This is part 2 of a larger series on the Biblical Theme of “Calling on the Name of the Lord.”
- You can read Part 1 here.

In my short introduction, I wrote about this fascination I have with a repeating theme across Scripture. "Calling", in some variety, is this action of humanity directed towards God. It is all over Scripture, and fleshes itself out in the Old Testament.

I have a working theory that this act, first found in Genesis 4, is the fundamental posture humans are to take with God.

Today, for the second post, I want to share some reflections from Psalm 145:16-20 as a great example of how this works.

You open your hand, satisfying the desire of every living thing. The LORD is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings. The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of all who fear him; he also hears their cry, and saves them. The LORD watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. NRSV

There are four things from these verses that can help us build up this idea of “calling on the name of the Lord.”

Satisfaction​
Satisfaction finds its root meaning in being full, literally, as in full of food. To have enough of what we need (Deut 8:10). This word gets used all over scripture with creation. Dig into Psalm 104 to see it in action.For humans, this means we root satisfaction in this fullness of what we need to truly operate and be fully human. We might need to rewire our satisfaction lens a bit. Sure, I’d love a custom shop Fender Stratocaster…but this doesn’t really hit the OG Biblical definition.Satisfaction comes from God, and it helps us move this emotion as a key idea for humanity.

The larger character of God. ​
We read in the passage about God being just and kind. Key attributes of who He is. God's offering of satisfaction to us is not a side quest for the divine. It is fundamentally part of who He is. God is just. Rights are made wrong. God is kind. He offers loyalty and faithfulness to us. The NRSV translates that deeper theological idea of “loving-kindness” simply as kind. God has a holy follow-through with His people.

Presence​
This is another larger theme I am always tracking in Scripture. The Triune God seems a bit obsessed with making sure we know He is close in proximity to us. Think about the tabernacle and temple. Think of John 1:14, the Word of flesh moving into the neighborhood. Revelation 21 and the promise of God being with His people in eternity. Being with God, both eternally and in the here and now, is a desired place for all men and women. We need to be cultivating a sense of this presence.

This means a re-sorting of how the world is experienced and how we are reframing our experience of existence into the Lord.

Lastly, about that call thing… ​
To call out is to exercise speech. There is a whole thing about speech and words in Scripture. To call on God is to have an attitude of trusting and invoking the power of His presence in all things.

I think Psalm 145 is a great primer to begin thinking about this action of US calling on God. Next time, I want to talk about this weird realization about calling and refuge, which changed a book of Bible from being one of my least favorite ones into a beloved story of God and a person.

Chad

Setting up my 2026 Bible Each year, I buy a new Cambridge Wide Margin. I use it for nearly everything throughout the year. I cover it in notes, and at the end of the year I file them away. Here is my 2026 Bible set-up, and a quick review of 2025's Bible. Watch The Video