Psalm 146
Theme
Praise the LORD, O My Soul
Outline
1-2, Hallelujah, Praise Yahweh 3-4, Princes: Unworthy of Trust 5-7a, Blessed Are Those Who Trust the Maker 7b-9, Yahweh: Worthy of Trust 10, Hallelujah, Yahweh Reigns
Key Verse
(146:5) Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God. (146:1) Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul!
Notes
Psalm 146 begins and ends with the word “hallelujah!” In the first two verses of the psalm, the psalmist commits himself to celebrating Yahweh, and in the last verse he proclaims Yahweh’s reign (146:1–2, 10). In verses 3–4 the psalmist counsels against trusting in man, who cannot save. Balancing this in 7b–9, the psalmist details all that Yahweh does. At the center of Ps 146 the psalmist pronounces a blessing on those whose help is the God of Jacob, maker of the world, maker of justice (146:5–7a).