, “To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?” (Isaiah 40:18 KJV).
In our day, many finite people presume to redefine God according to their own preferences and then criticise Him when He fails to meet their expectations. Yet God’s greatness towers infinitely above such thoughts. He is infinite, immutable, self-sufficient, omniscient, omnipresent, perfectly wise, faithful, good, gracious, and loving. His sovereignty and human responsibility stand in perfect harmony, woven together by His all-knowing foreknowledge to accomplish His flawless plan. We can never overestimate the greatness of our God.
God’s Power (vs. 6, 11-13)
Men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts, and the glorious majesty of His kingdom endures throughout all generations (Psalm 145:6, 11-13 KJV). From the creation of the universe to its ongoing preservation, God’s power leaves us speechless. By Christ “were all things created… and by him all things consist” (Colossians 1:16-17 KJV). In one second the sun converts four million tonnes of matter into energy equivalent to over a million years of the earth’s total power generation. That same sun is one star among an estimated 1 followed by 24 zeroes, a number astronomers admit is likely far too low.
We see the same limitless power in the miracles of the Old Testament: the flood, the plagues of Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, the falling walls of Jericho, the sun standing still for Joshua, fire from heaven on Mount Carmel, and many more. As Israel confessed, “What God is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might?” (Deuteronomy 3:24 KJV). Nothing can prevent His purposes; when His hand is stretched out, no one can turn it back.
God’s Righteousness and Holiness (vs. 7, 17, 20)
“The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works” (Psalm 145:17 KJV). Holiness is the crown of all God’s attributes, the essence of His perfect “God-ness.” Every thought, desire, word, and action of God is utterly holy. The Bible mentions “holy” or its derivatives more than six hundred times across fifty-one books because there is none holy as the Lord.
When we truly grasp His holiness, we react like Isaiah: “Woe is me!” Yet this same holiness is our protection. God’s wrath against sin is never arbitrary; it is the holy act of preserving His creation from moral collapse. As A. W. Tozer wrote, the holiness of God, the wrath of God, and the health of creation are inseparably joined. Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty.
God’s Mercy (vs. 8, 9, 14-16, 18-19)
“The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works” (Psalm 145:8-9 KJV). Though we were born enemies of God, deserving condemnation, He sent His Son to bear our punishment and satisfy divine justice. Everyone who repents and believes receives forgiveness and eternal life, not because we earned it, but because of His great mercy.
This mercy does not end at salvation; it accompanies believers every single day, often shielding us from consequences we never even see. Missionary Bob shared a personal story from 2008 in Côte d’Ivoire that beautifully illustrates this truth. Despite his initial reluctance and fear of travelling through rebel-held territory to preach at a village funeral, God’s mercy overruled his hesitation. The result? Sixty villagers came to Christ in two nights, a church was planted, and a lasting work began, all because God mercifully pressed His servant forward when obedience felt impossible.
A Call to Praise and Proclamation
David’s response to beholding the complete God was immediate and overflowing: “I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever. Every day will I bless thee” (Psalm 145:1-2 KJV). One generation is to declare His mighty acts to another. All His saints are to speak of the glory of His kingdom and make His deeds known among the nations.
Knowing our complete God must move us beyond private admiration into active proclamation. In a world where sharing the gospel often feels awkward, we are called to be intentional, creative, and faithful, targeting at least one person at a time with the good news of Christ.
May the vision of Psalm 145 stir our hearts afresh to worship, to witness, and to rejoice in the God whose greatness, power, holiness, and mercy are altogether complete. To Him be blessing and honour and glory and power for ever and ever. Amen.
