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Psalm 146 is a feel-good psalm. The topic of this psalm is hope and help.
Joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God (v. 5, NLT).
I write a blog; King David wrote about 80 of the 150 Psalms.
No comparison between my blog and King David’s Psalms in terms of quality and influence, but as I’ve written my blog over the past three years, which has included many of King David’s Psalms, I’ve concluded that we both write for the same reason. . .
To express our belief in the help and hope that we find in God.
No matter the trials, the ruined relationships, the betrayals, the sour business deals, the sickness, or cultural distress, our faith (mine, David’s, yours) must focus on the help and hope found only in God!
Praise the Lord! Let all that I am praise the Lord. I will praise the Lord as long as I live. I will sing praises to my God with my dying breath (vv. 1-2).
As I read Psalm 146, I questioned verse 3 when David says, “Don’t put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there.” My mental challenge with this statement is that David was king.
He was the most powerful person in his country!
Probably this reference is about David’s predecessor King Saul, as Saul sought to kill David for many years. It’s also a warning about initially looking to anyone other than God for help in difficult times.
As a pastor, I have observed that in times of crisis, many received and considered false counsel for the next move out of the conflict. Hurt feelings or a vengeful spirit can allow a foothold for evil!
We should only seek the help and hope of the Lord. As David says about the counsel of the wicked. . .
When they breathe their last, they return to the earth, and all their plans die with them (v. 4).
After David advises against bad counsel, he gives reasons to ask God for help. . .
He made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. He keeps every promise forever (v. 6).
He gives justice to the oppressed and food to the hungry. The Lord frees the prisoners (v. 7).
And in the middle of our persecutions, David asks us to remember. . .
He frustrates the plans of the wicked (v. 9).
David wrote 80 Psalms—and I’ve written over 1200 blog posts. When I wrote this post, the writing brought joy. I believe King David wrote his Psalms for an emotional release as well.
We all face difficulties. We may not write psalms or blogs, but we can remember how David concludes Psalm 146. . .
The Lord will reign forever. He will be your God, O Jerusalem, throughout the generations. Praise the Lord! (v. 10).
Amen. Peace out!