Psalm 146 Devotional

Help That Does Not Die

“Put not your trust in princes, in mortal man, who cannot save.”Psalm 146:3 (BSB)

Psalm 146 opens the book's final burst of praise with a personal vow to praise the LORD as long as the psalmist lives (146:1-2). Then comes a warning against relying on princes or on any mortal who cannot save (146:3). When a ruler's breath leaves him, he returns to the ground, and his plans die with him that same day (146:4). Human help is temporary.

The contrast is the Maker of heaven, earth, and sea, who stays faithful forever (146:6). The psalm lists what he does, and the list is full of people the powerful often overlook. He brings justice to the oppressed and food to the hungry. He frees prisoners, opens the eyes of the blind, and lifts those who are weighed down. He protects foreigners and sustains the fatherless and the widow (146:7-9). At Nazareth, Jesus announced that he had been sent to bring freedom for prisoners and sight for the blind (Luke 4:18). Leaders rise and fall. Your hope can rest on the King who reigns forever (146:10).

To think about: What human help or leader have you been leaning on too heavily, and what would it look like to place your hope in God instead?