Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 145:16

"Thou openest thy hand, And satisfiest the desire of every living thing." — Psalms 145:16 (ASV)

You open your hand — By the mere opening of your hand all needful gifts are bestowed on the creatures dependent on you. The same words are found in Psalms 104:28; see the notes at that passage.

And satisfy the desire of every living thing — This includes all kinds of creatures—people, birds, beasts, fish, insects—the innumerable multitudes that swarm on the earth, in the air, and in the waters. In Psalms 104:28, it is, They are filled with good. The meaning is essentially the same.

Of course, this is to be understood in a general sense. It cannot mean that absolutely no one ever needs, or ever perishes from want. Instead, the idea is that of the amazing beneficence and fullness of God in being able and willing to satisfy such multitudes, and to keep them from perishing by cold, hunger, or nakedness.

And, in fact, how few birds perish by hunger; how few of the infinite number of the inhabitants of the sea; how few animals that roam over deserts, or in vast plains; how few people; how few even of the insect tribes—how few in the world revealed by the microscope—the world beneath us—the innumerable multitudes of living things too small even to be seen by the naked eye of man!