As a Christian—one who has already trusted in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone for your eternal salvation—in whom or what are you trusting to sustain you and carry you through the difficulties and uncertainties of daily life? Whom do you trust to ultimately control the affairs of this life? As another election looms here in the United States, are you trusting in a particular person or political party to change the nation, the world, or even your own personal well-being? Far too often, while believers may firmly rest their eternal well-being—their salvation—in the work of Jesus Christ on their behalf, they fail to find personal peace in the present because they feel as though men, or the systems of men, can somehow meet their needs or help them to accomplish their goals. Yes, even Christians have a tendency to place their faith or confidence in a politician, a political party, a pastor, a particular denomination, or a program to solve one problem or another in the church, the nation, the world, or even one’s own life. In many churches today, the topic of conversation is heavily weighted toward politics, political parties, or social programs rather than toward trust and confidence in the Lord, in His promises, and in His Word.
The 146th psalm, however, exhorts every believer to refrain from this approach to life. It demands that we place our confidence—our trust—in the only One who can truly help and deliver: the one, true God of the universe. This psalm calls us to praise, thank, and wholly rely upon the Lord, and it provides several reasons why He is the One in whom we should put our utmost dependence. These verses also warn us to be careful not to place our trust (and thus our praise) in influential people or programs. God knows we have a natural inclination to have faith in man rather than in our Creator and Redeemer. Each day we should ask: In whom or what is my confidence resting?
Praise Precedes Confidence (Psalm 146:1-2)
Notice that while this psalm urges believers to place their trust or confidence in the Lord, it first begins with a cry of praise to Jehovah. Many people (including Christians) today have a tendency to laud men—politicians, renowned pastors, business leaders, and even notable sports or entertainment personalities. The praise of men leads to a propensity to have confidence in these individuals. God knows this is the case, so the psalmist begins with an exhortation: “Praise ye the Lord.” Of course, the one, true God is the only One who is worthy of any honor and adoration. He is not only the Creator and Sustainer of all things, but He alone is the One who can truly be trusted. We must root all our reliance upon Almighty God.
Notice the call to worship Jehovah in the first two verses. To “praise” means to esteem and glorify. This should be a life-long attitude of every believer (v. 2), not just when life is treating us well. This praise entails a three-fold aspect. We should praise the Lord:
1. Corporately (“ye”)—As believers, we are to gather together and glorify God by the very means that bring Him glory: the study of His Word; fellowship with one another; lifting our voice in song; talking to Him in prayer; giving of our time, talents, and resources; etc.
2. Internally (“my soul”)—Going through outward motions while our innermost being is not abiding in Him is not truly glorifying to God. Thus, praise is not just something we do; it is an attitude of the heart and soul.
3. Individually (“I”)—Throughout our day, wherever we may be, we are to offer songs of praise to the Lord, and we are to exalt and lift high the name of God as long as He gives us breath.
A Comparison between Two Objects of Trust (Psalm 146:3-5)
The Lord knows we have a tendency to wander when it comes to our trust in Him and allegiance to Him. As individuals who still reside in these sin-affected physical bodies, we have a propensity to act and react according to the temporal, the tangible—what we can see rather than what we know to be true. Therefore, the psalmist exhorts us to place our trust in the right object. These verses present us with two options:
Option #1: We can put our faith in influential people—“princes,” “the son of man” (v. 3). In other words, we depend on or have confidence in those with power or prominence who claim to have the answers to the problems that exist in the world today. Politicians, businessmen, social influencers, pastors, religious leaders, entertainers—all can be magnified as those who have social, political, or moral answers to the world’s problems and thus deserve our trust and praise. Yet the psalmist admonishes his readers not to put their hope in fellow human beings because people are finite. He says of them: “in whom there is no help” (v. 3). They cannot save or deliver. Their thoughts and plans will die with them (v. 4).
Option #2: We can, instead, place our confidence and trust in the one, true God. Verse five reveals that the saint who rests in God is the one who is truly “happy” because he or she knows who God is, what He has promised about eternity, and that He can and will keep His Word. To trust the Lord means to know something about Him and what He has declared to be true. To trust does not entail holding on to some vague or nebulous feeling; rather, it denotes knowing God, listening to what He has proclaimed, and having “hope” (confidence) in Him and His Word. Certainly this brings the believer a true sense of happiness and peace, unlike the one who is placing his or her trust in a finite, fallible human who cannot truly help or deliver.
The Cause for Trust in Jehovah God (Psalm 146:5-9)
Why is it better to trust in the one, true God rather than fallible people? The psalmist provides three answers. First, it is better to put one’s confidence in Him due to His power or ability (v. 6a). He is the One who had the power to create all things and did so by His very word! How foolish it is to think that true help or deliverance could come from anywhere else—the created rather than the Creator. Notice the experience of the psalmist in Psalm 121:2-3. While we will not find “help” in the princes and politicians of this world, our help can and must come from the Lord who made everything.
Second, it is better to trust in Him due to His character (v. 6b). He alone is trustworthy! He is the One “which keepeth truth for ever”—in other words, God guards or protects truth for all eternity. In a world full of chaos and confusion, we may conclude that all truth is lost in this world in which we live, and yet this is not the case. We need to trust Him because He is truth, He guards truth, and thus as the God of truth who keeps truth, He will honor His Word eternally. He is faithful to whatever He says and does! Unlike men, He can always be trusted.
Finally, it is better to trust the Lord because of His works—His mercy, justice, and grace (vv. 7-9). Jehovah can be trusted on account of His actions among men. The psalmist highlights some of God’s amazing works toward mankind: He exercises righteousness and lovingkindness upon those who need help—unlike fallen man who takes advantage and preys upon people who are vulnerable or downtrodden. God can and should be trusted to graciously aid the poor and oppressed as He sees fit, and He will judge the way of the wicked in His perfect time. While it may seem as though injustice prevails, this will not always be the case.
The Consummation of All Things (Psalm 146:10)
The final verse of this wonderful psalm concludes our consideration of where our trust and confidence should lie with regard to all the questions and issues of life. We have already considered that God is the only One worthy to receive our trust and that to hope in other people is futile. So as we come to the end of this chapter, the psalmist states one final reality and the proper response we should have to this truth.
The Reality—God will reign forever (unlike any human ruler)! This refers not to the general sovereignty of the Lord over all things right now (although this is true, too). The psalmist is letting the reader know that God should be praised and trusted because, unlike mortal rulers and leaders, He is everlasting and will physically and literally reign eternally and righteously just as He has promised throughout the Old Testament Scriptures. It may seem difficult to comprehend in the present, but this is the reality of all of life.
Our Response—“Praise ye the Lord!” This should be our reaction to the truth of who God is and what He has done, is doing, and will do. Praise Him at all times! And, while in this life—while we still “have any being” (v. 2)—continue to trust Him rather than any fallible man or system of men.
Who has your vote of confidence today: human leaders who offer no help in the end or the Creator-God who will reign for all eternity? He is King of kings and Lord of lords. No human leader at any level can remotely compare to the One who will rule forever and who, even now, sets up and casts down powers in His sovereignty according to His own plan (Rom. 13:1). God is the only One worthy of our trust because of who He is—the eternal God of truth. Thus, let us praise the Lord at all times and refuse to place our trust or confidence in any human person. — Matt Costella
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