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Psalm 145 · a question people ask

"The LORD is near to all those who call on him" (145:18). Is he near to everyone?

In the text

The verse says whom it means, and says it twice: "to all those who call on him, to all who call on him in truth" (145:18). In Hebrew in truth is be'emet. The psalm doesn't say more about what calling on him in truth is, and these notes don't either. The two words that open the verse, qarov and the divine name, The LORD is near (tap near), open one other verse: "The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit" (Psalm 34:18). And Deuteronomy asks, "For what great nation is there that has a god so near to them as the LORD our God is whenever we call on him?" (Deuteronomy 4:7), with the same Hebrew words for near and call.

The verses

“The LORD is near to all those who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”
Psalm 145:18 · World English Bible
“The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit.”
Psalm 34:18 · World English Bible
“For what great nation is there that has a god so near to them as the LORD our God is whenever we call on him?”
Deuteronomy 4:7 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Psalm 145

Psalm 145: Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom

In Hebrew, Psalm 145 gives each verse the next letter of the alphabet, from aleph to tav, and one letter, nun, has no verse. And the title's first word, tehillah, "praise", is also the first word of the last verse: "My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD" (145:21).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions