SE6: Psalm 146

A Simple Bible Study

Psalm 146

Psalm 1461 Praise the Lord.Praise the Lord, my soul.2 I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.3 Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save.4 When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing.

5 Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God.6 He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them— he remains faithful forever.7 He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry.

The Lord sets prisoners free,8 the Lord gives sight to the blind,the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous.9 The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.10 The Lord reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations.Praise the Lord.

What is the theme of Psalm 146?Try to summarise Psalm 146 in onesentence.

What is the theme of Psalm 146?Try to summarise Psalm 146 in onesentence.“To experience God’s blessing, always praiseHim and always trust Him.”

1 Praise the Lord.[a]Praise the Lord, my soul.2 I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.3 Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save.4 When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing.5 Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,whose hope is in the Lord their God.6 He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them— he remains faithful forever.

7 He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry.The Lord sets prisoners free,8 the Lord gives sight to the blind,the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous.9 The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.10 The Lord reigns forever,your God, O Zion, for all generations.Praise the Lord. (NIV)

1-2 Hallelujah! O my soul, praise God!All my life long I’ll praise God, singing songs to my God as long as I live.3-9 Don’t put your life in the hands of experts who know nothing of life, of salvation life.Mere humans don’t have what it takes; when they die, their projects die with them.Instead, get help from the God of Jacob, put your hope in God and know real blessing!

God made sky and soil, sea and all the fish in it.He always does what he says— he defends the wronged, he feeds the hungry.God frees prisoners— he gives sight to the blind, he lifts up the fallen.God loves good people, protects strangers, takes the side of orphans and widows, but makes short work of the wicked.10 God’s in charge—always. Zion’s God is God for good! Hallelujah! (Msg)

Questions about your Initial ThoughtsWas there anything you liked about the Psalm?Was there anything you identified with, situations or circumstances that seemed like your own?Was there anything you found difficult about the Psalm - that you might argue or disagree with?

Psalm 146Praise the Lord.[a]Praise the Lord, my soul.2 I will praise the Lord all my life;I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

Psalm 146Praise the Lord.[a]Praise the Lord, my soul.2 I will praise the Lord all my life;I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

Why should we praise God?How do you most enjoy praising God?

Psalm 146Praise the Lord.[a]Praise the Lord, my soul.2 I will praise the Lord all my life;I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

Why should we praise God?How do you most enjoy praising God?What biblical ways of praising can you think of?

3 Do not put your trust in princes,in human beings, who cannot save.4 When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;on that very day their plans come to nothing.5 Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,whose hope is in the Lord their God.

3 Do not put your trust in princes,in human beings, who cannot save.4 When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;on that very day their plans come to nothing.5 Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,whose hope is in the Lord their God.

What else do you trust in? Why?

3 Do not put your trust in princes,in human beings, who cannot save.4 When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;on that very day their plans come to nothing.5 Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,whose hope is in the Lord their God.

What else do you trust in? Why?What is the connection of trust/help and hope? (v3,5)

5 Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,whose hope is in the Lord their God.6 He is the Maker of heaven and earth,the sea, and everything in them—he remains faithful forever.

5 Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,whose hope is in the Lord their God.6 He is the Maker of heaven and earth,the sea, and everything in them—he remains faithful forever.

Choose 3 words that best describe your knowledge and experience of God.

5 Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,whose hope is in the Lord their God.6 He is the Maker of heaven and earth,the sea, and everything in them—he remains faithful forever.

Choose 3 words that best describe your knowledge and experience of God.What words do you think the Bible uses most often in speaking about God?

7 He upholds the cause of the oppressedand gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free,8 the Lord gives sight to the blind,the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,the Lord loves the righteous.9 The Lord watches over the foreignerand sustains the fatherless and the widow,but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

What does God do?

7 He upholds the cause of the oppressedand gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free,8 the Lord gives sight to the blind,the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,the Lord loves the righteous.9 The Lord watches over the foreignerand sustains the fatherless and the widow,but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

7 He upholds the cause of the oppressedand gives food to the hungry.The Lord sets prisoners free,8 the Lord gives sight to the blind,the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,the Lord loves the righteous.9 The Lord watches over the foreignerand sustains the fatherless and the widow,but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

What does God do?

7 He upholds the cause of the oppressedand gives food to the hungry.The Lord sets prisoners free,8 the Lord gives sight to the blind,the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,the Lord loves the righteous.9 The Lord watches over the foreignerand sustains the fatherless and the widow,but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

What does God do?How does God do those things today?

7 He upholds the cause of the oppressedand gives food to the hungry.The Lord sets prisoners free,8 the Lord gives sight to the blind,the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,the Lord loves the righteous.9 The Lord watches over the foreignerand sustains the fatherless and the widow,but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

What does God do?How does God do those things today?How has God done these things in your, or other peoples, lives?

10 The Lord reigns forever,your God, O Zion, for all generations.Praise the Lord.

10 The Lord reigns forever,your God, O Zion, for all generations.Praise the Lord.

What is the significance of this final verse?

10 The Lord reigns forever,your God, O Zion, for all generations.Praise the Lord.

What is the significance of this final verse?Why does the Psalm finish with a repetition of the call to praise?