Take a look at this, and read it thoughtfully. As you do, count the number of times the words “all” or “every” appear.
The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.
The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.
All you have made will praise you, O Lord; your saints will extol you.
They will tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, so that all men may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations.
The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made.
The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.
The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time.
You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
The Lord is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made.
The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.
The Lord watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.
My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord.
Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever (Psalms 145:8-21, NIV).
I don’t know about you, but when I read this, my first instinct is to argue. “You can’t mean that literally. What about…?”
But what if He did mean it? Straight up. Face value. Think about it…
If I can believe the Lord is good to all, then I can believe He is good to me. I can then be good to all in His name.
If I can believe His mercies are over all His works, then I can trust that His mercies are over the works that affect me, whether they appear to be mercies or not. I can then be an expression of His mercy by being tenderhearted and forgiving toward those who hurt me.
If I can believe that all His works will give thanks to Him, then I can trust that whatever He is doing in my life, the day will come when I can celebrate His faithfulness – even when I can’t see what He’s doing now. I can then be an expression of His faithfulness by having a contagious spirit of gratitude around others.
If I can believe that the Lord sustains all who fall, then I can trust him when I’m lying face-down in shame and defeat. I can then lift up the fallen in His name.
If I can believe that the Lord raises up all who are bowed down, then I can trust Him to be “my glory, and the lifter of my head.” I can then help lift the countenance of the downcast, regardless of the reasons for their brokenness.
If I can believe that the Lord opens His hand and satisfies the desire of every living thing, then I can trust Him to meet my needs and satisfy my hunger. I can then be generous with the resources He has given me.
If I can believe that the Lord is righteous in all His ways, then I can trust His ways to be right and holy as He deals with me. I can then be an instrument of righteousness and truth in all my relationships and dealings.
If I can believe that the Lord is kind in all His deeds, then I can trust that whatever I am seeing or receiving from Him is driven by kindness. I can then be an expression of His kindness to all people, regardless of whether they have “earned” my kindness or not.
If I can believe that the Lord is near to all who call upon Him in truth, then I can believe that He comes near me when I call on Him in the name of the Truth. I can then be an expression of that nearness as I pray for and in agreement with all who call on His name.
If I can believe that the Lord keeps all who love Him, then I can believe that He’s keeping me, even when I feel thrown away. I can then be a reminder to those who love Him that He will never leave them, nor forsake them.
If I can believe that all flesh will bless His name forever, then I can get an early start, and bless His name today – now. I can then join with every brother and sister in Him throughout the world in singing praise to the Name above every name.
Hmmm. Maybe “all” really does mean ALL.