The bulk of Psalm 146 is a contrast between misplaced faith in humanity (verses 3 and 4) and well-placed faith in God (verses 5 to 10). Here, it is written: “Do not put your trust in princes, nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help. His spirit departs, he returns to his earth; in that very day his plans perish. Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God, Who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; Who keeps truth forever, Who executes justice for the oppressed, Who gives food to the hungry. The Lord gives freedom to the prisoners. The Lord opens the eyes of the blind; the Lord raises those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the strangers; He relieves the fatherless and widow; but the way of the wicked He turns upside down. The Lord shall reign forever—your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the Lord!”
What a contrast is found between verses 4 and 10: “His spirit departs, he returns to his earth; in that very day his plans perish…The Lord shall reign forever—your God, O Zion, to all generations.” Your investment of faith in yourself or any other human is bankrupt on the day that death comes. Placing your faith in the God Who reigns forever pays eternal dividends.
“Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! While I live, I will praise the Lord; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being” (vv. 1-2). Because of Jehovah, I can have a well-placed faith.
