Commentary of the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 146

By Joseph Benson

 

Verses 3-6
Psalms 146:3-6. Put not your trust in princes — However great their wealth or power may be; nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help — “Earthly princes, if they have the will, often want the power, even to protect their friends. And should they want neither will nor power to advance them, yet still all depends upon the breath in their nostrils, which perhaps, at the very critical moment, goeth forth; they return to the earth; their thoughts, and all the thoughts of those who hoped to rise by their means, fall into the same grave, and are buried with them for ever.” Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help — That has an interest in his attributes and promises, and has them engaged for him; whose hope is in the Lord his God — Who relies on him for help and support in all circumstances and situations, having made him his friend, so that he can call him his God and Father. Which made heaven and earth, &c. — And, therefore, has all power in himself, and the command of the powers of all the creatures, which, being derived from him, depend upon him; which keepeth truth for ever — Because he liveth for ever to fulfil his promises, and because he is eternally and unchangeably faithful.

Verses 7-9
Psalms 146:7-9. Which executeth judgment for the oppressed — Who doth not slight nor forget the cries of his grieved subjects; but in due time asserts the right of those who are oppressed, and can find no relief in other courts of judgment. Which giveth food to the hungry — Who supplies the needs of the poor that are ready to perish for want; and is so gracious as to set them at liberty, who, by unjust or merciless men, are held in a miserable captivity. The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind — “Illuminates their minds; or even restores their natural sight when it is defective and weak; or when perfectly gone, and there are no hopes of a human cure.” This part of the Psalm was most exactly and literally fulfilled in our Lord Jesus Christ during the time of his public ministry: see the margin. The Lord raiseth them that are bowed down — By supporting and comforting them in their distresses, and in due time removing their burdens. This also was literally performed by Christ in the days of his flesh: see Luke 13:12. And he still performs similar spiritual cures by his grace, giving rest to those that are weary and heavy laden, and raising up, with his comforts, those that are humbled and cast down under a sense of the guilt and power of sin. The Lord loveth the righteous — He has a peculiar favour for all the truly pious, who may, with the more confidence, depend upon his power when they are assured of his love. The Lord preserveth the strangers — Who are generally friendless, and exposed to many injuries from men, but are protected and preserved by God when they commit themselves to his care. Fatherless children, and destitute widows, also find support and relief from him against the injustice and violence of their wicked oppressors. But the way of the wicked he turneth upside down — Hebrew, יעות, he subverteth, or overthroweth it. He not only frustrates their plots and enterprises, but turneth them against themselves. Or, he perplexes and puzzles their steps, and causes them to stumble and fall. This, and all the foregoing sentences, are so many arguments to encourage pious men to trust in God in all their straits and difficulties.

Verse 10
Psalms 146:10. The Lord shall reign for ever — His kingdom shall continue throughout all the revolutions of time, and to the remotest ages of eternity; even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations — Christ is set as King on the holy hill of Zion, and his kingdom shall continue in a glory that shall know no period. It cannot be destroyed by an invader: it shall not be left to a successor; either to a succeeding monarch, or to a succeeding monarchy, but shall stand for ever. It is matter of unspeakable comfort that the Lord reigns, as Zion’s God, and as Zion’s King, that the Messiah is head over all things to the church, and will be so while the world stands.

 

Book Navigation Title Page Table of Contents Argument Introduction ► Chapter 1 ► Chapter 2 ► Chapter 3 ► Chapter 4 ► Chapter 5 ► Chapter 6 ► Chapter 7 ► Chapter 8 ► Chapter 9 ► Chapter 10 ► Chapter 11 ► Chapter 12 ► Chapter 13 ► Chapter 14 ► Chapter 15 ► Chapter 16 ► Chapter 17 ► Chapter 18 ► Chapter 19 ► Chapter 20 ► Chapter 21 ► Chapter 22 ► Chapter 23 ► Chapter 24 ► Chapter 25 ► Chapter 26 ► Chapter 27 ► Chapter 28 ► Chapter 29 ► Chapter 30 ► Chapter 31 ► Chapter 32 ► Chapter 33 ► Chapter 34 ► Chapter 35 ► Chapter 36 ► Chapter 37 ► Chapter 38 ► Chapter 39 ► Chapter 40 ► Chapter 41 ► Chapter 42 ► Chapter 43 ► Chapter 44 ► Chapter 45 ► Chapter 46 ► Chapter 47 ► Chapter 48 ► Chapter 49 ► Chapter 50 ► Chapter 51 ► Chapter 52 ► Chapter 53 ► Chapter 54 ► Chapter 55 ► Chapter 56 ► Chapter 57 ► Chapter 58 ► Chapter 59 ► Chapter 60 ► Chapter 61 ► Chapter 62 ► Chapter 63 ► Chapter 64 ► Chapter 65 ► Chapter 66 ► Chapter 67 ► Chapter 68 ► Chapter 69 ► Chapter 70 ► Chapter 71 ► Chapter 72 ► Chapter 73 ► Chapter 74 ► Chapter 75 ► Chapter 76 ► Chapter 77 ► Chapter 78 ► Chapter 79 ► Chapter 80 ► Chapter 81 ► Chapter 82 ► Chapter 83 ► Chapter 84 ► Chapter 85 ► Chapter 86 ► Chapter 87 ► Chapter 88 ► Chapter 89 ► Chapter 90 ► Chapter 91 ► Chapter 92 ► Chapter 93 ► Chapter 94 ► Chapter 95 ► Chapter 96 ► Chapter 97 ► Chapter 98 ► Chapter 99 ► Chapter 100 ► Chapter 101 ► Chapter 102 ► Chapter 103 ► Chapter 104 ► Chapter 105 ► Chapter 106 ► Chapter 107 ► Chapter 108 ► Chapter 109 ► Chapter 110 ► Chapter 111 ► Chapter 112 ► Chapter 113 ► Chapter 114 ► Chapter 115 ► Chapter 116 ► Chapter 117 ► Chapter 118 ► Chapter 119 ► Chapter 120 ► Chapter 121 ► Chapter 122 ► Chapter 123 ► Chapter 124 ► Chapter 125 ► Chapter 126 ► Chapter 127 ► Chapter 128 ► Chapter 129 ► Chapter 130 ► Chapter 131 ► Chapter 132 ► Chapter 133 ► Chapter 134 ► Chapter 135 ► Chapter 136 ► Chapter 137 ► Chapter 138 ► Chapter 139 ► Chapter 140 ► Chapter 141 ► Chapter 142 ► Chapter 143 ► Chapter 144 ► Chapter 145 ► Chapter 146 ► Chapter 147 ► Chapter 148 ► Chapter 149 ► Chapter 150