Psalm 146:5-10

5.How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, Whose hope is in the LORD his God,
6.Who made heaven and earth, The sea and all that is in them; Who keeps faith forever ;
7.Who executes justice for the oppressed ; Who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free.
8.The LORD opens the eyes of the blind ; The LORD raises up those who are bowed down ; The LORD loves the righteous ;
9.The LORD protects the strangers ; He supports the fatherless and the widow, But He thwarts the way of the wicked.
10.The LORD will reign forever, Your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the LORD !

A good friend of mine encouraged me recently to read through the psalms and look for the promises in them. She said that in times of distress, she goes back to the promises of God that she finds in the psalms for comfort. As I read Psalm 146, I didn’t exactly find promises, but I did find a passage rich with the truths of who God is. I suppose these are promises of a sort, because God never changes. We can always count on Him to think, feel, be and act according to His character. We are blessed if Yahweh is our help and hope, because of who He is.

Yahweh is the creator. He made everything by His strength and wisdom. He keeps faith forever. He does not go back on His word or forsake those He has covenanted with, even when they forsake Him. The Lord is just; He does not overlook the oppressed although the world may. He is a provider. He “gives food to the hungry.” I think this is true both physically and spiritually. We should remember that if we have something to eat, it is because God provides. And who else can feed us spiritually? God is a redeemer- He sets prisoners free from their captivity to sin. Yahweh opens the eyes of the blind. I think of the blind men that Jesus miraculously healed. I am also reminded of myself and other Christians when God opens our eyes to truths about Him we never saw before. The Lord raises up those who are bowed down. This reminds me of Psalm 113. We are burdened with needs and sins, but God comes and raises us up. God loves the righteous- first He makes us righteous by His Son, and then He loves us! He protects strangers and supports widows and orphans. He thwarts the ways of the wicked. He will reign forever!

What a good God we have! Praise the Lord!