In times of trouble, we tend to run to God for healing, a miracle, or any kind of help. But during times of happiness, we often forget to thank Him—or if we do, it’s usually just with a simple word of thanks.
Have we ever spent as much time thanking God as we spend asking Him for things?
I think it’s important! God wants His people to come to Him with a heart full of thanksgiving and praise.
David begins his psalm with a heart that acknowledges that God deserves to be praised. True worship or praise begins when a heart understands how worthy God is of all honor and glory.
This prayer of David also teaches us something profound. The life of David was not an easy one. He went through the wilderness, was chased and hunted to be killed, and even had to act like a madman just to save his life. He faced many conflicts in his family and in his career. His own son plotted against him, and he endured countless trials.
But David’s story did not end there. This psalm is a reflection of God’s greatness and a testimony of David’s experiences with God.
Learning from David’s Life
What do we learn from this psalm?
Even though David went through some of the toughest moments in life, he still found reasons to say, “God is great.”
Likewise, even when we go through times of deep struggle or disturbance, we must never forget that there will come a day when we will realize that God is good and that there is hope and joy after every trial.
David says he will meditate on God’s majesty. I remember one of my directors once said to me, “Boy, when you look at a girl, you may observe her, but do not meditate—because when you meditate, you apply.”
How funny that example sounds, right? But applying it to David’s case reminds us of something important. David doesn’t just observe God’s majesty—he meditates on it. That means he applies it in his life, letting God’s greatness shape his thoughts, his actions, and his heart.
The point David is making here is this: he doesn’t just observe God’s majesty; he meditates on it—he applies it to his heart and life.
“The Lord is Good to All”
Another phrase that stands out in verse 9 is: “The Lord is good to all.”
Now, after going through so much pain and hardship, how could David still say, “The Lord is good to all”?
Think about this:
How can you tell a woman who lost her baby during childbirth that “the Lord is good to all”?
Or how can you tell a man who just lost his wife that “God is good to all”?
How would that sound to them?
Honestly, I don’t know the perfect answer. But looking at David’s life, we can say this: at every point in life, there will come a moment when we recognize that God is good.
Even when we lose the most precious things or the people we love most, there will come a time when we can look back and say, “It was meant for good.” We will be able to say with conviction that “God is good to all.”
God Lifts the Weary Soul
In verses 14–16, David praises God for lifting up those who are weary or discouraged—the souls that have failed or fallen. He also praises God for His providence and for the way He provides for His people.
In verse 16, David says that “God satisfies the desires of every living thing.” Now, does this mean that all the desires of people will be fulfilled? If that were true, I think the lifespan of the human race would be no more than 40 years or much more lesser than that.
But verse 19 gives clarity: “He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him.” This means that if what we desire is in the will of God, He will fulfill it.
I have experienced something similar in my own life. After I chose to follow the path of ministry, some said to me, “Boy, be a teacher or get a job, earn money, and support the church.” My family also encouraged me to work and support them. I wouldn’t say they were wrong—but my desire for mission grew stronger and stronger. To make the long story short, I am here today because of that God-given desire for mission.
Praising God from Beginning to End
In the last five verses (17–21), David seems to summarize everything he said earlier in the psalm.
What is this psalm really about? Many things. But most importantly, it gives us the privilege to look back at the wonderful works of God and reminds us to praise Him for both the good times and the bad.
Interestingly, when I looked at the Hebrew version of this psalm, I found something very meaningful. David starts every sentence with a new letter of the Hebrew alphabet. This means that David praises God from beginning to end—from A to Z, so to speak.
As believers of God, it is always important to praise God and thank Him for all that He has done for us.
Just as David saw the kingdom of God in verses 12 and 13, we too will one day see our final home.
Moreover, learning from the life of David, even though we walk through the dark forests of life, there will always come a day when we will see the green pastures again and be able to say, “God is good to all who fear Him.”
Amen!
