August 5 • BIBLE STUDY GUIDE 10
Praise for God’s Justice
Bible Background • PSALM 146:1-10; EXODUS 21-23; ISAIAH 58
Printed Text • PSALM 146:1-10 | Devotional Reading • LUKE 4:16-21
Aim for Change
By the end of the lesson, we will: EXPLAIN how prayer and faith can bring about justice; REFLECT upon God’s role as Promise Keeper; and AFFIRM that God has promised to help people who are oppressed.
In Focus
In December 2008, after Bernard Madoff was arrested and charged with fraud, the scandal tied to his firm, Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities, made frontpage headlines across the country in various media. This already wealthy man not only caused other rich people to lose their fortunes, but he may also have affected “pensioners, municipal workers, students on scholarship, and middle-class Americans.
. . . The scandal has been estimated to cost investors upward of $50 billion and it may be one of the biggest Ponzi schemes on record” (“Did Bernie Madoff Steal Your Money?” Newsweek, December 16, 2008).
Many unsuspecting investors put their trust in this man, and their trust was abused.
In today’s lesson, we will see that trust is a crucial component of humankind’s covenant relationship with God. The writer of Psalm 146 exposes for us foolishness and limitations associated with placing our confidence in humans. Instead, we are encouraged to trust the Lord, our God, implicitly. He alone is capable of righting every wrong, and breaking the yoke of unforgiven sin on our lives.
Keep in Mind
“Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God: Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The LORD looseth the prisoners” (Psalm 146:5, 7).
Focal Verses
KJVPsalm 146:1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul.
2While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.
3Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.
4His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.
5Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:
6Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:
7Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry.
The LORD looseth the prisoners:
8The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous:
9The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.
10The LORD shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations.
Praise ye the LORD.
NLTPsalm 146:1-10 1Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, I tell myself.
2I will praise the LORD as long as I live. I will sing praises to my God even with my dying breath.
3Don’t put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there.
4When their breathing stops, they return to the earth, and in a moment all their plans come to an end.
5But happy are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the LORD their God.
6He is the one who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. He is the one who keeps every promise forever,
7who gives justice to the oppressed and food to the hungry. The LORD frees the prisoners.
8The LORD opens the eyes of the blind.The LORD lifts the burdens of those bent beneath their loads. The LORD loves the righteous.
9The LORD protects the foreigners among us. He cares for the orphans and widows, but he frustrates the plans of the wicked.
10The LORD will reign forever. O Jerusalem, your God is King in every generation! Praise the LORD!
The People, Places, and Times
Hallelujah Psalms. The book of Psalms, as we know it, was central to the worship of the Jews. Different genres or styles are incorporated in their composition. Some psalms reflect thanksgiving, praise, confession of sin, pursuit of wisdom, or devotion; others concentrate on prayer or petitions. Psalms 113-118 are known as the Hallel psalms, which focus on the Exodus and on praising God. These psalms have been used as part of commemorative services during Passover and other holidays. Of the five groupings of psalms, the last group, Psalms 107-150 are unique in that they each begin and end with the exuberant exclamation of both joy and gratitude “Praise ye the LORD,” which is derived from the Hebrew phrase Hallelu Yah. The term “Hallelujah” only appears in the book of Psalms.
Background
The concepts of oppression and justice are both universal and ancient. Access to abundance and fair judgment are often reserved for the powerful. This means that equity and justice are frequently denied to the oppressed. In the ancient world, human-made social order dictated the “haves” and the “have nots.” The widows, orphans, and strangers occupied the lowest stratum of society; hence, justice was not within their reach. In today’s lesson, the psalmist recognizes that God reverses this perverse pecking order, and the psalmist praises God for His righteous judgment and affirms his trust in the Lord. The psalmist expresses his confidence that because He is righteous in nature, our God will bless those whom people had found insignificant. God will listen to and fairly judge the petitions of those that humankind has ignored. In the presence of an all-knowing, ever-present, all-powerful Creator, the poor and needy will be exalted, while the wealthy and powerful will be rendered frail and useless. This blessed assurance gives us reason to place our trust in God and in God alone.
At-A-Glance
1. A Promise of Praise (Psalm 146:1-2)
2. Perils of Misplaced Trust (vv. 3-4)
3. Declaration of God’s Righteousness (vv. 5-9)
4. Confidence in the Eternity of the Righteous Judge (v. 10)
In Depth
1. A Promise of Praise (Psalm 146:1-2)
This psalm begins with an undeniable declaration of praise. Praise is reserved generally for someone that we recognize as great. In today’s world, we sometimes praise our friends or family for kind or notable actions or deeds. We even praise politicians or celebrities for their works or performances. This type of praise is subjective. These people do something that benefits us, and we express our gratitude by praising them. Unfortunately, we are equally quick to censure and even condemn these same people if they do something that evokes our disapproval.
The subject of the psalmist’s adoration is neither fleeting nor capricious. The earnestness of the psalmist is apparent to us in the very personalization of the praise. With his entire being (his “soul,” v. 1), the psalmist will halal or “praise” Yah. Yah is one of the Hebrew names for God that is often translated as “Lord.” The use of God’s covenant name is especially significant. This praise is leveled at God who has covenanted to love and protect His people. The psalmist’s praise echoes the Israelites’ covenant to obey, honor, and love God with all of their being. Unconditional praise should be our response as Christians to our understanding that Jesus, the Christ, is our Savior, and it is only through Him that we are reconciled to the one, true, and righteous God. As mature Christians, we should begin and maintain a pattern of praise in our lives, which will continue through all eternity like the psalmist’s.
2. The Perils of Misplaced Trust (vv. 3-4)
The psalmist now turns his attention from praise to issue an important warning. We are instructed not to place our trust in human leadership. When we “trust” (v. 3), we have confidence and assurance that someone will do what he or she promises to do. In the ancient world of the psalmist, the “princes” were the kings and rulers. The equivalent for present-day saints would be people in authority. While many in authority do as they promise, many others do not. In recent years, failure to exercise proper authority led to a global financial crisis and an unprecedented oil spill that resulted in catastrophic ecological and economic damage. We must always remember that those in authority only hold temporary positions. Because they are human, they will eventually “perish” or die (v. 4).
Here, we are reminded of Isaiah’s declaration: “All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever” (Isaiah 40:6-8). While highly positioned men and women may hold authority in government or be in positions that assist in our employment, education, finances, and so on, not one of them can offer us help after we die!
3. Declaration of God’s Righteousness (vv. 5-9)
The psalmist’s reference to “the God of Jacob” probably means the God of the people of Israel (Psalm 146:5). The psalmist identifies God as the Creator of everything (heaven, earth, and the seas) and everyone. Clearly, God is worthy of praise not only because He is the Creator, but because He makes provision for the most beloved of His creations: human beings. The psalmist goes on to list some of the ways God cares for the “oppressed” or those who most need His care and protection. God feeds the hungry, sets prisoners free, makes the blind to see, and lifts up the fallen (v. 7).
It is important to note that God’s provisional care goes beyond the poor and downtrodden. These are people who have been abused, usually by someone in power who took advantage of them. The psalmist tells us that God will bring judgment upon the people who are responsible for these abuses. Those who think they are getting away with oppressing others will encounter God, who protects and vindicates the righteous.
We should also note that our righteous God acknowledges His creation as righteous, too. “The righteous” refers to those who are faithful to God’s covenant (v. 8); after Christ’s advent, we obtain righteousness through faith in Christ. The reference to “strangers” in verse 9 refers to people who were from other countries living among the Jews. God’s provisional care is extended to these immigrants and refugees, too.
4. Confidence in the Eternity of the Righteous Judge (v. 10)
As the psalmist concludes his thoughts, he circles back to where he began: an outburst of praise and a proclamation that our God, our righteous Judge, will reign over us forever. This sentiment is echoed in Exodus15:18, “The LORD shall reign for ever and ever.” Similarly, the eternity of God’s reign is confirmed when we read, “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 11:15). This is a promise to all generations who hear and respond to the message of salvation revealed in Jesus.
Search the Scriptures
Fill in the blanks.
1. “While I live will I ______the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any ______” (Psalm 146:2).
2. “______is he that hath the God of ______for his help, whose hope is in LORD his God” (v. 5).
Discuss the Meaning
The notion of justice is sometimes a tricky one. When we face unfair situations, we often try to use common sense or logic to rectify things. Sometimes we take on the operation of judgment ourselves—“to get even.” The very term “getting even” implies making someone else carry the appropriate weight so that there is an even distribution. Compare and contrast our understanding of justice with the justice described in Psalm 146.
Lesson in Our Society
True believers know that the God of heaven became a man in order to become our salvation. We also know that although He died on the Cross for our sins and was laid in the grave, His commitment to us did not perish; He rose again and secured our reconciliation with God. This confidence in the Lord as our only source of salvation not only prompts us to praise Him, but it also should encourage us to stir up each other to praise His holy and righteous name.
Make It Happen
One need only listen to friends, family members, and coworkers to hear the discouragement of those around us. Many of the people we see every day are without hope and trust in anything and anyone. Make it a point to reach out to someone this week. Share your testimony with them, and more importantly, share the Word of God with them. Encourage them to put their confidence in God.
Follow the Spirit
What God wants me to do:
Remember Your Thoughts
Special insights I have learned:
More Light on the Text
Psalm 146:1-10
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.
The Hebrew Bible identifies the last five groupings of psalms in the book of Psalms as tehilim (teh-HEE-lem), a Hebrew word meaning “song of praise.” Each of these psalms has the superscription “Hallelujah” (The Jewish Study Bible, 1280). The word “praise” is translated halal (haw-LAL) in Hebrew, and it has a variety of meanings, including “celebration,” “boastful,” “shining,” and “radiance.” However, the most common meaning for Christians is “hallelujah,” ebullience for giving glory and honor to God.
We are not given the identity of the psalmist who wrote the doxology (expression of praise). Some scholars conclude that David was the writer (see 2 Samuel 23:1), as evident in the style and content of the writing. David often extolled the majesty and justice of God, while fleeing from Saul (see Psalms 52-54), his son Absalom (see Psalm 64), and his own sin (see Psalms 32; 51). The common theme of these and many other psalms that David wrote is God’s efficacy (great capacity to function) in the midst of human frailty.
As the psalmist begins the doxology, he calls for his soul to praise the Lord and to “praise Yahweh all my life” (146:2, Old Testament of the Jewish Bible).
The Hebrew word for “Lord” is Adonai (aw-DONE) and literally represents God. The tetragrammation, the Hebrew name for God, consists of the four letters Yud-Heh-Vav- Heh (YHWH), and it is sometimes rendered in English as Jehovah or Yahweh.
The phrase “sing praise” is zamar (zaw- MAR) in Hebrew, and here, the psalmist declares his ability to make music or poetry in songs, which is another possible clue that the doxology has a Davidic authorship.
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.
In verse 3, the psalmist warns his audience of the absurdity of trusting in human beings as life’s foundation and source of justice, whether they are “princes” (Heb. nadiyb, naw-DEEB) or common persons. All are the same in that they cannot provide help or safety. If David was the author of this psalm, perhaps he reflected on his despair about his weakness and sin, such as when his adultery with Bathsheba, resulted in a child who then died at a very young age. No matter how much the king fasted and wept for the child, he did not have the ability to preserve his life (see 2 Samuel 12:15-23). If the psalmist is David, then indeed we can understand his admonition: When mortal man “yields his breath and goes back to the earth he came from, . . . on that day all his schemes perish,” they breathe their last, they return to dust, on that very day, all their plans are gone” (Psalm 146:4, JSB).
5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God: 6 Which made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:
The psalmist declares that Jehovah God is Creator (see Genesis 1:1; Revelation 14:7), Sustainer, and Keeper of all life--a God of firmness, stability, and faithfulness (“truth,” Psalm 146:6).
We are called to trust in God no matter how tempestuous or uncertain life’s storms can be. One theme that runs throughout all of God’s Word is His faithfulness to His people, even in the most difficult test. God has never let His people down. Even when we become faithless and want to run from God, He remains faithful. He will never deny those who trust Him (see 2 Timothy 2:13).
7 Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The LORD looseth the prisoners: 8 The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous: 9 The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.