Psa 146:3 | KingComments | STEP | The concluding great hallel-psalms (Psalms146-150) are sung in the daily morning service of the Jews, at least from the destruction of the temple in 70 AD. These psalms begin and end with “praise the LORD” or “hallelujah”, as do Psalm 106 and Psalm 113. The content, too, is only praise. It is a befitting ending for the book of Psalms. It speaks of that which is important to the LORD during the realm of peace. The LORD created man for His honor and glory. The definition of sin is “to miss the goal”, which concretely means “to miss the glory of God” ( ). Now that creation has been restored, man comes to the purpose for which he was created, which is to magnify God. These five hallel-psalms represent the activity of man led by Israel during the realm of peace. In the New Testament, too, we find the exclamation “hallelujah” only at the end, namely beginning in Revelation 19, when the Lord Jesus has accepted His earthly kingdom. For the church of Christ in this age, the Father is looking for worshipers ( ). Since our Passover has been slain, we may celebrate on earth, a celebration for Him ( ). In heaven, we will sing praises to Him forever. That songs of praise will be the hallmark of the realm of peace is because the LORD is “holy” and is “enthroned upon the praises of Israel” ( ). Other verses that point to songs of praise in the realm of peace are found in Psalms 48; 84; 111; 113 ( ). Psalm 146 is in a sense an elaboration of the psalmist’s wish in Psalm 145: – – – – – The psalm begins with the exclamation “hallelujah!”, which is “praise the LORD!” ( ). It is the first psalm of the last five psalms to begin with ‘hallelujah’. They all end with ‘hallelujah’ as well. These psalms form the mighty final chord of the book, a final chord brimming with praise. In this psalm, the ‘hallelujah’ is followed, as it were, in a two-way conversation with himself, by the psalmist’s response. He says to his soul, that is to himself, that he must respond to this call and praise the LORD. To this he responds with the promise that he will praise the LORD while he lives, meaning all his life ( ). In doing so, the psalmist is fulfilling the purpose for which the LORD created him, and that is to praise and magnify Him. His life is full of proofs of the LORD’s lovingkindness. All of those proofs of favor are a reason to praise Him. To this he adds that he will sing praises to his God while he has his being. Don’t we too have many reasons to sing songs of praise? So why is it that we do it so little? There will be no ‘praise the LORD’ if people are being relied upon, which is sin in addition to foolishness ( ). The tendency of man, including the believer, to “trust in princes” is always present ( ). Princes may be people of stature and influence, but they are also only human beings. The psalmist warns against trusting in such people ( ; ). No matter how distinguished a person is and how much influence he has, he is and remains a “mortal man, in whom there is no salvation”. That the psalmist uses the word “mortal man” underscores his perishableness (cf. ), which at the same time rules out the possibility that he could provide salvation or rescue. To trust any man is to trust in uncertainty ( ). Man, even if he were benevolent, is perishable. Once he dies, “his spirit departs”. He is buried, “he returns to the earth”. He was made of the dust and returns to it ( ; ; ). All his plans in which he trusted perish with him. Nothing comes of it. What folly to trust in something as uncertain as a human being. Those who trust in people have no reason to praise the LORD.

‏ Psalms 146:3

Introduction

The concluding great hallel-psalms (Psalms146-150) are sung in the daily morning service of the Jews, at least from the destruction of the temple in 70 AD.

These psalms begin and end with “praise the LORD” or “hallelujah”, as do Psalm 106 and Psalm 113. The content, too, is only praise. It is a befitting ending for the book of Psalms. It speaks of that which is important to the LORD during the realm of peace.

The LORD created man for His honor and glory. The definition of sin is “to miss the goal”, which concretely means “to miss the glory of God” (Rom 3:23). Now that creation has been restored, man comes to the purpose for which he was created, which is to magnify God. These five hallel-psalms represent the activity of man led by Israel during the realm of peace.

In the New Testament, too, we find the exclamation “hallelujah” only at the end, namely beginning in Revelation 19, when the Lord Jesus has accepted His earthly kingdom. For the church of Christ in this age, the Father is looking for worshipers (Jn 4:23-24). Since our Passover has been slain, we may celebrate on earth, a celebration for Him (1Cor 5:7-8). In heaven, we will sing praises to Him forever.

That songs of praise will be the hallmark of the realm of peace is because the LORD is “holy” and is “enthroned upon the praises of Israel” (Psa 22:3). Other verses that point to songs of praise in the realm of peace are found in Psalms 48; 84; 111; 113 (Psa 48:10 ; Psa 84:4 ; Psa 111:10b ; Psa 113:3).

Psalm 146 is in a sense an elaboration of the psalmist’s wish in Psalm 145:

Psa 146:2 – Psa 145:2

Psa 146:5 – Psa 145:15a

Psa 146:7 – Psa 145:15b

Psa 146:7 – Psa 145:14

Psa 146:10 – Psa 145:13

Praise the LORD

The psalm begins with the exclamation “hallelujah!”, which is “praise the LORD!” (Psa 146:1). It is the first psalm of the last five psalms to begin with ‘hallelujah’. They all end with ‘hallelujah’ as well. These psalms form the mighty final chord of the book, a final chord brimming with praise. In this psalm, the ‘hallelujah’ is followed, as it were, in a two-way conversation with himself, by the psalmist’s response. He says to his soul, that is to himself, that he must respond to this call and praise the LORD.

To this he responds with the promise that he will praise the LORD while he lives, meaning all his life (Psa 146:2). In doing so, the psalmist is fulfilling the purpose for which the LORD created him, and that is to praise and magnify Him.

His life is full of proofs of the LORD’s lovingkindness. All of those proofs of favor are a reason to praise Him. To this he adds that he will sing praises to his God while he has his being. Don’t we too have many reasons to sing songs of praise? So why is it that we do it so little?

There will be no ‘praise the LORD’ if people are being relied upon, which is sin in addition to foolishness (Jer 17:5). The tendency of man, including the believer, to “trust in princes” is always present (Psa 146:3). Princes may be people of stature and influence, but they are also only human beings. The psalmist warns against trusting in such people (Psa 118:8-9; Isa 2:22).

No matter how distinguished a person is and how much influence he has, he is and remains a “mortal man, in whom there is no salvation”. That the psalmist uses the word “mortal man” underscores his perishableness (cf. Psa 8:4), which at the same time rules out the possibility that he could provide salvation or rescue.

To trust any man is to trust in uncertainty (Psa 146:4). Man, even if he were benevolent, is perishable. Once he dies, “his spirit departs”. He is buried, “he returns to the earth”. He was made of the dust and returns to it (Gen 3:19; Psa 90:3 ; Psa 104:29; Ecc 3:20). All his plans in which he trusted perish with him. Nothing comes of it. What folly to trust in something as uncertain as a human being. Those who trust in people have no reason to praise the LORD.