Psalms 146-148: Hallelujah Psalms

Thoughts

Psalm 146

Put Not Your Trust in Princes

• Five final Psalms known as the Hallelujah Psalms

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.

• Praise is both commanded and chosen.
• Worship is lifelong 

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.

• Human power is limited and untrustworthy 
• Leadership without God cannot ultimately save.

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;

• True blessing is defined by where help and hope are

who executes justice for the oppressed, 
who gives food to the hungry. 
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.

• God’s kingship is full of mercy
• God’s care reaches into physical, social, and spiritual need.

The LORD watches over the sojourners;
he upholds the widow and the fatherless, 
but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

• God’s protects the vulnerable.

The LORD will reign forever, 
your God, O Zion, to all generations. 
Praise the LORD!

• God’s reign transcends time 

Psalm 147

He Heals the Brokenhearted

Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.

• Praise is described as both good and pleasant

The LORD builds up Jerusalem; 
he gathers the outcasts of Israel. 
He heals the brokenhearted 
and binds up their wounds.

• God is in charge of restoration 
• God rebuilds cities and people at the same time.
• He is the Great Physician

He determines the number of the stars; 
he gives to all of them their names.
Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.

• God’s power extends to the innumerable stars
• God’s greatness is paired with wisdom and power

The LORD lifts up the humble; 
he casts the wicked to the ground.

• God’s justice reverses expected hierarchies.

Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving;
make melody to our God on the lyre! 
He covers the heavens with clouds; 
he prepares rain for the earth; 
he makes grass grow on the hills.
He gives to the beasts their food, 
and to the young ravens that cry.

• God’s care is expressed through provision.
• He cares for all of His creation, not just humanity

His delight is not in the strength of the horse,
nor his pleasure in the legs of a man, 
but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, 
in those who hope in his steadfast love.

• God’s values differ from human admiration of power.
• Steadfast love defines the relationship God desires.

Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem! 
Praise your God, O Zion! 
For he strengthens the bars of your gates; 
he blesses your children within you.

• Security and blessing come from God
• God’s work touches future generations.

He makes peace in your borders;
he fills you with the finest of the wheat.
He sends out his command to the earth;
his word runs swiftly.

• Peace and provision from God
• God’s word is effective 

He gives snow like wool;
he scatters frost like ashes. 
He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs;
who can stand before his cold?
He sends out his word, and melts them; 
he makes his wind blow and the waters flow.

• God controls harsh and uncontrollable forces.

He declares his word to Jacob, 
his statutes and rules to Israel. 
He has not dealt thus with any other nation;
they do not know his rules. 
Praise the LORD!

• Revelation of God is a gift to His people
• God’s closeness to His people shown through instruction.

Psalm 148

Praise the Name of the LORD

Praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD from the heavens;
praise him in the heights!
Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his hosts!

• Praise in this psalm begins above and moves downward.

Praise him, sun and moon,
praise him, all you shining stars!
Praise him, you highest heavens,
and you waters above the heavens!

• The celestial beings are summoned into worship.

Let them praise the name of the LORD!
For he commanded and they were created.
And he established them forever and ever;
he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.

• Reasons for praising God
  • God is our creator
  • He sustains us

Praise the LORD from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all deeps,
 fire and hail, snow and mist,
stormy wind fulfilling his word!

• Even chaotic or destructive forces are created by God

Mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars!
Beasts and all livestock,
creeping things and flying birds!

• Living creatures praise simply by being what God made them.
• No part of creation is insignificant.

Kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all rulers of the earth!
Young men and maidens together,
old men and children!

• No hierarchy of human exists in praise

Let them praise the name of the LORD,
for his name alone is exalted;
his majesty is above earth and heaven.

• God’s name is uniquely worthy.

He has raised up a horn for his people,
praise for all his saints,
for the people of Israel who are near to him.
Praise the LORD!

• God deserves praise from all because of His saving action of His people 

Category	Who / What Is Commanded to Praise	Verse
Heavenly realm	Angels	v.2
	All His hosts	v.2
Cosmic bodies	Sun	v.3
	Moon	v.3
	Shining stars	v.3
Highest heavens	Highest heavens	v.4
	Waters above the heavens	v.4
Earth (non-human)	Sea monsters (great sea creatures)	v.7
	All deeps	v.7
Weather & elements	Fire	v.8
	Hail	v.8
	Snow	v.8
	Mist	v.8
	Stormy wind	v.8
Geography	Mountains	v.9
	All hills	v.9
Plant life	Fruit trees	v.9
	All cedars	v.9
Animals	Beasts	v.10
	All livestock	v.10
	Creeping things	v.10
	Flying birds	v.10
Human rulers	Kings of the earth	v.11
	All peoples	v.11
	Princes	v.11
	All rulers of the earth	v.11
Human individuals	Young men	v.12
	Maidens	v.12
	Old men	v.12
	Children	v.12
Covenant people	People of Israel	v.14
	People near to Him	v.14

Application

Psalm 146 shows us that hope  placed in human power will eventually collapse, but God  alone is faithful across time and generations! Praise be to God. Psalm 147 shows us that God restores us and cares for the vulnerable. How amazing that we have a God that cares for those that need it most?  Psalm 148 shows that praise is not limited to humans! All creation participates.