Praise Ye The LORD - Praising the LORD for His Faithfulness

 Temple Baptist Church - 6-14-2026

Psalm 146

A.  Tonight, we will look at the first of a set of the last five Psalms, often referred to as the “Hallelujah Psalms.”  Hallelujah, though not found in the Old Testament, is the underlying word for the phrase “Praise ye the LORD,” which occurs 25 times in the Old Testament.  The word “Alleluia,” found in the New Testament four times, all in the Book of Revelation.  Alleluia is the Greek form meaning "to celebrate" or "to praise" Jah or Jehovah.

 

B.  The final five psalms (146–150) each begin and end with “Praise ye the LORD.”  The psalms call the believer to praise the Lord because He alone is worthy of our praise.

 

C.  These psalms serve as the grand doxology of the entire Book of Psalms. After the cries of lament, prayers for deliverance, wisdom teachings, and songs of thanksgiving found throughout the Psalter, the book concludes with an escalating call to praise God.

 

D.  With this short introduction, we will explore these psalms individually because, though alike, they are all different.

 

1.  Verse 1-2.  The People to Praise the LORD. 

Psalms 146:1-2  Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul.  (2)  While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.

a.  “Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul.” Every child of God should be prayerfully thankful in their hearts!  This admonition to praise is not meant for you.  It is meant for me.  The gratefulness of my heart for the things that God has done for me, to me, and through me.  The same goes for each of you.  Grateful is thankful, and thankful is thinkful!  Learn to count your many blessings and remember what God has done.

 

b.  While I live I will praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.”  Praise should be continual.  While I live speaks of every instance, every circumstance, all the time, as long as we live!  A lifelong commitment for as long as we have our “being.”  Physically and mentally here!

c.  Singing along our way in life.  Making melody in our hearts. 

Ephesians 5:19-20  Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;  (20)  Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

2.  Verses 3-6.  The Person of our Praise. 

Psalms 146:3-7  Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.  (4)  His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.  (5)  Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:  (6)  Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:  (7)  Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The LORD looseth the prisoners:

a.  Verses 3-4.  Putting no Trust in Men.  Human leaders may possess authority (which is to be respected and biblically obeyed), influence, and power, but they cannot solve all your problems nor earn your spiritual praise.  They can do and produce good as they are ordained of God, but kings die, governments pass away, and leaders fail!

 

b.  Verses 5-6)  “Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God.”  Only God remains unchanged!  God is our Help!  God is our Hope!

 

c.  God in our Confidence!  God is all-powerful.  “Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is.”

 

3.  Verses 7-9.  The Performance of our Praise.

Psalms 146:7-9  Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The LORD looseth the prisoners:  (8)  The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous:  (9)  The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.

a. He defends the oppressed.  “Which executeth judgment for the oppressed.” God sees injustice and will ultimately make all things right.

 

b.  He provides for the needy.  “Which giveth food to the hungry.”  Every meal should be preceded with a prayer of thankfulness as they remind us of God’s provision.

 

c.  He delivers the captives.  “The LORD looseth the prisoners.”  God is able to free men physically and spiritually.

 

d.  He gives sight to the blinded.  “The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind.”  Often men get blinded by the things of the world for a while, but God, through His holy Word and the Holy Spirit, opens our spiritual eyes.

 

e.  He lifts up the fallen.  “The LORD raiseth them that are bowed down.”  God specializes in restoring broken people.

 

f.  He loves the righteous.  “The LORD loveth the righteous.”  What encouragement for God’s people!

 

g.  He protects the weak.  “The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow.”  The very people society often overlooks receive God’s special care.

 

4.  Verse 10.  The Permanence of our Paise.  “The LORD shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the LORD.”  God’s reign is eternal!  Earthly kingdoms rise and fall; empires have come and gone (Egypt, Babylon, Greece, Rome), but God’s praise should have no end!

 

5.  The psalm closes where it began:  “Praise ye the LORD.”