Psalm 146

Intro

We are all worshippers

We will either worship God or self

If we worship God, in the person of Jesus, we must know Him.

This ties directly into our purpose statement.

To know Jesus, we must Yield, Become and Grow as His disciple.

This leads to why we are studying Psalms

How to participate in the series

There are different Psalms that help us understand more of the human experience (heart, soul, mind and strength) in how we worship through everyday life.

Last week Blaze spoke on a difficult situation—How do we respond when someone is set against you as an enemy? How do you turn to God when unjustly accused or even attacked. God is my defender and my justice.

Call to Praise

Psalm 146:1–2 (ESV)

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul!

I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

vs 1 Praise the Lord oh my soul

vs 2 While I have life, I will praise. While I have breath I will praise

Warning: Do not trust in Princes

Psalm 146:3–4 ESV

Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish.

Evil Disney Princes: Hans from Frozen?

What is a prince? Someone with power, influence—the ability to get things done

Full of flattery and complements

Prince Hans sings a beautiful duet with Anna, showering her with promises of love and a future together.

One minute Hans seems devoted, the next he's ready to betray Anna and seize power.

Why are we drawn to trust in these people?

We want that power and influence.

We want safety and security

Princes are not saviors

No matter how good their plan is—they will die eventually and the plan will be gone

Application: Take warning against placing our trust in fleeting things like money, status, or human authority.

Who or what are we truly trusting in?

Is it fleeting promises, or the unshakable foundation of God's love and power?"

Contrast: Look at God the Creator and Sustainer in the following verses.

Praise God the Creator and Sustainer

Psalm 146:5–6 ESV

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever;

We are Blessed when we put our hope in God

He is the creator of Life and earth, all that is around us

He is steadfast in love and faithful to all generations who fear him

Psalm 100:5 ESV

For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

Praise God the Protector

Psalm 146:7–9 NIV

He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free, the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

Verses 5-9: Upholder of justice, provider for the weak (widows, orphans, foreigners).

God’s Actions

He upholds the cause of the oppressed and

gives food to the hungry:

The LORD sets the prisoners free,

The LORD gives sight to the blind,

The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down,

The LORD loves the righteous.

The LORD watches over the alien

and sustains the fatherless and the widow,

but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

Historical Context: (Optional) Briefly mention the historical context of the Psalm's message, where those on the margins were often exploited.

Modern Application: God's character doesn't change. We are called to follow His example by caring for the marginalized in our own communities.

Praise Jesus the Messiah

Connection: Bridge the concept of God caring for the marginalized to Jesus' ministry.

Jesus and the Marginalized: Jesus' focus on the poor, the sick, and the outcast (e.g. Matthew 25:35-40).

Luke 4:18–19 ESV

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Matthew 25:40 ESV

And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

Spiritual Marginalization: Introduce the Christian concept of being spiritually separated from God.

Matthew 5:3–10 ESV

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Realizations:

Jesus cares for the poor and needy.

The Kingdom he ushers in expands beyond physical needs. His kingdom is for every part of our being—physical, spiritual, mental, emotional, relational.

We have to see ourselves as needy, hungry, orphaned, and alien in every area of our life.

Christ as the Bridge: Explain how Jesus' sacrifice offers redemption and brings us back to God (John 14:6).

John 14:6 ESV

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Application

Put your trust in Christ not princes

If you are in a position of authority—yield to Christ

Reflect on the Gospel

Do you see yourself as poor and in need of God?

Do you understand Christ’s mercy for you?

Identity Local Needs (Be Christ’s Hands and Feet)

Noticing the poor of types

Showing Mercy

Telling them about our hope

Praise God the Great King

Psalm 146:10 ESV

The Lord will reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the Lord!