Overview: (NET) The psalmist urges his audience not to trust in men, but in the LORD, the just king of the world who cares for the needy.
v.1-2 The psalmist talk to himself and urge himself to praise the LORD. He resolves to do that as long as he live/exist.
v.3-4 Why praise God not other people?
Trust God for He is eternal. Any human being is not
(BKC) The psalmist instructed the congregation to put their trust in the One who is infinitely more powerful than mortal man, who cannot save. A person’s plans die with him. At death the spirit of man departs and the body returns to dust (cf. 104:29; Ecc. 3:20). So one who trusts in man will have no reason for praising.
v.5-9
1. Structure
(EBC) By the use of participles in the Hebrew text, the psalmist explicates that the Maker of heaven and earth (v. 6) “upholds … and gives.… sets free … gives sight … lifts up … loves.… watches” (vv. 7–9). The nature of his faithfulness [eternity] is hence explained by participial phrases and in the end by two contrastive imperfects: He “sustains the fatherless and the widow, / but he frustrates the ways of the wicked” (v. 9b).
2. We praise God instead of mortal human beings, because He is trustworthy:
in relationship (the God of Jacob, the LORD his GOD), v.5
in power (Who made heaven and earth...), v.6a
in time (remains forever faithful), (The LORD rules forever, your God, O Zion, throughout the generations to come) v.6, 10a
in character (vindicates the oppressed: righteous) 7a, (gives food to the hungry: mercy) v.7b, (releases the imprisoned: compassionate-BDB) v.7c, gives sight to the blind, lifts up all who are bent over/discouraged (NET) (gracious and powerful) v.8b, (loves the godly-godly) 8b, (protects the resident foreigner, lifts up the fatherless and the widow--gracious) 9a, but he opposes the wicked (righteous) 9b.
v.10b Praise the LORD!
Summary and reflection: The psalmist praise God and it is not just with his mouth, but with his trust. He trust God through knowing God that He is worthy. Powerful and eternal being is not necessary I should trust, but He is my God, and He has very good character. His is not just compassionate, gracious, but righteous. A loving person may be good to me, but a righteous person is someone I should look up to. In other word, this kind of trusting is not only for benefit, but for a relationship.
Do I trust the God I praise?
Do I trust God so that I can have a relationship with Him not just to gain some benefits from Him?
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