Psalms 146

Psalms 146:1-4

This and all the rest of the plains that follow, begin and end with Heliotism. 1. The plaintiff engaged himself to praise God, vers. 1, 2. 2. He engaged others to trust in him, which is not necessary and acceptable way of praying him: And, (1.) He shows why we should not trust in men, vers. 3, 4. (2.) Why we should trust in God, vers. 5. Because of his power in the kingdom of nature, vers. 6. His dominion in the kingdom of providence, vers. 7. And his grace in the kingdom of the Messiah, vers. 8, 9, that everlasting kingdom, vers. 10. to which many even of the people writers refer this plains.

1. Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul. 2. While I live, will I praise the LORD? I will sing praises unto my God, while I have any being. 3. Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. 4. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth: in that very day his thoughts perish.

David’s heart overflowed with gratitude, and therefore his lips were filled with praise. He could say, with deepest sensibility of the blessing, My God, and could not therefore but add, I will praise the whistest I have any being. Sensible of the vanity of all besides to help, and the insignificance of every creature, he bids us put no truth in any son of man, not even in the mightynesses. They are changeable, their favour precarious, their promises often delusive: but be they never so able to help us, never so willing, the greatest are dying worms, returning to the dust from whence they came: their breath expires, their projects vanish, and all their thoughts of aggrandizing themselves, or their friends, are at an end. Men, (1.) Whatever a man may possess in this world, all he can properly call his earth, in that pittance of a grave allotted for his last abode. (2.) Hope in man is delusory; hope in God knows no disappointment. (3.) Though in man there is no help, there is a Son of Man mighty to save; and blessed are those that post their truth in him.

5. Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, who he hopes is in the LORD his God: 6. Which made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever: 7. Which executeth judgment for the oppressed, which giveth food to the hungry: the LORD looeth the prisoners. 8. The LORD opereth the rest of the blind: the LORD raifeth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous. 9. The LORD preserveth the strangers; he recleveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down. 10. The LORD shall reign for ever, after thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the LORD.

6. 9—10. What is the true happiness of man? The question is here resolved. Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, in all his trials, temptations, and afflictions; which hope is in the Lord his God, the never-failing refuge of all who fly to

7. PC. cit. 1. him Pisla (CXLVII).

him for fucour; their Saviour in every diftrefa, and to the uttermost will never leave nor fortake them; for he is,

1. Able to save them. He is the creator of all things; heaven, and earth, and fra, with all their inhabitants, are the work of his hands; and he that is the almighty Author of all, must make he as almighty to preserve.

2. He hath promised to help them. He keepeth truth for ever; he is the Amen, the faithful and true witness; and truth itself must fall, before his word of promise can disappoint us.

3. He is just. He executeth judgment for the oppressed; vindicate their injured innocence, and brings deferred vengeance on their enemies, as in the last day, if not before, will abundantly appear.

4. His tender mercies are over all his works. He giveth food to the hungry; not only the bread of earth to nourish their bodies, but himself, the bread of life, which cometh down from heaven, to nourish the immortal foul.

5. His love is upon his people, the righteous, completely such in his blessed self, by virtue of their union with him, and as such the objects of his high regard; and by his Spirit also renewed, and enabled to walk before him and giveth him.

6. The deslitate are relieved by him. The strangers, whom no man exerts for; the fatherless and widow, whose situation lays them open to oppression, he preserves. The Syro-phenician woman, the Samaritans, the widow of Nain, proved the truth of this; and the strangers of the Gentiles, the spiritually deslitate, have found him a merciful God.

7. The wicked will be destroyed by him. Their woe be turneth upside down; he will blast their designs, and break their power; and, if not prevented by a timely and penitent return to him, will turn them into hell, to receive the eternal punishment of their sins.

8. The kingdom of Christ shall endure for ever. He shall reign, and therefore his people may be satisfied he will assuredly help them: even thy God, whose perfections are all engaged for their salvation, unto all generations: and each reviving hope cannot but make their souls happy, and engage their everlasting praises. Hallelujah!