1 Praise the Lord.(Hallelu Yah)
Praise the Lord, O my soul.
2 I will praise the Lord all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
3 Do not put your trust in princes,
in mortal men, who cannot save.
4 When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;
on that very day their plans come to nothing.
5 BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE HELP IS THE GOD OF JACOB,
WHOSE HOPE IS IN THE LORD THEIR GOD. Psalm 146
This is quite a short Psalm and begins with the writer’s declaration that he will praise the Lord as long as he lives. He contrasts this with looking for help to others who are mortals, just like ourselves. No matter how powerful they may be, at some stage they too will leave this earth and everything they had here will come to an end.
The psalmist goes on to describe in detail all the different ways our loving God reaches down to help mankind, the pinnacle of His creation. We are all made in God’s image and He loves us no matter what how humble our circumstances. Take some time to read and consider, Selah, all the groups of people God helps in the remainder of the psalm.
6 He is the Maker of heaven and earth,
the sea, and everything in them –
HE REMAINS FAITHFUL FOR EVER.
7 HE UPHOLDS THE CAUSE OF THE OPPRESSED
AND GIVES FOOD TO THE HUNGRY.
THE LORD SETS THE PRISONERS FREE,
8 THE LORD GIVES SIGHT TO THE BLIND,
THE LORD LIFTS UP THOSE WHO ARE BOWED DOWN,
THE LORD LOVES THE RIGHTEOUS.
9 THE LORD WATCHES OVER THE FOREIGNER
AND SUSTAINS THE FATHERLESS AND THE WIDOW,
BUT HE FRUSTRATES THE WAYS OF THE WICKED.
It’s interesting to read the verbs, the action words in the second section of this psalm, God helps fallen man in so many different ways. Greek thinking, derived from the philosophy of Ancient Greece, makes a clear distinction between ‘their gods’ and fallen man. This thinking, so prevalent in the western world today, sees God as a remote figure who wouldn’t involve Himself with fallen man. An example of this is the difference between white collar (managers) and blue collar workers (hands on). Greek thinking elevates those who work with the mind and diminishes manual workers, but the God of the Bible first anointed the craftsmen. Exodus 31:1-5 We first meet God in His Word as the creator builder of the Universe. God still loves and cares for all people today, but the enemy and the father of lies, does everything in his power to prevent this and God often gets the blame.
10 The Lord reigns for ever,
your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the Lord. Psalm 146
The psalm ends with the truth that God is eternal and worthy of our praise forever and ever. Hallelu Yah
May the Lord bless and keep you during this Christmas season. Immanuel, God is with us.