Grief counselors suggest self-talk is important in the middle of life’s difficult journeys. In this psalm, we are going to put a stake in the ground. You’re going to tell yourself you will praise the Lord’s name while you have breath!
“Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.” Psalm 146:1-2
What a declaration of faith! I join the writer of this psalm and aspire to praise the Lord as long as I live. The psalmist’s declaration is instructive for his soul to praise God while he has life. There’s an echo here—praise the Lord, and I will praise the Lord. Praise is contagious.
“Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish.” Psalm 146:3-4
So many tempting gods or other authorities seek our allegiance. Or could it be, instead, our own allegiance seeks so many would-be gods? We were created to seek. It is a matter of faith to put our trust in God and God alone. If we trust in princes or any other, we make a grave mistake for they offer no salvation. A prince is just a man. Put not your trust in anyone else. Exodus 20:3 is clear: “You shall have no other gods before me.” Besides, there is no other name given in heaven or on earth whereby we may be saved (Acts 4:12).
“Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry.” Psalm 146:5-7
Resting by faith in well-placed trust brings blessing and hope. Why trust in mere men? Why trust in lesser gods? Our God— who is the Creator of heaven, earth, and all that exists therein—is alone worthy of our trust. He keeps faith forever. No self-talk could be stronger than to repeat to yourself that your God keeps faith forever.
Our God also protects the oppressed. He provides sustenance for us as we pray, “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11). That kind of faith stands upon bedrock of a forever faithful God.
“The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.” Psalm 146:7-9
Many in our world give no regard for the goodness of God. They simply do not believe. But our God sets prisoners free and opens the eyes of the blind.
He has opened my eyes to his goodness while I have journeyed through the depths of my loss.
He stoops down and lifts those collapsing under life’s heavy burdens. Again, he keeps faith forever. The Lord loves those made righteous by his Son. Not one person is outside of the watchful eye of our God. Those who assume he doesn’t care—even the widow and the orphan—are sustained by the goodness of God.
While all of mankind should fear the Lord in reverence, the wicked surely should fear if they stand on their own merit without the Advocate. If they ignore the reign of the Prince of Peace, they will meet with ruin.
Our Lord reigns forever. His name should be praised. He deserves our trust for he keeps faith forever!
“The Lord will reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the Lord!” Psalm 146:10
Read the E-book Facing Loss: Lessons of Hope from My Unwanted Journey