Bible Commentaries
Psalms 146

Verses 1-10

Psalms 146

A Consecration Psalm Scripture 1-10:

Verse 1 exhorts "Praise ye (you all) the Lord," all of you who hear, and are responsible, adding, "Praise the Lord, O my soul," with all your being, It means "Shout aloud Hallelujah!" Psalms 104:1; Psalms 104:35. These psalms of Hallelujah praise, 146-150, were sung at the consecration of Jerusalem’s rebuilt walls, under Nehemiah.

Verse 2 resolves, "while I live will I praise the Lord; I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being," as long as I live or exist, a total surrender of priority commitment to God, Psalms 104:33; 1 Corinthians 15:58.

Verse 3 charges "put not your trust in princes (civil rulers), Isaiah 2:22; Nor in the sons of man, (depraved offspring of men) in whom there is (exists) no help," Psalms 118; Psalms 8, 9. No salvation or help exists in world powers, except as the Lord causes them to befriend His people, Psalms 75:6-7; Proverbs 21:1; Isaiah 2:22.

Verse 4 explains, "His breath (life) goeth forth, (he dies), he returneth to his earth," Ecclesiastes 12:7. ft is added that, "In that very (same) day his thoughts (however elevated) perish," come to nothing, Psalms 104:29; Genesis 3:19. See also 1 Corinthians 2:6; 1 Corinthians 3:20. The idea is that earthly rulers are of such temporary, perishing nature that death soon ends hope put in them.

Verse 5 declares, that, "Happy (abounding in spiritual prosperity) is he that hath (holds or possesses) the God of Jacob (the living God) for his help," instead of trusting in perishing, transient earthly rulers, in whom exists no help, v.3; Psalms 118:7; Psalms 144:15; Deuteronomy 33:26; Psalms 33:12; Psalms 84:12; Jeremiah 17:7.

Verses 6,7 declare that this Lord God: 1) made heaven and earth, the sea and all that are in each, Revelation 14:7; Revelation , , 2) He "keeps (continually) truth forever," Deuteronomy 7:9; Micah 7:20; John 10:35; Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18; Hebrews 3) He executes (continually) judgment for the oppressed; 4) Continually gives food to the hungry, and sets free the prisoners, Psalms 75:10; Psalms 103:6; Psalms 37:19; Psalms 142:7; Psalms 107:10; Psalms 107:14.

Verse 8 declares further that He opens the eyes of the blind, raiseth (up) those who are bowed down, and loves the righteous, continually, as further declared, Isaiah 35:5; Deuteronomy 28:29; Isaiah 59:10; Job 12:25; Psalms 145:14.

Verse 9 adds, "The Lord preserveth the strangers," giving to them life and being through His daily mercies, La 3:22,23; Acts 17:28. "He relieveth the fatherless (orphans) and widows," out of compassion, Psalms 68:5-6; Luke 18:3; Luke 18:7; and will not even leave one individual, or His church alone, or as an orphan, John 14:18. it is added, "But the way of the wicked he turneth upside down," overthrows completely, giving them misery instead of happiness, Proverbs 19:21.

Verse 10 concludes, "The Lord shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations," as certified Exodus 15:18; Revelation 11:15. "Praise ye the Lord," or you all, all saints of Israel, praise, shout Hallelujah! to the Lord; Revelation 19:1-5.