NASB

The LORD an Abundant Helper.

Note: Psalms 146-150 all begin and end with the word “Hallelujah” which is translated “Praise the Lord.” This set of psalms are called the Third Hallel (see also Psalms 113-118 and Psalm 136).




146:1 Praise [express adoration or approval] the LORD [Hallelujah]!

Praise [to honor, commend] the LORD [for who He is and what He has done], O my soul [cf. Psalm 103:1-2]!



146:2 I will praise [a joyful recounting of all that God has done for us] the LORD while I live [we have only our generation in which to praise God and serve His purpose (Acts 13:36); we should praise God all the time (Ps. 34:1)];

I will sing [one way in which to praise God] praises to my God while I have my being.

Note: Ways in which to praise God include…

• with singing: Ps. 149:1

• with dancing: Ps. 149:3

• with musical instruments: Ps. 150:3

• with our words: Ps. 35:28

• with our actions: Col. 3:17

• with our uprightness: Ps. 119:7

• with all our hearts: Ps. 86:

146:3 Do not trust [rely on] in princes [nobles],

[or] In mortal man [any human being], in whom there is no salvation [political leaders and mortal men are not qualified to be saviors because they also are in need of salvation; cf. Acts 4:11-12].



146:4 His spirit departs, he returns to the earth [cf. Psalm 39:4-5; Psalm 103:15-16; James 4:14; no matter how lofty or lowly a man may be, all will return to dust; both the millionaire and the pauper will soon be consigned to a few feet of dirt, a place that after a period of time may no longer acknowledge them];

In that very day his thoughts [purposes, plans, ambitions, designs, projects] perish [cf. James 4:14].



146:5 How blessed is he whose help is the God [not transient men as in verse 3] of Jacob [God protected and defended Jacob in his travels; possibly a reference to Israel (the Jewish people)],

Whose hope [earnest longing and looking for or waiting for] is in the LORD [from Hebrew YHWH; used because of the practice among the Israelites to not pronounce or spell out the name of God] his God;



146:6 Who made heaven and earth [sets God apart from all other alleged gods],

The sea and all that is in them;

Who keeps faith forever [God is always true to His promises];



146:7 Who executes justice for the oppressed [those most in need of justice];

Who gives food to the hungry [those most in need of sustenance].

The LORD sets the prisoners [those most in need of liberty] free.



146:8 The LORD opens the eyes of the blind [those most in need of sight];

The LORD raises up those who are bowed down [those most in need of comfort; cf. Matt. 11:28];

The LORD loves the righteous [those who obey His law and do what is right; not the self-righteous];



146:9 The LORD protects the strangers [those most in need of friends];

He supports the fatherless and the widow [those most in need of security; cf. Ps. 68:5; the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow are mentioned in the OT as objects of God’s care];

But He thwarts [to impede a course of action or overturn an evil scheme] the way of the wicked [those who are out of touch with God].



146:10 The LORD will reign forever [cf. Ps. 10:16; kings and princes rule for a season but the Lord reigns forever],

Thy God, O Zion [term occurs 150 times in the Bible; synonymous with city of God; Jerusalem; also known as the city of David], to all generations.

Praise the LORD!