#DailyDevotion Praise Be To The King Of Israel
Psalm 146 5Blessed are you if your help is Jacob’s God, and your hope is the LORD your God, 6Who made heaven and earth, the sea and everything in them. He will always be faithful, 7provide justice for the oppressed, and give the hungry food. The LORD sets prisoners free; 8the LORD gives sight to the blind; the LORD raises those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous; 9the LORD protects strangers; He makes orphans and widows happy again, but ruins the way of the wicked. 10The LORD will rule forever; your God, O Zion, will rule through all the ages. Praise the LORD!
The psalmist continues to give reason to give praise to the LORD our God. First he bestows this blessing on those who looked to Jacob’s God for help and whose hope is in the LORD your God. It is interesting that he reaches far back could Jacob for this. You may remember that Jacob had to flee his brother Esau stealing his birthright. Along the way he had a vision of the LORD, he made a vow to give a lord a tenth of everything he would be blessed with, if the LORD would protect him. Remember how he was cheated by his uncle Laban and later chased down by him. Then he had to struggle with God in a wrestling match. Finally he would face his brother Esau again. He went forth and came back trusting in the LORD to take care of him.
In similar fashion if we wish to be blessed we should make Jacob’s God our help and the Lord our God our hope. That God is our LORD Jesus Christ. See how the psalmist identifies his God. He is the god who made heaven and earth the sea and everything in them. Paul tells us in Colossians 1, “15He is the Image of the invisible God, the Firstborn over all creation, 16since in Him was created everything visible and invisible in heaven and on earth — thrones, lords, rulers, or powers — everything was created by Him and for Him. 17He was before everything, and He holds everything together.” This is the One who is our help and is our hope.
In verses 6 through 9 he describes the ministry of Jesus. Jesus is the one who is faithful. Jesus provided justice for those who were oppressed. Jesus fed the hungry with food 5,000 at one time for 4,000 at another. Jesus gave many of those who were blind their side and death they’re hearing and the mute their speech. Jesus raised up those were bowed down by the guilt of their sins. You see him in his ministry making widows and orphans happy again. Several times we see Him frustrate the way of the wicked. Jesus, through his church, continues to reach out and be the source of many of these blessings. It is the work of Christ through His body.
Jesus of course will completely fulfill this at the end of the ages. He will raise up all the dead, give eternal life to those who put their faith in Him and put into everlasting darkness all of the wicked who opposed His free gift of eternal life. We will be free from these mortal coils as we put on immortality and light. Those who made Him their hope and trust will live and reign with Him forever.
A closing verse declares how the LORD will rule forever and how He will rule throughout all the ages. The charges placed above His head on the cross, Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews, We will see fully enacted when we see Him again coming with the clouds with all His holy armies. When we see Him, We shall see how He is truly the King of all ages upon ages. We shall see how He reigned from the beginning to the end. Then we will praise Him and bless him forever and ever.
Almighty God, merciful Father, Give us lips that sing and tongues that praise you for all of your glory, for sending Your Son Jesus Christ into the world to be our Savior and our King. Give us Your Holy Spirit so He may always be our help and our trust in all times and all situations. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen