30 Days in the PsalmsSýnishorn

Day #30: Psalm 146

The Book of Psalms ends with a set of five “hallelujah” prayers—jubilant songs of praise and thanksgiving that involve the whole of God’s people and, indeed, the whole of creation. In the first of these, the praying poet actually addresses his own soul with a reminder to praise the Lord (v. 1) and makes a commitment to praise as a lifelong activity (v. 2). The psalm is framed in “hallelujahs” (usually translated “praise the Lord”)—the individual commitment of the poet at the beginning, and a call to all of Israel to join in praise at the end (v. 10).

Within that frame, the psalmist weaves together some of the central threads that have characterized the entire collection of prayers in the Psalter. Front and center in Psalm 146 is the great question that is at the heart of worship: where will God’s people put their trust? As the Book of Psalms has insisted from the very opening psalm, there are only two contrasting ways to answer that question. Option one is to trust in human leaders (vv. 3–4). This option is dismissed, as it has been throughout the book, as foolish and fruitless, because there is no help in human rulers. “When their breath departs, they return to the earth; on that very day their plans perish” (v. 4, NRSV).

Option two is to trust the Lord with far different results: “Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God, who made heaven and earth” (vv. 5–6). The prayer moves on to lift up reasons for trusting this true King, the One who reigns forever (v. 10): he is unfailingly faithful, just, generous, liberating, healing, restoring, and hospitable. In him, there is extravagant provision for the oppressed, the hungry, the prisoners, the blind, those who are bowed down, the righteous, the strangers, the orphans, and the widows. What other response could there be to this God but to cry out, “hallelujah”?

Today is a good day to lift up a hallelujah to the King who reigns forever!

Did this plan encourage you to live as a disciple of Jesus? One Mission Society can help you as you continue that journey. Connect with OMS at https://onemissionsociety.org.