Trust: Psalm 146

Introduction:

A recent study was conducted to list out ten things that brought happiness to people.

Family and Relationships

Meaningful Work

Positive Thinking

Gratitude

Forgiveness

Giving to Others

Religion

Personal Freedom

Good Health

Watching T.V.

There is not doubt as we look at this list, we can relate to these things and they can bring happiness in our life. However, can these things offer a happiness that God can offer?

Can having family, work, the right outlook, forgiveness, religion, good health, T.V. compare to the happiness that Jesus can give?

The purpose of the sermon today is for Psalm 146 to point us to a place where we grasp that truth happiness and true blessings can only be found in trusting the Lord.

Three Principles Psalm 146 give us about trusting in the Lord for happiness

I. Happiness Will Never Come From Trusting Man’s Plans

Psalm 146:3-4 “3 Do not put your trust in princes, Nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help. 4 His spirit departs, he returns to his earth; In that very day his plans perish.”

The Bible points people away from trusting in man. (Meaning trusting man rather than God)

Examples:

Ps. 118:8-9 “8 It is better to trust in the LORD Than to put confidence in man. 9 It is better to trust in the LORD Than to put confidence in princes.

Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;”

In Psalm 146:3, we are instructed against putting “trust in princes, nor in a son of man.”

“princes” is a leader, official, ruler. The meaning is someone with influence and power.

“a son of man” refers to a human being.

Even when the ruler or a person displays a fear of the Lord, we are not to trust in what man is but rather trust in who God is.

Why?

a. v. 3b “in whom there is no help” The word “help” means salvation.

Where does salvation come from? Jesus (Acts 4:12 “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”)

b. v. 4 “His spirit departs, he returns to his earth; in that very day his plans perish.”

The plans of a man will perish, they will fade away, they are not everlasting. And when his plans perish, so does hope in those plans.

Man can never offer happiness, his plans offer no plan of salvation, his plans offers only disappointment that will leave a person without hope.

Side Note: Does this mean we shouldn’t have confidence in people God uses to lead, No! However, the passage is telling us not to cast your hope on a man to fulfill your need of happiness.

II. Happiness Is Found When We Trust In The Character of God

Psalm 146:5-10

The psalmist tells us plainly, that “Happy (blessed) is he” and then begins t explain why we can have happiness in God.

a. “the God of Jacob for his help” (salvation)

b. “Whose hope is in the Lord his God, Who made heaven and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them;” (speaks of God’s power over this world, therefore we shouldn’t fear this world)

c. “Who keeps truth forever,” (Never have to be concerned about Jesus not being truthful)

d. “Who executes justice for the oppressed,” (mistreated)

e. “Who gives food tot he hungry.” (provisions)

f. “The Lord gives freedom to the prisoners.”

g. “The Lord opens the eyes of the blind;”

h. “The Lord raises those who are bowed down;”

i. “The Lord loves righteous”

j. “The Lord watches over the strangers”

k. “He relieves the fatherless and widow;”

l. “But the way of the wicked He turns upside down.”

When a person realizes that God has offered and continues to offer His character to be trusted, that person can faithfully trusted God and find happiness in the Lord because of who He is.

How does God fulfill His promise of bringing happiness?

Through a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Luke 4:16-21 (turn to it and read)

Knowing we can be saved by a Savior that does these amazing acts of redemption, how can we not be happy?

III. Happiness Can Be Found In Praising The Lord

verse 10 ends where the chapter begins, with praising the Lord.

Verse 10 “The LORD shall reign forever—Your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the LORD!”

Verse 1-2 “Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul! 2 While I live I will praise the LORD; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.”

Praising the Lord brings happiness in our life. No matter what situation your are going through, praising the Lord will help and bless your heart.

In closing, we must realize that happiness is not found in trusting the plans of man. There is no hope in them. Because his plans will perish.

However, God can be trusted by His character, knowing the great things He has done. He has giving us salvation and giving us a great hope.