“I don’t like to sing in church.” A common comment, but one that I heard recently from one of my coworkers caused my to reconsider why too many do not enjoy worship. When pressed for reasons why not, he finally offered embarrassment as the main culprit. “I am afraid of what I may sound like.” “I don’t won’t to offend any one by my singing.” “I can’t carry a tune in a brown paper bag.” Those are common responses, but I wondered what was really behind the anxiety. “Are you afraid because you don’t know the words of the hymns, or the tunes to the music”, I asked? “Sometimes”, he replied. “Do you feel insecure when you are singing”, I probed? “I’ve never thought about it like that, but, ‘Yes’, I guess I am.”
Why is it so difficult for some people to sing praises to God? What anxieties or insecurities paralyze those that sit silent in the pew? What kind of people worship God? I think the real question is, who can or should worship God? Psalm 146 helps us with a possible answer: those who trust God, but then the next question is what kind of people trust God? The psalmist gives an answer to that question too: those who need help and hope. Are you one of those?
“Sooner or later you will need help --- and it may be sooner than later. You may be oppressed by work, by sickness, or by financial necessity. You may be forced to become a wanderer with no job and no home. Although you are an adult, you may sense that you have been orphaned by the death of your parents. You may find yourself in desperate need of companionship by the loss of your spouse. One way or another, you will find yourself in sever need. Yet in all these circumstances you can say with all your heart, ‘Hallelu Yah’, ‘Praise the LORD!’” (O.Palmer Robertson, 404)
If those who praise God are those who trust God and those who trust God are those who need help and hope, then the next question might be: what or who do you trust? Do you trust God? Do you trust anyone or anything instead of God? Why should you trust God? Why should you praise God? These are questions to which Psalm 146 suggests answers.
Consider the argument of the psalm.
All those who are happy praise the LORD (vv. 1-2, 10).
All those who trust the LORD are happy (v. 5).
All those who trust the LORD praise the LORD (v. 10).
What if we stretch that out a bit. All those who are happy praise the LORD (vv. 1-2, 10). Who is happy? All those who trust the LORD are happy (v. 5). What kinds of people trust the LORD (and are happy)? Those that are oppressed, hungry, prisoners, blind, bowed down, righteous, sojourners, orphans, widows (vv. 7-9). Can you be one of those and be happy? Why? Because you trust the LORD. Why should you trust the LORD? Because He continually ministers to those who trust Him as Creator and Redeemer (v. 6). How does He continually minister to those who trust Him? He is always faithful; He enacts justice (for the oppressed); He gives bread [to the hungry]; He looses [the prisoners]; He opens the eyes [of the blind]; He raises [the bowed down]; He loves [the righteous]; He sustains [the sojourners]; He upholds [the orphan and the widow] (vv. 7-9). Can those who do not trust the LORD be truly happy? Not really. What causes true happiness (cf. Ps. 1:1)? Should those who do not trust the LORD be classified as the wicked? What will happen to the (plans of the) wicked? Should you ever trust anyone other than God (vv. 3-4)? What about influential people? Who should you trust? What should be the response of those who know that Christ is ministering to them? Since all those who trust the LORD are happy, because of the ministry of God on their behalf, then all those who trust the LORD (and are therefore happy) should praise the LORD (v. 10).
What is the exhortation found in verse 1? Praise who? Praise with what? Why the exhortation? Praise the LORD! – Jah – Hallelu Yah! – Praise ye Jah! - literally, ‘All (plural) of you, praise Yah,’. Praise the LORD, - the LORD of the Covenant - Jehovah O my soul! – I tell myself, cf. Ps. 103:1
How dare I call upon others, and be negligent myself? If ever man was under bonds to bless the Lord I am that man, wherefore let me put my soul into the centre of the choir, and then let my better nature excite my whole manhood to the utmost height of loving praise. "O for a well tuned harp!" Nay, rather, O for a sanctified heart. (Spurgeon)
What is the personal response to God’s command? Praise for how long? Only on earth? How about worship in heaven? How are you to praise God? 2I will praise – Ps. 63:4; Judg. 5:3 - the LORD – the Covenant LORD as long as – while – I live; throughout my life – all my life – during my life. A recent paraphrase goes like this:
All my life long I’ll praise God singing songs to my God as long as I live.
Ver. 2. While I live will I praise the LORD. I shall not live here for ever. This mortal life will find a finis in death; but while it lasts I will laud the Lord my God. I cannot tell how long or short my life may be; but every hour of it shall be given to the praises of my God. While I live I'll love; and while I breathe I'll bless. (Spurgeon)
I will sing praises – Ps. 104: (any) being. – I live – I exist – (even with my dying 33; Heb. 13:15 - to my God while – as long as I have my breath)
The motion of our praise must be like the motion of our pulse, which beats as long as life lasts. (Thomas Watson)
According to verses 3 what are you commanded not to do? Who are the princes?
Put not your trust – Do not trust –Don’t any of you put your trust – don’t put your confidence in princes, - in men, however noble – (“the influential”) – in powerful people - Ps. 118:8,9; Mic. 7:5; Jer. 17:5; Kings 18:21; Is. 30:5; Eccl. 9:3; Ps. 60:13; Acts 4:12; Is. 32:5. Consider the recent paraphrase: Don’t put your life in the hands of experts who know nothing of life, of salvation life.
Ver. 3. Put not your trust in princes, etc. …. The aid of a mortal is promised, and thou rejoicest; the aid of the Immortal is promised, and art thou sad? It is promised thee that thou shalt be freed by one who needeth to be freed with thee, and you exult as at some great aid: thou art promised that great Liberator, who needeth none to free him, and you despair, as though it were but a fable. Woe to such thoughts: they wander far; truly there is sad and great death in them. —Augustine.
Shakespeare puts this sentiment into Wolsey's mouth: —
"O how wretched
Is that poor man that hangs on princes' favour!
There is, betwixt that smile we would aspire to,
That sweet aspect of princes, and their ruin,
More pangs and fears than wars and women have:
And when he falls, he falls like Lucifer,
Never to hope again."
What reasons are given why you are not to trust in men? In what ways do people let you down? Contrast those reasons with that why you should trust God?
They are mortal men. God is immortal.
in a son of man, - in mortal man – Ps. 118:8; Is. 2:22
They cannot save you. God alone can save you.
in whom there is no salvation. – who cannot save -in whom there is no help – Ps. 60:11; 108:12
They die. God was, and is, and ever more shall be.
When his breath departs (goes forth) – His spirit departs – His life-breath will expire
- (When their breathing stops) – Ps. 104:29; Eccl. 8:8; Lk. 12:20
he returns to the earth; - he will return to the dust – they return to the ground
- Ecc. 12:7; Gen. 3:19; Eccl. 3:20
Their plans perish when they die. God’s purposes cannot be thwarted.
on that very day – in that very day his plans perish. – his thoughts perish
- (and in a moment all their plans come to an end.)
- Ps. 33:10; 1 Cor. 2:6; Is. 59:7; Mic. 2:1; Jer. 10;15; Job 6:18; Ps. 1:6
What ways do you think influential people can help you? What happens when they are gone? What is the effect of death on “the best laid plans”? What kinds of thoughts / plans perish?
Mere humans don’t have what it takes; when they die, their projects die with them.
In that very day his thoughts perish. Whatever he may have proposed to do, the proposal ends in smoke. He cannot think, and what he had thought of cannot effect itself, and therefore it dies. Now that he is gone, men are ready enough to let his thoughts go with him into oblivion; another thinker comes, and turns the thoughts of his predecessor to ridicule. It is a pitiful thing to be waiting upon princes or upon any other men, in the hope that they will think of us. In an hour they are gone, and where are their schemes for our promotion? A day has ended their thoughts by ending them; and our trusts have perished, for their thoughts have perished. Men's ambitions, expectations, declarations, and boastings all vanish into thin air when the breath of life vanishes from their bodies. This is the narrow estate of man: his breath, his earth, and his thoughts; and this is his threefold climax therein, —his breath goeth forth, to his earth he returns, and his thoughts perish. Is this a being to be relied upon? Vanity of vanities, all is vanity. To trust it would be a still greater vanity. (Spurgeon)
Confidence in human aid of whatever kind is forbidden.
Ver. 4. In that very day his thoughts perish. In the case of the rich fool (Lu 12:16,20) his "thoughts" of building larger barns, and of many years of ease and prosperity, —all his selfish and worldly schemes, —"perished" in that self same night. —John W. Haley, in "An Examination of the Alleged Discrepancies of the Bible", 1875.
Ver. 4. His thoughts perish. The science, the philosophy, the statesmanship of one age is exploded in the next. The men who are the masters of the world's intellect today are discrowned tomorrow. In this age of restless and rapid change they may survive their own thoughts; their thoughts do not survive them. —J.J. Stewart Perowne.
Verses 5-9 for the longest stanza of this psalm. This stanza is all about God – the nature of God and the activity of God.
Who is happy? Why? What kind of person does God bless? How does God help? What is hope? How do you hope in God? Blessed – How blessed (fortunate, enviable) – Happy – O the happiness of him – Ps. 144:15; Jer. 14:7; Ps. 33:12; Dt. 33:29; Gen. 28:15; Jer. 15:20; Dt. 33:26; Ps. 121
Why the reference to the God of Jacob? How blessed is he – is the man whose help is the God (El, might – the Mighty Helper) of Jacob, whose hope is – his reliance is on – Ps. 71:5; Prov. 16:20; Jer. 17:7 - in the LORD – in the Covenant LORD, his God.
The One who helps Jacob the scoundrel who has no other hope (vs. 5) God comes to Him when he is caught between a rock and a hard place of his own making (Read Genesis 32, Jacob was about to get his tail kicked by his brother – and for a good reason! He did not deserve grace!) Remember, God changed Jacob’s name to Israel, and thus whenever He calls His people "Jacob" it is a reminder that our God is the One who gives scoundrels a new name!
He who helped Jacob, helps all who pray like Jacob. (W. S. Plumer, 1195)
The psalmist, having cautioned us not to trust in princes (because, if we do, we shall be miserably disappointed), here encourages us to put our confidence in God, because, if we do so, we shall be happily secured: Happy is he that has the God of Jacob for his help, that has an interest in his attributes and promises, and has them engaged for him, and whose hope is in the Lord his God. (Matthew Henry)
We must hope, (1.) In the providence of God for all the good things we need, which relate to the life that now is. (2.) In the grace of Christ for all the good things which relate to the life that is to come. (Matthew Henry)
God alone is utterly good, utterly powerful, and utterly trustworthy.
Why settle for less?
God is the only being about whom we can honestly and truly say, “Hallelujah.”
(J. M. Boice, 1263)
Why should you look to God (the Mighty Helper of Jacob) for help and hope? What reasons are given why you should put your (help and hope in God) trust in God? What attribute is attributed to the Creator? Why is this emphasized?
Who made – He made – the Maker of – Ps. 115:15; Rev. 14:7; Gen. 1:1; Ps. 121:2 - heaven and earth, the sea, - Acts 14:15 - and all that is in them, - and everything in them - Jer. 10:11; Est. 13 ?
How does God keep faith? For how long does God keep faith? Who keeps (is keeping) faith (truth) forever; - He remains faithful for ever (He is the one who keeps every promise forever) - Ps. 117:2; Num. 23:19; Rom. 3:4; Jn. 14:6. He always does what He says.
What categories of humanity are listed? In what ways does God minister to humanity? Is God the Judge of the world? What is the relation between judgment and salvation? Cf. John 3:17-19; 5:25-29. In what way do these demonstrate that God can / should be trusted? What verses from the N.T. demonstrate that this list refers to the activities of Jesus Christ? Compare Is. 61 with Luke 4:18f and 7:21f. Who executes justice – He enacts justice – He upholds the cause – Ps. 103:6; Job 34:12; Is. 49:25; Prov. 22:22 for the oppressed, - of the oppressed.
Who gives food – He gives bread – Ps. 107:9; 145:15; Ps. 136:35; Is. 57:8; Mt. 5:6; Jer. 31:12; Lk. 9:10-17 (feeding of the 5000); Acts 6:1 (distributing food among the widows) to the hungry. – God sent the ravens to feed Elijah, and made the widows oil to multiply.
The LORD – The Covenant LORD sets the prisoners free; - looses the prisoners - Ps. 68:6; Is. 61:1; Dan. 3:92; Lam. 3:7; Jer. 39:7; Rom. 7:24; Mt. 21:2; Ps. 105:20; Is. 35:10; 1 Cor. 15:53; Acts 5:19 ; 12:7-10 (Peter freed from prison); 16.
the LORD – the Covenant LORD opens the eyes – gives sight – Mt. 9:30; Jn. 9:7,39; Jn. 1:9; Lk. 18:35-43; Lk. 7:21 - of the blind. – to the blind
The LORD – The Covenant LORD lifts up – raises up – raises – Ps. 145:14; Nah. 3:10; Job 30:22; Job 5:11; Prov. 29:4; Lk. 13:1 - those who are bowed down; - the bowed dow
the LORD – the Covenant LORD loves – Ps. 11:7; Hos. 14:8; Prov. 3:6 - the righteous.
The LORD – the Covenant LORD – Jehovah watches over – protects – sustains – preserveth – Ex. 22:21; Lev. 19:34; Acts 10:34-35; Gal. 3:28 - the sojourners; - the strangers – the alien – the foreigners among us
He upholds – He supports – He will uphold – He sustains – He relieveth – He cares for - Dt. 10:18; Ps. 68:5; Jer. 49:11; Is. 1:17; Ex. 22:22; - Lk. 7:11-16 - the widow and the fatherless, - the fatherless and widow – the orphan and the widow
Why the following contrast? For whom is God concerned? How does God frustrate / turn upside down the way of the wicked? What are some examples of God frustrating the way of the wicked? but the way (the plans) of the wicked
He brings to ruin. – He thwarts – He will frustrate – He turneth upside down – Ps. 147:6; – cp. with Ps. 145 – cf. Ps. 107 (last part)
What attribute of God is mentioned in verse 10? Why? How long will He be in sovereign control? Therefore, how long should we praise Him? 10The LORD – the Covenant LORD – the LORD of the Covenant will reign – shall reign – doth reign – Ex. 15:18; Ps. 10:16; Dan. 7:18; Jn. 18:36 - forever, - to the age - your God, - even Thy God, O Zion, to all generations. – from generation to generation
Why is the initial command reiterated? Praise the LORD! – the Covenant LORD – Hallelu Yah! – Praise ye Jah!
How do you get the Lord’s help? What must you do to know that he will be with you when you are in need? You must do two things. You must know him as the God of Jacob, and you must rely on him. (Robertson)
How can you learn to rely on Him? Pray. What prayer could you compose based on this psalm? Read Acts 4:24-30. And consider the hymn, O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing: Assist me to proclaim…
Hallelujah, praise Jehovah, O my soul, Jehovah praise;
I will sing the glorious praises Of my God through all my days.
Put no confidence in princes, Nor for help on man depend;
He shall die, to dust returning, And his purposes shall end.
Happy is the man that chooses Israel’s God to be his aid;
He is blest whose hope of blessing On the Lord his God is stayed.
Heaven and earth the Lord created, Seas and all that they contain;
He delivers from oppression, Righteousness He will maintain.
Food He daily gives the hungry, Sets the mourning prisoner free,
Raises those bowed down with anguish, Makes the sightless eyes to see.
Well Jehovah loves the righteous, And the stranger He befriends,
Helps the fatherless and the widow, Judgment on the wicked sends.
Hallelujah, praise Jehovah, O my soul, Jehovah praise;
I will sing the glorious praises Of my God through all my days.
Over all God reigns forever, Through all ages He is King;
Unto Him, thy God, O Zion, Joyful hallelujahs sing.
(From Psalm 146, The Psalter, 1912)
The true happiness of those who trust in God
is evidenced by their praise of the LORD.
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