Psalm 145:17 Commentary

One verse before the great nearness promise (v. 18), David anchors his confidence. The God who draws near is righteous in all His ways. He does not draw near to compromise but to bless from spotless character.

Psalm 145 is David's final acrostic praise of God's kingship. Verses 17-20 form a tight cluster: righteous (v. 17), near (v. 18), satisfying (v. 19), preserving (v. 20). Character undergirds all four blessings.

'Righteous in all his ways' (tsaddiq be-khol derakhav) — without exception. Even God's hardest providences are righteous.

'Holy' (chasid) — kindly faithful, covenant-keeping. The same root as chesed.

God's nearness (v. 18) is precious because His character (v. 17) is unimpeachable. A near god of suspect character would terrify; a far god of holy character would frustrate. He is both holy and near.

When God's ways seem unjust, return to v. 17. The verse you may not feel must overrule the feeling you cannot yet explain. Righteous in all — including the providences you do not understand.