These last five psalms overflow with praise. Each begins and ends with "Praise the LORD." They show us where, why, and how to praise God. What does praise do? (1) Praise takes our mind off our problems and shortcomings and helps us focus on God. (2) Praise leads us from individual meditation to corporate worship. (3) Praise causes us to consider and appreciate God's character. (4) Praise lifts our perspective from the earthly to the heavenly. (5) Praise prepares our hearts to receive God's love and the power of his Holy Spirit.
Psalms 146:3-8
The writer portrays powerful people as inadequate saviors, making false promises they cannot deliver (Psa 146:3). God is the hope and the help of the needy. Jesus affirms his concern for the poor and afflicted in Luk 4:18-21; Luk 7:21-23. He does not separate the physical needs from spiritual needs but attends to both. While God, not the government, is the hope of the needy, we are his instruments to help here on earth.
Psalms 146:9
God's plans frustrate the "plans of the wicked" because his values are the opposite of society's. Jesus turned society's values upside down when he proclaimed that "many who seem to be the greatest now will be the least important then, and those who are considered least important now will be the greatest then" (Mat 19:30). "If you try to hang onto your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it" (Mat 16:25). Don't be surprised when others don't understand your Christian values; but don't give in to theirs.
