March 30
Reading: Psalm 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!
The Psalter concludes with the Great Hallel (the Great Praise, “Hallel” means “praise” in Hebrew) consisting of five psalms, each one beginning and ending with Halleluia (Praise the Lord). It is a five-psalm benediction, a great blessing upon the Lord. Therefore, the application point of all of these final five psalms will be that we ought to praise the Lord.
But how? And why?
Psalm 146 begins with a conviction. The psalmist has made up his mind, and we ought to as well. He is going to praise the Lord as long as he lives. (vs. 2) Verse 3 adds an interesting command. Sing praises to God and do not trust in princes. This would include any king, president, or leader. Why not trust these people? It is because they cannot save you. They die and turn to dust just like everyone else. (vs. 3-4)
People today look to politicians and politics as their hope for the future, largely because they have not learned to look to God. Politics then serves as their religion, and those who oppose their politics become evil. This effect is much of the reason that our current political climate has become so divisive. People have no other hope. All they have are their own flawed philosophies and flawed leaders. Politics gives meaning and purpose to their life. It becomes a cause to give their lives for. But ultimately, politics and politicians will disappoint and fail. They are merely human. They die and turn to dust.
But God truly changes people’s lives. Do you see what you get if your hope is in the Lord? (vss. 5-10) Not only will the Lord bring justice, healing, and provision for the downcast; but He will reign forever.
Praise the Lord!