Written for public worship, Psalm 146 begins with a shout of praise: Hallelujah! (v 1a). 

Switching to the first person singular, a soloist testifies that they intend to make their whole life an expression of praise (vs 1b,2). God’s people are invited to consider doing the same, the rest of the psalm is taken up with reasons to put our hope in the faithful God of Jacob.

These reasons are given either side of a blessing sung over the congregation in verse 5. Beforehand, we’re told of the pointlessness of trusting in human rulers who pass away (vs 3,4). After the blessing, which celebrates the hope and the help God brings, lots of positive testimonies to God’s presence, faithfulness and power are almost piled up, reminding us how God works: providing sustenance (v 7b), empowering those who are broken and bowed down (v 8), caring for the vulnerable (v 9a) and resisting those who do evil (v 9b). 

This is how your God reigns, being both the ‘your’ of the assembled congregation and also of Zion, the place where the Temple stands. God’s people – whether the congregation then or ourselves now – are invited to join together in summing up our own trust in God in the final acclamation, the same shout of praise with which the psalm began (v 10b): Hallelujah!

‘I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live’ (v 2).

After our readings from Romans, this psalm lifts our eyes away from ourselves and our troubled world to focus on our Sovereign God. Paul encouraged the Roman church in united, embodied worship of our Lord; here in this psalm we are helped to do just that. The psalm is the first of five ‘Hallelujah’ songs, which conclude the book of Psalms with praise to God. Possibly written by Haggai and Zechariah, we can imagine the words ringing out around Jerusalem as God’s people celebrated his reign.

The community invitation is echoed by the psalmist’s own personal commitment to praise (‘my soul’, v 1). It is intentional. He lays down his reasons for why we can confidently adjust our perspectives and trust our God. Writing this in the midst of the 2020 pandemic, I know that my own and others’ plans may come to nothing (v 4)! We are aware of the frailties of our human rulers and fellow citizens – like Adam, we are only dust. The psalmist invites us to pause and refocus our thoughts on the God on whom we can rely.

Verses 5–9 celebrate, in contrast to human weakness, the character of God. Those who trust in him will be blessed. Hope in him enables joyful praise, because we know God is watching over us in the midst of challenging times. It is our Creator God who sustains this world. It is his faithfulness on which – whether or not we know it – we all depend. The psalmist highlights God’s familiar bias – his special concern for the poor and powerless (vs 7–9). Like Father, like Son, the words here recall those prophesied about Jesus.¹ If we are truly to be living sacrifices,² we need willingness to be shaped by this loving God and his Servant-Son, Jesus. And so, to worship him. 

Remember those who are ‘bowed down’ (v 8). Praise the Lord for his faithfulness. Hallelujah!

¹ Luke 4:18; Isa 61:1–3  ² Rom 12:1