Psalm 146:1-10
We are not told who wrote this psalm but he said he would continue to praise God as long as he had any being. That means praising Him through thick and thin. Sometimes when things go right people forget Him and when things go wrong people want to blame Him. One of my favorite verses in the New Testament is Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” The word “all” leaves nothing out, good or bad.
Then we have: “Happy is he who hath the God of Jacob for his help.” Did he mean Jacob that self-centered scoundrel? Jacob’s name means supplanter: one who takes the place or moves into the position of another. Jacob was involved in numerous deceptive plans to “help” God out which created discord between him and his brother Esau. He was involved in a superstitious plan to get more sheep and cattle. He also took advantage of his brother’s hunger to “buy” his birthright. He went along with his mother’s plan to help steal the blessing that according to custom belonged to the first born son. Does God need our help to make His will happen? Have I ever done anything like that before too? Yes, much worse perhaps. From age 14 to 21 before I came to Christ, you probably wouldn’t have wanted to know me. I don’t have enough paper to tell it all. My life has changed dramatically from those days! One wonders why the psalmist doesn’t refer to Israel instead of Jacob? Maybe it is for our benefit because it shows the ability of God to completely transform a life! That transformation took time in Jacob’s life, just like it does in ours. In Hebrews chapter 11 we find it says he worshiped leaning on his staff. He was too old to stand up by himself. We will never be too old or too feeble to still praise God.
The rest of the psalm speaks of what God did and can do. We have the opening of the eyes of the blind. Ephesians 1:18 tells us: He opens the eyes of our understanding. They know who He is and what He is all about. Ephesians 4:18 describes those who have had their understanding darkened according to the blindness of their heart. How is your heart?
Then we have: “Happy is he who hath the God of Jacob for his help.” Did he mean Jacob that self-centered scoundrel? Jacob’s name means supplanter: one who takes the place or moves into the position of another. Jacob was involved in numerous deceptive plans to “help” God out which created discord between him and his brother Esau. He was involved in a superstitious plan to get more sheep and cattle. He also took advantage of his brother’s hunger to “buy” his birthright. He went along with his mother’s plan to help steal the blessing that according to custom belonged to the first born son. Does God need our help to make His will happen? Have I ever done anything like that before too? Yes, much worse perhaps. From age 14 to 21 before I came to Christ, you probably wouldn’t have wanted to know me. I don’t have enough paper to tell it all. My life has changed dramatically from those days! One wonders why the psalmist doesn’t refer to Israel instead of Jacob? Maybe it is for our benefit because it shows the ability of God to completely transform a life! That transformation took time in Jacob’s life, just like it does in ours. In Hebrews chapter 11 we find it says he worshiped leaning on his staff. He was too old to stand up by himself. We will never be too old or too feeble to still praise God.
The rest of the psalm speaks of what God did and can do. We have the opening of the eyes of the blind. Ephesians 1:18 tells us: He opens the eyes of our understanding. They know who He is and what He is all about. Ephesians 4:18 describes those who have had their understanding darkened according to the blindness of their heart. How is your heart?
