Psalms 145:15
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Psalms 145:15
15 The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season.
Chapter Context
Psalms 145 is a poetic and liturgical chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of righteousness, mercy, obedience. Written during various periods (c. 1000-400 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Temple worship utilized these compositions across various periods of Israel's history.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-21: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it provides essential context for understanding God's covenant relationship with His people. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Psalms and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Psalms 145:15
15 The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season.
Analysis
The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season. Universal dependence on divine providence—einei-khol (עֵינֵי־כֹל) "the eyes of all"—all creatures look expectantly to God for sustenance. The verb yĕsabberu (יְשַׂבֵּרוּ) "wait/hope" conveys eager anticipation, confident expectation. This echoes Psalm 104:27-28, portraying creation's utter dependence on God's provision.
Thou givest them their meat in due season (ve'attah noten-lahem et-okhlam be'itto, וְאַתָּה נוֹתֵן־לָהֶם אֶת־אָכְלָם בְּעִתּוֹ)—be'itto (בְּעִתּוֹ) "in its time" emphasizes God's perfect timing, neither early nor late. Jesus taught disciples to pray "give us this day our daily bread" (Matthew 6:11) and trust God's provision like birds of the air (Matthew 6:26), applications of this psalm's principle.
Historical Context
Agricultural societies understood seasonal dependence acutely—rain must come at the right time, harvest at the proper season. Israel's covenant blessings included timely rains (Deuteronomy 11:14), while curses included drought and failed harvests. This verse assured believers that God faithfully provides according to His wisdom.
Reflection
- How can daily dependence on God for provision guard against both anxiety and presumption?
- What does it mean to 'wait' for God's provision rather than frantically striving or passively assuming?
- How should believers balance working diligently with trusting God's provision 'in due season'?
Cross-References
- Parallel theme: Psalms 104:21, 104:27, 136:25, 145:9, Genesis 1:30, Joel 2:22