Tehillim 145 | Tehilla LeDavid

Our chapter, the psalm of Ashrei, is well-known and recited three times daily in prayer. Chazal said that anyone who recites it three times a day is assured a share in the world-to-come, and the Gemara offers a double rationale: “Because it is arranged alphabetically... and because it contains praise for God’s provision of sustenance to all of creation: ‘You open Your hand’ it contains the verse ‘You open Your hand’... the reason why Tehilla LeDavid is accorded preference is because it contains both” (Berakhot 4b). The conclusion of the Gemara, then, is that the combination of these two qualities distinguishes the psalm: the fact that it spans nearly the entire Alef-Bet (except for the letter nun—see the Gemara there), and that it includes the praise: “You open Your hand and satisfy the needs of every living thing.”

If we analyze the structure of the psalm, we can identify key motifs and a gradual progression. Dr. Beni Gesundheit and Reuven Kimelman, in the attached article, show that the backbone of the psalm revolves around the act of blessing. At first, David himself blesses: “A song of praise of David. I will exalt You, my God, the King, and bless Your name for ever and all time. Every day I will bless You...” (145:1–2). In the middle of the psalm, the circle widens, and all of God’s faithful begin to bless Him: “All Your works shall thank You, Lord, and Your devoted ones shall bless You” (145:10). By the end of the psalm, the process is complete, and everyone joins in blessing: “My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord, and all creatures shall bless His holy name for ever and all time” (145:21).

The psalm divides into two central parts. The first section (verses 3–9) focuses on David’s personal experience, joined with the praises of previous generations. The main idea developed in the second section (verses 11–20) is the expansion of praise to include all humanity. This is achieved by describing God’s kindness to all His creatures, leading to the eventual inclusion of all creatures in blessing Him. The transition point (verses 10–11) and the key to expanding the praise is the community of the faithful: “All Your works shall thank You, Lord, and Your devoted ones shall bless You. They shall talk of the glory of Your kingship and speak of Your might” (145:10–11). Once David is joined by others who recount God’s kingship and might, the reach of the praise becomes far broader—eventually encompassing all creation.

Returning to the two qualities Chazal highlighted in this psalm, we see how they relate to the psalm’s simple structure. Chazal saw the uniqueness of the chapter in its inclusion of all the letters of the Alef-Bet. This structural fact reflects the essence of the psalm: just as it encompasses all the letters of the Alef-Bet, it outlines a process by which God’s blessing and praise encompass all of creation. In the final section of the psalm (verses 13–21), the word כל (all) appears no fewer than fourteen times. The centrality of the verse “You open Your hand” also becomes clear, as it expresses not only God’s sovereignty over the world and His power (as emphasized at the beginning of the second part, verses 11–13), but also His care and compassion for His creatures, providing for all their needs. This theme, developed most fully in verses 14–16, reaches its climax in the verse: “You open Your hand and satisfy the needs of every living thing”—and at the end of the psalm, all those living beings indeed bless God: “My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord, and all creatures shall bless His holy name for ever and all time.”