Does Psalm 145:9 Teach Common Grace?
Rev. Angus Stewart argues that Psalm 145:9 does not support the doctrine of common grace, using Hebrew parallelism to demonstrate that "all God's works" refers exclusively to God's elect people rather than all humanity including the reprobate. Stewart contends that since the reprobate do not praise God (v. 10), they cannot be objects of God's tender mercies, thereby refuting a key proof text used by common grace advocates.
Rev. Angus Stewart God’s “tender mercies are over all his works,” according to Psalm 145:9. Advocates of “common grace” reckon that “all [God’s] works” here refer to everybody head for head, including the reprobate. But immediately the next verse declares, “All thy works shall praise thee” (10a). The reprobate do not praise God, and so they cannot be the objects of God’s “tender mercies” (9). According to Hebrew parallelism, “thy saints shall bless thee” (10b) defines God’s works here as His...