Matthew Henry Commentary Psalms 146
Matthew Henry Commentary
Psalms 146
Matthew Henry Commentary
Psalms 146
"Praise ye Jehovah. Praise Jehovah, O my soul. While I live will I praise Jehovah: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being. Put not your trust in princes, Nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; In that very day his thoughts perish." — Psalms 146:1-4 (ASV)
If it is our delight to praise the Lord while we live, we will certainly praise Him to all eternity. With this glorious prospect before us, how low do worldly pursuits seem!
There is a Son of Man in whom there is help—that is, He who is also the Son of God, who will not fail those who trust in Him. But all other sons of men are like the man from whom they originated, who, though in a position of honor, did not remain.
God has given the earth to the children of men, but there is great striving about it. Yet, after a while, no part of the earth will be their own, except for the portion where their dead bodies are laid. And when man returns to his earth, on that very day all his plans and designs vanish and are gone: what, then, becomes of expectations placed in him?
"Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, Whose hope is in Jehovah his God: Who made heaven and earth, The sea, and all that in them is; Who keepeth truth for ever; Who executeth justice for the oppressed; Who giveth food to the hungry. Jehovah looseth the prisoners; Jehovah openeth [the eyes of] the blind; Jehovah raiseth up them that are bowed down; Jehovah loveth the righteous; Jehovah preserveth the sojourners; He upholdeth the fatherless and widow; But the way of the wicked he turneth upside down. Jehovah will reign for ever, Thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye Jehovah. " — Psalms 146:5-10 (ASV)
The psalmist encourages us to put confidence in God. We must hope in the providence of God for all we need for this life, and in the grace of God for what is to come. The God of heaven became a man that he might become our salvation.
Though he died on the cross for our sins, and was laid in the grave, yet his thoughts of love to us did not perish; he rose again to fulfill them. When on earth, his miracles were examples of what he is still doing every day. He grants deliverance to captives bound in the chains of sin and Satan.
He opens the eyes of the understanding. He feeds with the bread of life those who hunger for salvation; and he is the constant Friend of the poor in spirit, the helpless: with him poor sinners, who are like the fatherless, find mercy; and his kingdom shall continue forever. Then let sinners flee to him, and believers rejoice in him.
And as the Lord shall reign forever, let us stir up each other to praise his holy name.
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