Psalms 146:1 - Meaning and Application

David is understood to have written this psalm. He was a prince, even a great one, but that did not excuse him from praising God. Some might think it was enough for him to let the priests and the people do that work, but David would not take that view. Michal thought it lowered his dignity when he danced before the ark, the sacred chest that showed God’s presence, but David was determined to lead in worship himself (Psalm 146:1, Psalm 146:2).

He saw his rank as a reason to praise God more, not less. He stirred himself up and made it his business: “Praise the Lord, O my soul!” He meant to praise God with both heart and mouth. In doing that, he looked to God as the Lord, glorious in himself, and as my God, the one who had made a covenant, a binding promise, with him. Praise is most sweet when we praise God as the One who belongs to us in this gracious relationship.

David also resolved to keep praising God as long as he lived, every day until the end of his life. Even more, he would praise him for all his being, hoping to keep doing so in heaven when his life on earth was over. What God made us for should be what we spend ourselves on with joy while we live. Our time and strength should be used for him.

It might also be thought that, since David had been such a blessing to his nation, people should trust him the way heathen nations used to worship their heroes and give them godlike honor. But David says, “Do not put your trust in princes” (Psalm 146:3). He means, do not trust in him or in any other ruler as if they were sure help. Do not depend too much on their promises, because some know how to rule by learning how to hide their true thoughts.

Even if we suppose them to be wise and good, we still cannot count on their strength or their staying power. They are sons of Adam, weak and mortal. There is indeed one Son of man, Jesus Christ, in whom there is help and salvation, and who will never fail those who trust in him. But all other human rulers are like the man they came from, who, though honored, did not remain so.

We cannot be sure of their ability. Even a king’s power may be reduced so much that he cannot do what we hoped for. David himself said, “I am weak today, though anointed king” (2 Samuel 3:39). So in a son of man there is often no help, no salvation. He may be confused and helpless, and then, even if he is mighty, he cannot save (Jeremiah 14:9).

We also cannot be sure of their continuance. Even if a ruler can help us while he lives, he may suddenly be taken away just when we need him most (Psalm 146:4). His breath goes out, as it does every moment, and that is a sign it will one day go out for good. Then he returns to the earth. The earth is his by origin, because he was taken from it, and he must return to it, as God said after the fall, “Dust you are, and to dust you will return” (Genesis 3:19).

It is also his earth if he has lived for the world and set his heart on earthly things. He goes to his own place. Or the earth is his because he owns land there, though in the end only a grave will remain to him. People may own much while they live, and the earth God gave to humanity has been divided and claimed in many ways. But after a while, the only part of the earth that is truly theirs will be the place where their body rests, and that will be theirs as long as the earth remains.

When he returns to his earth, his thoughts perish that same day. All his plans to help us disappear with him. He can do no more, and all his purposes are cut off and buried with him (Job 17:11). So what becomes of our hopes in him? Princes are mortal like other people, and we cannot place the same confidence in them that we may place in the eternal Ruler, who alone has immortality. So we must stop relying on man, whose breath is in his nostrils and will not stay there long.