Instruction
Scripture: Psalm 146
Psalm 146 begins a series of five psalms – the last five
psalms in the book – that begin and end with the words, “Praise the Lord!” In
Hebrew, that beginning and ending is a familiar word for readers in nearly
every language; it is the word, “Hallelujah!” This psalm begins with an
exhortation to praise the Lord, and moves immediately to a first person singular
commitment to praise Him. It urges the reader to not trust in earthly power,
but in the full power of the Lord who did, does, and will do glorious things.
It gives words to one who has experienced God’s salvation, recognizing the many
wonderful things God has done and will do, so that one may join in praising the
Lord.
Teaching
This psalm sets up two things that one might put one’s trust
in: the Lord or temporal powers (princes). It quickly shows how ridiculous it
would be to trust in temporal powers noting that any salvation they might offer
is ephemeral for people die and their plans perish with them. Instead the psalm
extolls the Lord’s greatness by declaring that He has created all things and
provided for them, He does marvelous miracles and protects His people, and He
will reign forever.
Life
People are often tempted to seek salvation from their
problems by turning to earthly solutions. This is not entirely bad as we
believe and understand that the Lord has created this world in such a way that
we might have good things – including help – in it. The potential pitfall is
when people no longer recognize the Lord’s provision in those earthly gifts,
and when they long only for earthly salvation and not for the greater gift He
has given in giving Jesus to free prisoners from sin, open eyes to see His
love, to lift those bowed down with guilt, to watch over us as we sojourn here
until He comes again, and to protect us from the wicked.
Prayer
This prayer is written
in the themes of Confession, Petition, and Instruction.
O Lord, we get wrapped up in our earthly lives and all too
often we fail to seek You in our need. We get sick and we go to the doctor. We
see injustice and we write to our senators. We respond to our problems with
earthly means, which in and of itself isn’t wrong, but we fail to lift up our
hearts in prayer. We don’t see Your healing at work in the doctor’s craft, Your
justice in the government’s laws, and Your provision in our earthly blessings.
We give the praise that is rightfully Yours to the earthly vessel You have
provided for our good. It is as though we praise the gift and not the giver!
Forgive us!
Help us, Lord, to put our trust in You and to praise You in
for all Your benefits: for princes who are Your servants to protect us, for
Your creation, for Your faithfulness, justice, and compassion, and for all You
do on our behalf. Especially help us to praise You for giving us Your Son,
Jesus, that He might set us free by His death and open our eyes with His Word
so we may believe and be saved.
Lord, You have shown us that the powers of this world are
temporary. There is but one power that reigns forever, and that is You! You are
the source of all that is good in our lives, and so we join the psalmist to
says, “Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!” Amen.
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