PSALM 146

Lifetime to praise verse 1- 2

Praise you the LORD

Praise the LORD – O my soul

while I live will I praise the LORD

I will sing praises to my God

while I have any being

Don’t trust alone in people verse 3- 4

Put not your trust in princes – nor in the son of man

in whom there is no help

his breath goes forth – he returns to his earth

in that very day his thoughts perish

Trust in the LORD brings hope verse 5- 9

Happy is he that has the God of Jacob for his help

whose hope is in the LORD his God

Which made heaven – and earth – and the sea

and all that therein is which keeps truth for ever

which executes judgment for the oppressed

which gives food to the hungry

The LORD looses the prisoners

the LORD opens the eyes of the blind

the LORD raises them that are bowed down

the LORD loves the righteous

the LORD preserves the strangers

HE relieves the fatherless and widow

BUT the way of the wicked HE turns upside down

LORD is in control verse 10

The LORD shall reign forever – even YOUR God – O Zion

to all generations

Praise you the LORD

COMMENTARY:

DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers

: 2 “While I live I will praise the LORD; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.” The New King James Version (Nashville: ThomasNelson, 1982.) (Praise – 1984 הָלַל, הָלַל, הָלַל, הַלְלוּיָהּ [halal /haw·lal/] v. A primitive root; TWOT 499, 500; GK 2145 and 2146 and 2147 and 2149; 165 occurrences; AV translates as “praise” 117 times, “glory” 14 times, “boast” 10 times, “mad” eight times, “shine” three times, “foolish” three times, “fools” twice, “commended” twice, “rage” twice, “celebrate” once, “give” once, “ marriage” once, and “renowned” once. 1 to shine. 1A (Qal) to shine (fig. of God’s favour). 1B (Hiphil) to flash forth light. 2 to praise, boast, be boastful. 2A (Qal). 2A1 to be boastful. 2A2 boastful ones, boasters (participle). 2B (Piel). 2B1 to praise. 2B2 to boast, make a boast. 2C (Pual). 2C1 to be praised, be made praiseworthy, be commended, be worthy of praise. 2D (Hithpael) to boast, glory, make one’s boast. 2E (Poel) to make a fool of, make into a fool. 2F (Hithpoel) to act madly, act like a madman. James Strong, Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2001).

DEVOTION: How often do you praise the Lord? We often think of praising God during church or in the car when the music is playing. We may praise the Lord when something good and unexpected happens but do we praise Him in everything? That is difficult to do and often it is the last thing we think of when difficulties or pain is our companion. I was visiting a man in the hospital today and his family made the comment that he thanks everyone who comes into his room for their service and care for him. He prays and says thank you even when he is pricked, prodded and made extremely uncomfortable. He continually prays for his nurses and doctors. Needless to say everyone knows him and he is loved by the hospital staff. I walked away thinking about that man and his attitude and about mine. Am I praising God with my life regardless the circumstances? The psalmist made a vow to give praise while he lived, how are we doing?

CHALLENGE: Did you fail to give praise today because of a difficult situation? Ok, talk with the Lord and determine to make tomorrow a better day of praise! In spite of the situation, praise the Lord! (Dr. Brian Miller – board member)

DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers

: 5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God (5826 “help” [azar] means succor, support, helper, aid, or strength)

DEVOTION: How many of us are discouraged with our world. How many are discouraged with their church. How many are discouraged with things that are happening in their family. The Psalmist is dealing with this human problem. All of us need aid at times. Who should we call on to give us strength?

The Psalmist informs us that we are to call on the God of Jacob for our happiness. Of course, the God of Jacob is the LORD. We are to call on the LORD for our every need.

Those who want support during their trials need to be praising the LORD as often as they can. If this is taking place throughout our life then we will be able to sing while we go through each trial because we know that the LORD is available and will give us strength to face anything that comes our way.

Those who put their trust in princes or rulers or any human being will be let down most of the time. The Psalmist informs us that those who trust in these individuals will receive no support. He didn’t!!

Why? Because human beings are here today and gone tomorrow. The LORD is everlasting. HE is eternal. HE can be depended on to be there any time HE is needed. What should our reaction be to such knowledge? Happiness and hope!!!!

CHALLENGE: Three words should be incorporated into our life: happiness, support and hope. If they are manifested in us it will influence others to serve the LORD!!

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: 6 Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is, which keeps truth forever. (571 “truth” [‘emeth] means firmness, trustworthiness, constancy, duration, faithfulness, the quality of being faithful, stability, or perpetuity)

DEVOTION: One problem among many with humans is that we are not consistent. We change our mode with the wind. We have a problem doing things the same way all the time.

This is not one of God’s problems. HE is trustworthy in all that HE says and does. HE is the creator of the universe and of the human race. HE knows what our world is like. HE knows what the human race is capable of in our every day activities.

HE is consistent and we are not. HE understands what we are live and is willing to work with us. HE gives direction and we can chose to follow them or disobey them. There are blessings if we obey and discipline if we disobey.

HIS word is truth and HE is faithful in what HE says HE will do if we disobey and what will happen if we obey. We just have to study the Bible to see what HE expects of us and then do it regularly.

Truth is important to HIM. HE doesn’t want us to lie to ourselves or to others. Once we understand what the truth is from the word of God we can practice it with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Our responsibility at all times once we become a follower of Jesus Christ is to ask HIM for the help we need to obey the truth found in the Bible.

CHALLENGE: Am I asking and are you asking the LORD for help each moment of each day to help us obey the truth of the Word of God in our daily life? We can only do it with HIS help!

DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers

: 9 The LORD preserves the strangers; he relieves the fatherless and widows: but the way of the wicked he turns upside down. (5791 “turneth upside down” [‘avath] means to be bent, be crooked, pervert, overthrown or subvert)

DEVOTION: David is again praising the LORD. He is going to praise the LORD every day of his life. He has learned that he cannot trust man. Humans have let him down all through his life. He has had some faithful soldiers at his side but he has learned that they will turn on him if the circumstances change.

He finds his happiness or joy in serving the LORD. He knows that the LORD will help him through the hard times. History has taught him that fact. He knows the power of the LORD. He also knows that the LORD will judge the wicked.

The Bible tells us that God makes the way of the righteous straight. Here we find that the LORD works in the unbeliever in a different way. HE makes the wicked person’s way crooked. HE overthrows the wicked person’s life. The wicked person seems to have things all together from our perspective. That is not the truth. That is a lie from the devil.

The wicked are smooth talkers but full of lies each time they talk. The devil is the father of lies. He tries to deceive even the elect of God with his lies. He knows that his time is short. His followers know that their time is short. Their worldview is to eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die. However, they have forgotten about the judgment because they don’t think there is any judgment.

We are different. Our ways are preserved. Our God relieves those who have nowhere to turn but to HIM. Where does our hope and help come from on a daily basis???? The disciples in the book of Acts were accused of turning the world upside down but in reality they were turning the world right side up. Are we turning our world right side up?

CHALLENGE: Realize that you have the ability with the help of the LORD to turn your world and the world of those around you right side up. You just need to believe it.

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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:

BODY

Chastity (Purity in living)

Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)

Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)

Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)

Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)

SOUL

Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)

Frugality (wise use of resources)

Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)

Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)

Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)

SPIRIT

Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)

Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)

Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)

Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)

Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)

Praise verse 1, 2, 10

Sing while I have my being verse 2

Praise the LORD verse 10

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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:

Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)

God the Father (First person of the Godhead)

LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 1, 2, 5, 7- 10

God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign) verse 2, 5, 10

God of Jacob verse 5

LORD his God verse 5

Creator (made heaven and earth, sea verse 6

Keeps truth verse 6

Executes judgment for the oppressed verse 7

Gives food to the hungry verse 7

Looses the prisoners verse 7

Opens the eyes of the blind verse 8

Raises them that are bowed down verse 8

Loves the righteous verse 8

Preserves the strangers verse 9

Relieves the fatherless and widow verse 9

Way of the wicked HE turns upside down verse 9

LORD reigns forever verse 10

King verse 10

God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)

God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)

Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)

Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)

Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)

Princes verse 3

NO help from princes or son of man verse 3

Oppressed verse 7

Prisoners verse 7

Blind verse 8

Strangers verse 9

Fatherless verse 9

Widows verse 9

Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)

Trust in princes or son of man verse 3

Wicked verse 9

Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)

Praise in our soul verse 1, 2, 10

Sing verse 2

Trust verse 3

Help verse 3, 5

Happy verse 5

Hope verse 5

Truth verse 6

Provision of the LORD verse 7

Love verse 8

Righteous verse 8

Israel (Old Testament people of God)

Jacob verse 5

Zion verse 10

Church (New Testament people of God)

Last Things (Future Events)

Humans die (return to the earth) verse 4

Thoughts perish verse 4

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QUOTES regarding passage

146:7–9. The idea of God’s faithfulness (v. 6) suggested to the psalmist many ways in which the Lord is gracious and righteous to people. He helps the oppressed … gives food to the hungry (cf. 111:5; 132:15; 136:25; 145:15), releases prisoners … gives sight to … blind people, raises up the defeated, loves the righteous, protects the sojourner, and leads the orphan and widow to security. But, because He is just, He also leads the wicked away into frustration.

146:10. The psalmist concluded that the Lord reigns (cf. 9:7; 47:8; 93:1; 96:10; 97:1; 99:1) forever. As the eternal Ruler, He is sovereign (146:6), gracious (vv. 7–9b), and just (v. 9c). So He merits the closing Praise the Lord (halelû-yāh; cf. v. 1). (Ross, A. P. (1985). Psalms. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, pp. 896–897). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

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This list of God’s gracious ministries to needy people has at its heart “The Lord loves” (v. 8). He loves the church (Eph. 5:25), a lost world (John 3:16), and His people Israel (Deut. 4:37), and the greatest proof of that love is the cross (Rom. 5:8). Paul wrote, “He loved me and gave Himself for me” (Gal. 2:20, nkjv). All of the sins that help to produce these sad conditions were dealt with on the cross, but their existence in society is proof that the law of sin and death is reigning in this world (Rom. 5:12–21). During His ministry on earth, Jesus revealed God’s love by helping people who were hungry, sick, crippled, blind, bowed down, and otherwise unable to help themselves (Luke 4:16–21; Isa. 61:1–3). We love God because He first loved us (1 John 4:19), and if we truly love God, we will love those who need God’s help and will do all we can to help them (1 John 3:10–24; James 2:14–26). Living in love means more than enjoying God’s love for us (John 14:21–24). It also means sharing God’s love with others. We may not be able to perform miracles to heal the afflicted, but we can help them in other ways. (Wiersbe, W. W. (2004). Be exultant (1st ed., pp. 214–215). Colorado Springs, CO: Cook Communications Ministries.)

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146:8 Sight-Giver. The Lord opens the eyes of the blind; some are blind physically, some mentally and spiritually, some by birth, some by accident, and some by choice. No case is too hard for Him.

Uplifter. He lifts the flagging spirits of those who are bowed down beneath the burdens of worry, affliction, trouble, and sorrow.

Lover of good men. Barnes writes, “It is a characteristic of God, and a foundation for praise, that He loves those who obey law, who do that which is right.” (MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.) (p. 778). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.)

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Ver. 8. The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind, &c.] Who are corporeally blind; the eyes of many such were opened by Christ when here on earth, and one who was born blind; and such who are spiritually blind as to any knowledge of divine things, of God in Christ, of the way of life and salvation by Christ, of the Spirit and his operations, of their state and condition by nature, or of the things of the Gospel; the eyes of many such he opens so as to see their sin and danger, their want of righteousness, and need of Christ, and salvation by him; this is usually done by means of the ministry of the word, which is as an eye-salve; but the work is Christ’s, and a work of almighty power it is; see Isa. 35:4, 5. The Lord raiseth them that are bowed down; as he did in a literal sense the poor woman that was bowed together, Luke 13:11, 12, 16 and as he does in a spiritual sense such as are heavy laden with sin, and pressed with the burden of it; that are depressed with Satan’s temptations, and labour under sore afflictions and exercises; all which he supports his people under, and delivers them out of; and cheers and refreshes their souls with discoveries of his love and grace unto them; see Psal. 145:14. The Lord loveth the righteous; not self-righteous persons; these are not loved by God the Father, who preferred a publican to one of them; nor by Christ, who came not to call them to repentance; nor by the Spirit, who reproves and convinces men of self-righteousness; nor by angels, who rejoice at one sinner that repents more than over ninety and nine just persons who in their own opinion need no repentance: but such who are righteous through Christ’s righteousness imputed to them, and there are none righteous in any other way; and these Christ loves, not for any righteousness in them, or done by them; nor does his love flow from his own righteousness upon them, for he loved them from all eternity; and his engaging and undertaking to work out a righteousness for them, and the bringing in of that righteousness, were the fruits and effects of his love to them, and evidences of it; he suffered for them when they were in themselves unjust; he died for them when sinners, ungodly, and enemies; nevertheless, as they are clothed with his perfect righteousness, and are introduced unto him and presented before him in this raiment of needle-work, this clothing of wrought gold, this fine linen clean and white; he takes delight and pleasure in them, and they appear a glorious church, without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 4, p. 313). London: Mathews and Leigh.)

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8. “The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind.” Jesus did this very frequently, and hereby proved himself to be Jehovah. He who made the eye can open it, and when he does so it is to his glory. How often is the mental eye closed in moral night! And who can remove this dreary effect of the fall but the Almighty God? This miracle of grace he has performed in myriads of cases, and it is in each case a theme for loftiest praise. “The Lord raiseth them that are bowed down.” This also Jesus did literally, thus doing the work peculiar to God. Jehovah consoles the bereaved, cheers the defeated, solaces the despondent, comforts the despairing. Let those who are bowed to the ground appeal to him, and he will speedily upraise them. “The Lord loveth the righteous.” He gives to them the love of complacency, communion, and reward. Bad kings affect the licentious, but Jehovah makes the upright to be his favoured ones. This is greatly to his glory. Let those who enjoy the inestimable privilege of his love magnify his name with enthusiastic delight. Loved ones, you must never be absent from the choir! You must never pause from his praise whose infinite love has made you what you are. (Spurgeon, C. H. (n.d.). The treasury of David: Psalms 120-150 (Vol. 6, p. 403). London; Edinburgh; New York: Marshall Brothers.)

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FROM MY READING:

(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)

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Learning to Make This Day Count
“So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12)
The book of Psalms is divided into five “books.” Book 4 begins with the oldest psalm written by the psalms’ oldest author, Moses. This book was assembled after the Babylonian captivity following the Jews’ return to Jerusalem during the lifespan of Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah.
Book 4 contains many parallels, including between Israel’s 40 years of desert wandering and the Babylonian captivity. Both scenarios, sadly, came about because a disobedient generation of Israelites defiantly rebelled against God.
Why put this psalm at the beginning of Book 4? The Holy Spirit through the pen of Moses wanted to impress on God’s chosen people then and now that there is only one Person in the universe who will teach His children to live in obedience. That person is Yahweh! God doesn’t want His people to repeat the same mistakes of the past, living life in disobedience apart from God’s wisdom. Think about the 40 years of wasted wandering and another 70 years in exile as a result of ignoring God’s precious Word.
Before we, living in the 21st century, cast proverbial stones at these people, let’s ask ourselves this question: How are we ordering our lives and allowing Yahweh to teach us so that we may “gain a heart of wisdom” as we live out the few numbered days we have on this earth?
Our goal as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ should be to refrain from following the same sinful patterns of disobedience depicted in this psalm and make this day count for Yahweh. (CM, The Institute for Creation Research)

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Five joyous psalms of praise, each of them beginning and ending with Hallelujah, bring the Psalter to a close. So in this respect as in many others, the Psalms are a miniature of our story as a whole, which will end in unbroken blessing and delight.

More than one German hymn, and in English the verses by Isaac Watts, ‘I’ll praise my Maker while I’ve breath’, owe their inspiration to this psalm.

146:1, 2. A lifetime of praise

The opening call, Praise the Lord (Hallelujah), is plural, a summons to all, but within the chorus each one can make an offering which is all his own (1b, 2). There is an emphatic ring to the resolve of verse 2 (cf. 104:33), which jb catches with its rendering, ‘I mean to praise … all my life, I mean to sing … as long as I live.’ It puts the matter on a broader base than the mood of the moment: cf. 34:1 and comment. (Kidner, D. (1975). Psalms 73–150: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 16, p. 520). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)

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Psalms 146–150 constitute the last Hallel (“praise”) collection. These five Hallelujah psalms have the characteristic genre of the hymn of descriptive praise. These psalms were used at some point as a part of the daily prayers in the synagogue worship. The other two collections are the Egyptian Hallel psalms (113–118) and the Great Hallel (120–136).

The LXX and Vulgate attribute Psalm 146 and Psalm 147 (which is divided into two psalms [147/148]) to Haggai and Zechariah. Though linguistic criteria and literary references to earlier materials witness to a postexilic date of the composition, internal evidence does not corroborate prophetic authorship.

Structurally, the psalm is true to its hymnic genre with an opening and concluding imperatival call to praise the Lord (vv. 1–2, 10b). The hymn describes the many ways in which the Lord, the Creator (vv. 5–6) and King (v. 10), sustains the individuals who have faith in him, particularly the needy. (VanGemeren, W. A. (1991). Psalms. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (Vol. 5, p. 864). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)

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146:10. The psalmist concluded that the Lord reigns (cf. 9:7; 47:8; 93:1; 96:10; 97:1; 99:1) forever. As the eternal Ruler, He is sovereign (146:6), gracious (vv. 7–9b), and just (v. 9c). So He merits the closing Praise the Lord (halelû-yāh; cf. v. 1). (Ross, A. P. (1985). Psalms. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, pp. 896–897). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

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Psalm 146. This first call to praise concentrates upon what God is, as shown by his gracious activities. Its immediate occasion appears to be the failure of some prince’s promise, though the cause is his unexpected death. The poet contrasts the faithfulness of God to all generations with men’s impermanence. But his emphasis falls upon God’s lovingkindness. The God of Jacob (= “Israel,” and the distant past) and of creation (v. 6) is wonderfully described as the hope of all in need of care and protection. Confronted with such enduring goodness, what can man do but praise? (Elwell, W. A. (1995). Evangelical Commentary on the Bible (Vol. 3, Ps 146:1). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.)

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This psalm is a general psalm of praise which might be used at any time, containing thoughts such as are appropriately suggested by a contemplation of the character of God, and his dealings with men. The idea is that of the blessedness of trusting in God; the security of those who do it; the superiority of this confidence and peace over any which is reposed in princes; and the evidence that it will be safe to trust in him, furnished by his merciful interpositions in behalf of the oppressed, the hungry, the prisoner, the blind, the bowed down, the righteous, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow. (Barnes, A. (1870–1872). Notes on the Old Testament: Psalms (Vol. 3, p. 324). London: Blackie & Son.)

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1–4. The praise of God, and the vanity of trusting in man. My soul, Ps. 103:1. While I live, Ps. 104:33. 2. Chant, sing with accompaniment. While I exist, the parallel of “while I live.” 3, 4. In princes, Ps. 118:8, 9. No salvation, Ps. 49:7. No man can redeem or regenerate his brother. 4. His breath, or his spirit. He returneth, his body. In that day, the day of death. His schemes (4), his plans and aims for this world.

5–10. The God of providence and grace. The God of Jacob, Gen. 49:25; Ex. 3:6. 6. Who made heaven, Ex. 20:11, the Creator. Keepeth truth, performs His promise. 7. Doeth judgment, Ps. 103:6, for the oppressed, who find a refuge in Him. Bread, Ps. 104:27. Looseth the prisoners, Ps. 68:6, literally and figuratively. 8. Openeth the eyes. He alone is able to do these things. Raiseth up, Ps. 145:14. He loves the righteous with goodwill and complacence. 9. He thwarteth, disappoints and overrules for good. 10. Shall reign, in all these respects for ever, and therefore let the earth rejoice. (Murphy, J. G. (1875). A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Book of Psalms (p. 685). Andover: Warren F. Draper.)

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