Reformation Faith Today

I was reading Psalm 146 Friday evening and was greatly encouraged. One of the aids I use for study when reading the Psalms is the very helpful little book by John Brown of Haddington called The Psalms of David in Metre. Rev. Brown introduces each Psalm with a few words basically outlining the Psalm and providing some application.

Here is what he had to say about Psalm 146:

This psalm contains, (1.) Pleasant engagements and encouragements to the hearty and constant praises of God, ver. 1-2, 10. (2.) Earnest dissuasives from trusting in man, who is so weak and short-lived, ver. 3-4. (3.) Powerful persuasives to trust in God, whose power and goodness appear so remarkable in creation, providence, and redemption, ver. 5-10.

While I sing, be stirred up, my soul, and all that is within me, to bless his holy name; to depend on him alone, who is my Maker, my faithful Friend, my kind and righteous Protector, my bountiful Provider, my almighty Deliverer, my gracious Enlightener, my seasonable Restorer, my perpetual Preserver, and the just punisher of my foes ­ my King, my God, and my all.

This psalm is also in our Trinity Hymnal (#57) under the title Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah, O My Soul. It is from The Psalter, 1912 and is set to the tune RIPLEY. Here are the words:

Psalm 146

Hallelujah, praise Jehovah,
O my soul, Jehovah praise;
I will sing the glorious praises
Of my God through all my days.
Put no confidence in princes,
Nor for help on man depend;
He shall die, to dust returning,
And his purposes shall end.

Happy is the man that chooses
Israel’s God to be his aid;
He is blessed whose hope of blessing
On the Lord his God is stayed.
Heaven and earth the Lord created,
Seas and all that they contain;
He delivers from oppression,
Righteousness he will maintain.

Food he daily gives the hungry,
Sets the mourning prisoner free,
Raises those bowed down with anguish,
Makes the sightless eyes to see.
Well Jehovah loves the righteous,
And the stranger he befriends,
Helps the fatherless and widow,
Judgment on the wicked sends.

Hallelujah, praise Jehovah,
O my soul, Jehovah praise;
I will sing the glorious praises
Of my God through all my days.
Over all God reigns for ever,
Through all ages he is king;
Unto him, thy God, O Zion,
Joyful hallelujahs sing.

Either way you read or sing this Psalm, you will no doubt be encouraged. By the way, the John Brown notes for the Psalms may be found here.