Psalm 146
Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
I will praise the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
Put not your trust in princes,
in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.
When his breath departs, he returns to the earth;
on that very day his plans perish.
Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord his God,
who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them,
who keeps faith forever;
who executes justice for the oppressed,
who gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets the prisoners free;
the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
the Lord loves the righteous.
The Lord watches over the sojourners;
he upholds the widow and the fatherless,
but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
The Lord will reign forever,
your God, O Zion, to all generations.
Praise the Lord!
This psalm gives praise to the Lord for His greatness and His grace. His greatness far surpasses that which all human rulers and politicians claim. For that matter He is greater in love and wisdom than any of the social icons and idols we celebrate these days. Instead of exalting them or seeking their flawed wisdom, we are to put all our trust in the Lord God Almighty. No human ruler, celebrity, or guru can help us with the real issues of life concerned as they are with worldly and selfish pursuits. However great and powerful they appear, they are fallible, weak and mortal, but the Lord Who is eternal can be relied upon for eternal blessings.
In the last 4 verses, the Psalmist cites nine examples of God’s almighty power and everlasting faithfulness. The Lord meets and supplies the needs of all those who call upon Him. He promises to meet those needs as He sees them, not those needs and wants the world tells us are vital for us. In times of adversity and disaster, we in America too much on the government to meet our needs. The Lord does use the government to enforce justice and provide aid in times of trouble. Yet He prefers to move His faithful servants to meet those needs. Legislation and taxation can never enforce or produce altruism. Godly compassion and love come from a heart committed to the Lord.