Friday, October 4 – Psalms 146, 147
1. Why should we not trust in princes or men? (Psalm 146:3)
2. When does human consciousness end? (Psalm 146:4)
3. In what does the Lord delight? (Psalm 147:11)
Commentary and Reflection:
The reading of Psalms 146 and 147 invites us to always have hearts full of praise for our God in all circumstances and to recognize Him as the God of power and grace. Throughout history, He has shown Himself to be the Almighty who sustains our lives. For this and much more, we are exhorted to praise Him.
The first four verses of Psalm 146 urge us to praise God for His power and grace. “I will praise the Lord while I live.” Our mortal life is short, so it is both our privilege and our necessity to praise the name of our God every day. In Patriarchs and Prophets, Ellen White exhorts us: “Let us learn the song of the angels now, that we may sing it when we join their shining ranks.” (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 289)
Verse 5 blesses all who, like Jacob, trust in their God. Just as God did not abandon Jacob under challenging circumstances, that same help is available to all of us. We are blessed when our hope is in the Lord. Hope “is the balm of life, and the joy of existence.”
Verses 6-10 present God’s multifaceted work on our behalf. Here, we see a contrast between our human weakness and God’s creative power over His vast universe. For God, nothing is impossible. He never fails to keep His promises to His children. He preserves truth and His promises, not just for a time, but forever. He upholds justice for the oppressed and provides food for the hungry.
God watches over and protects foreigners (v. 9). This is a good reminder of our time when there is little compassion for immigrants in many parts of the world. He does not forget the orphans and widows. As for the wicked, He will give them their due. Psalm 146 ends on a note of assurance because God will reign forever, unlike the rulers of this world, who are temporary. Hallelujah to the Lord forever!
Psalm 147 is divided into three sections: Let us praise the Almighty God in history, let us praise the Sustainer of life, and let us praise God. It concludes with an exhortation to Israel to glorify God. We are invited to praise God for being our healer, restorer, provider, and the one who controls all of nature.
The psalmist begins by affirming that praise is a therapeutic exercise that brings peace to the soul. “Praise is pleasant and beautiful.” We have been blessed when we listen to instrumental hymns with gentle melodies amidst the stresses of life and the daily grind. When driving or on my daily walks, I often listen to a station called “Gentle Praise,” I can confirm what the psalmist says: “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” He is the Great Physician of the soul and is compassionate toward everything that wounds our hearts. Ellen White says, “Nothing that in any way concerns our peace is too small for Him to notice.” (Steps to Christ, p. 100).
“He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name” (vv. 4-5). God’s omnipotence and omniscience are infinite. Even though humanity has made significant technological advances to penetrate the universe, these are still the outer limits of God’s creation.
Verses 7-11 exhort us to praise God because He is the Sustainer of life. All vegetation depends on the sunlight and rain our good God sends to the earth to nourish it. The fauna and flora, all of nature, rely on God’s providential care. It is essential to recognize that God delights more in the weak and humble person who fears and trusts in Him than in the strong one who considers himself self-sufficient! (v. 11)
In verses 12-20, the psalmist concludes with an exhortation for Israel to praise God for His protection, for blessing their children, for peace, for providing food, for strengthening them with His Word, and for His exceptional dealings with His people. Hallelujah!
May the inspiration from these two beautiful poems strengthen our experience so we may always rejoice in praising God.
Professor Javier Diaz