Psalm One Hundred and Forty Six

by Dr. Henry M. Morris

(taken from the Defender's Study Bible)

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Psalm 146:1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul.

Praise ye the Lord. Each of the last five psalms (146-150) both begins and ends with “Praise ye the Lord”—i.e., “Hallelujah.” They comprise sort of a “Hallelujah Chorus,” a grand epilogue to the five books, each of which also ends in a grand doxology. In view of the fact that “Hallelujah” occurs only four times in the New Testament, all of which are in the setting of the victorious return of Christ and the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:1, 3, 4, 6), perhaps these Hallelujah psalms will be sung at the great gathering of “the general assembly and church of the firstborn” (Hebrews 12:23) at His throne in heaven.

O my soul. At the future assembly of “the great congregation” (Psalm 22:25; 40:10; Hebrews 12:23), not only will the whole congregation praise the Lord, so will each individual. “Praise the Lord, O my soul!”

Psalm 146:2 While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.

praises. The words “praise,” “praises,” and “praised” occur more in the Psalms than in all the rest of the Bible together. Further, they occur twice as much in these five “Praise Psalms,” Psalms 146-150, as in any other five chapters in the psalms.

Psalm 146:3 Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.

Psalm 146:4 His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.

Psalm 146:5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:

Psalm 146:6 Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:

made heaven, and earth. Psalm 146:1-7 praises the Lord as Creator, Psalm 146:7-9 as Redeemer, Psalm 146:10 as eternal King (compare Colossians 1:16-20).

Psalm 146:7 Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The LORD looseth the prisoners:

executeth judgment. This may refer to the “judgment seat of Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:10).

Psalm 146:8 The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous:

raiseth them. At the great resurrection/rapture day, we shall receive glorified bodies, as immortal as that of the resurrected Christ (Philippians 3:20, 21).

Psalm 146:9 The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.

Psalm 146:10 The LORD shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the LORD.