Frameworks:
Psalm 146: The wonder and goodness of the Lord
[Preliminary
Comments: This anonymous psalm is a delightful ‘self-help'
psalm whereby the psalmist exhorts himself to praise God [v.1]
and keep on praising Him [v.2] and then not to trust men [v.3,4]
but only the Lord [v.5]. God is The Creator of all things [v.6]
but not a good who stands outside His world but is completely
involved with it, blessing mankind [v.7-10]. An amazingly powerful
psalm.]
v.1
The psalmist's call to himself to praise God
v.1
Praise
the Lord.
Praise
the Lord, my soul.
v.2
It should be enduring and lasting praise
v.2
I
will praise the Lord all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as
I live.
v.3,4
He calls himself not to trust in man…
v.3
Do
not put your trust in princes,
in human beings, who cannot save.
v.4 When
their spirit departs, they return to the ground;
on that very day their plans come to nothing.
v.5
… but trust should be in the Lord
v.5
Blessed
are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord their God.
v.6
Why? Because He is the all-powerful Creator of all things
v.6
He
is the Maker of heaven and earth,
the sea, and everything in them –
he remains faithful for ever.
v.7-10
the good works of the Lord in respect of mankind
v.7
He
[i] upholds
the cause of the oppressed
and [ii] gives
food to the hungry.
The Lord [iii] sets prisoners
free,
v.8 the
Lord [iv] gives sight to the
blind,
the Lord [v] lifts up those
who are bowed down,
the Lord [vi] loves
the righteous.
v.9 The
Lord [vii] watches over the
foreigner
and [viii] sustains
the fatherless and the widow,
but he [ix] frustrates
the ways of the wicked.
v.10
The
Lord [x] reigns
for ever,
your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise
the Lord.
[Additional
Comments: Verses 7 to 10 should act as an antidote to
those foolish people who would, in ignorance, criticize God or
wrongly attribute bad to Him. Take in each of the first eight
things in that list – and give thanks.]
Continue
to Psa 147