146–150 These last five psalms overflow with praise. Each begins and ends with “Praise ye the LORD.” They show us where, why, and how to praise God. What does praise do? (1) Praise takes our minds 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.
146:3-8 The writer portrays powerful people as inadequate saviors, making false promises they cannot deliver (146:3). God is the hope and the help of the needy. Jesus affirms his concern for the poor and afflicted in Luke 4:18-21; 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.
146:9 God’s plans frustrate the “way of the wicked” because his values are the opposite of society’s. Jesus turned society’s values upside down when he proclaimed that “many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first” (Matthew 19:30), and that “whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it” (Matthew 16:25). Don’t be surprised when others don’t understand your Christian values; but don’t give in to theirs.