Single lesson
Psalm 145: I Will Exalt You, My God and King
Psalms 145:1–21
Psalm 145 is a song of praise that begins with one speaker saying, “I will”, then widens out to include generations, all God’s works, and finally all flesh. Children can trace how the psalm grows from personal praise to worldwide praise.
Before you teach
This psalm repeatedly praises Yahweh as King, great, gracious, good, righteous and near. It moves through God’s mighty acts, his kingdom, his care for those who fall and for every living thing, and ends by calling all flesh to bless his holy name forever.
Students will identify the speaker, key images and the movement of Psalm 145, and explain how the psalm praises Yahweh’s greatness, kingdom, care and nearness.
Welcome: Listen for repeated praise words
4 minTell students they are hearing a poem or prayer from the Bible. Read Psalms 145:1-3 aloud slowly. Ask them to listen for repeated words such as “praise”, “name” and “forever and ever”. Point out that the speaker says “I will”, so the psalm begins with a personal choice to exalt and praise God the King.
Psalms 145:1, Psalms 145:2, Psalms 145:3
Read and explain: From one voice to many voices
7 minRead Psalms 145:4-9. Show how the poem moves from one person speaking to many people across time: “One generation will commend your works to another”. Explain simple picture words and ideas such as “mighty acts”, “wondrous works”, “great goodness”, and that Yahweh is described as gracious, merciful, slow to anger and full of loving kindness.
Psalms 145:4, Psalms 145:5, Psalms 145:6, Psalms 145:7, Psalms 145:8, Psalms 145:9
Discuss: The glory of God’s kingdom
6 minRead Psalms 145:10-13. Ask students who is speaking now: God’s works, God’s saints, and the psalm writer all join in praise. Explain that “kingdom” and “dominion” describe God’s rule. This kingdom is called everlasting and across all generations, so the poem celebrates that God’s rule does not end.
Psalms 145:10, Psalms 145:11, Psalms 145:12, Psalms 145:13
Make and respond: An illustrated praise card
9 minRead Psalms 145:14-19. Invite students to choose one image from the psalm to draw, such as God opening his hand, people waiting for food, someone being upheld after falling, or a person calling on God. Then they add one short line from the psalm beside the picture and share how that image shows God’s care or nearness.
Psalms 145:14, Psalms 145:15, Psalms 145:16, Psalms 145:18, Psalms 145:19
Closing: The ending call to bless God
4 minRead Psalms 145:20-21. Note that the psalm ends with both confidence and a final call: “My mouth will speak the praise of Yahweh” and “Let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.” Finish by asking the class to say one word from the psalm that tells who God is.
Psalms 145:20, Psalms 145:21
Questions to explore
What words in the opening verses show that the speaker is choosing to praise God personally?
Look for the repeated “I will” and the names given to God in the first lines of the psalm.
Psalms 145:1, Psalms 145:2
How does the psalm grow from one person’s praise to many voices joining in?
Notice the change from “I will” to “one generation”, “they will”, “all your works”, “your saints” and “all flesh”.
Psalms 145:4, Psalms 145:7, Psalms 145:10, Psalms 145:21
Which pictures in the second half of the psalm show God caring for people and living things?
Find the verses about upholding those who fall, giving food, opening his hand, being near to callers, and hearing their cry.
Psalms 145:14, Psalms 145:15, Psalms 145:16, Psalms 145:18, Psalms 145:19
Make, think or respond
Illustrated Praise Card
What you’ll need
- paper or card
- pencils or crayons
- Bible text of Psalm 145
- markers
Try it together
- Read Psalms 145:14-19 again and let each student choose one image or line.
- Draw a simple picture that matches the chosen line, such as an open hand, food, someone being lifted up, or a person calling on God.
- Write the matching words from the psalm beside the picture.
- Invite students to show their card and explain how their picture fits the psalm’s praise.
This activity helps students notice that Psalm 145 uses clear images to praise Yahweh’s care, generosity and nearness.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, offer two or three verse choices and let them copy only one short phrase such as “You open your hand” or “Yahweh is near”.
- For older or more confident children, ask them to sort the psalm into four movements: personal praise, generations praising, kingdom praise, and care for all.
An optional closing prayer
“Yahweh, thank you that you are great, gracious and good. Help us notice your works and speak your praise with our mouths. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Psalms 145
1 I will exalt you, my God, the King. I will praise your name forever and ever.
2 Every day I will praise you. I will extol your name forever and ever.
3 Great is Yahweh, and greatly to be praised! His greatness is unsearchable.
4 One generation will commend your works to another, and will declare your mighty acts.
5 I will meditate on the glorious majesty of your honor, on your wondrous works.
6 Men will speak of the might of your awesome acts. I will declare your greatness.
7 They will utter the memory of your great goodness, and will sing of your righteousness.
8 Yahweh is gracious, merciful, slow to anger, and of great loving kindness.
9 Yahweh is good to all. His tender mercies are over all his works.
10 All your works will give thanks to you, Yahweh. Your saints will extol you.
11 They will speak of the glory of your kingdom, and talk about your power,
12 to make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, the glory of the majesty of his kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. Your dominion endures throughout all generations. Yahweh is faithful in all his words, and loving in all his deeds.
14 Yahweh upholds all who fall, and raises up all those who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all wait for you. You give them their food in due season.
16 You open your hand, and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17 Yahweh is righteous in all his ways, and gracious in all his works.
18 Yahweh is near to all those who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear him. He also will hear their cry, and will save them.
20 Yahweh preserves all those who love him, but he will destroy all the wicked.
21 My mouth will speak the praise of Yahweh. Let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.