Psalms 146 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Psalm 146

Put Not Your Trust in Princes

146:1   Praise the LORD!
  Praise the LORD, O my soul!
2   I will praise the LORD as long as I live;
    I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
3   Put not your trust in princes,
    in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.
4   When his breath departs, he returns to the earth;
    on that very day his plans perish.
5   Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
    whose hope is in the LORD his God,
6   who made heaven and earth,
    the sea, and all that is in them,
  who keeps faith forever;
7     who executes justice for the oppressed,
    who gives food to the hungry.
  The LORD sets the prisoners free;
8     the LORD opens the eyes of the blind.
  The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down;
    the LORD loves the righteous.
9   The LORD watches over the sojourners;
    he upholds the widow and the fatherless,
    but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
10   The LORD will reign forever,
    your God, O Zion, to all generations.
  Praise the LORD!

Commentary

Personal praise to God, from those who belong to Him, who know His mercy. This Psalm introduces the "Hallelujah" Psalms (Ps 146-150).

v1-2: As in Ps 145.1-2, "I will praise...I will sing praise." Here is personal commitment from a heart full of gratitude.

v3-4: Frailty of man; this is different from the encouragement we receive from men, 2 Sam 15.13-37, for we must encourage others, and take encouragement from others, but our trust must be only in God. Human plans come to nothing, but God's plans will never fail.

v5: God is our help and our hope. We are happy because we belong to Him.

v6-9: God's mercy towards His own; total righteousness, and unfailing power, especially power to change people's lives. Such a contrast with sinful, frail man. This is the God in whom we trust.

v10: God is in control. There is an eternal reign, which only God can instigate, for He alone is eternal.