Seventh-day Adventist Bible CommentaryPsalms 146

Praise ye the Lord. Heb. halelu–Yah, transliterated “hallelujah.” An expression that should be uttered with reverential and holy awe.

While I live. This mortal life is of short duration, but all its days should be spent in blessing and extolling the name of God. “Praise” is the theme of the anthems to God that are sung by the inhabitants of heaven. “Let us learn the song of the angels now, that we may sing it when we join their shining ranks” (PP 289). The songs of heaven will bring joy and strength to lighten the burdens of this life.

Princes. There is a more reliable Protector and Helper than even the most noble of earth. Though princes be of royal blood they are but human. God alone merits our complete trust and confidence. Without Him we are helpless before many of the problems of life (9T 203).

Thoughts. Heb. ‘eshtonoth, a word occurring only here. It comes from the verb ‘ashath, which occurs only twice, once in Jer. 5:28, translated “shine,” and once in Jonah 1:6, with the meaning, “to give thought to.” An Aramaic verb, ‘ashith, meaning, “to intend,” “to plan,” occurs once in Dan. 6:4. The translation “plans” (RSV) evidently comes from considering ‘eshtoneth to be based on the Aramaic ‘ashith. Such a relationship is doubtful, however, in the light of the Davidic authorship of the psalm (see GC 545). It appears more reasonable to consider ‘eshtoneth as from the Heb. ‘ashath, “to give thought to,” and hence to retain the translation “thoughts.” The LXX and the Vulgate support this translation. Perish. That is, consciousness ceases. The Bible lends no support to the popular doctrine of a conscious state between death and the resurrection and furthermore emphatically refutes such a teaching (see Ps. 115:17; Eccl. 9:5). A common metaphor for death is “sleep” (Deut. 31:16; 2 Sam. 7:12; 1 Kings 11:43; Job 14:12; Dan. 12:2; John 11:11, 12; 1 Cor. 15:51; 1 Thess. 4:13–17; etc.). That such a “sleep” is not a conscious fellowship with the Lord on the part of the righteous is clearly implied in the statement of Jesus, who comforted His disciples with the thought that at the second advent, not at death, the disciples would be united with their Lord (John 14:1–3). Paul similarly pointed to the second advent as the time when all the righteous, those living at the time of the advent, and the dead who will be raised at that moment, will together be united with Christ, with no precedence on the part of the living (1 Thess. 4:16, 17).

The God of Jacob. What God did for Jacob He is able to do for us. We, too, may be overcomers—with God. Hope. Hope is the balm of life and the joy of existence. It buoys our spirits up as we meet with trials and sorrows along the way.

Which made. In contrast with the weakness of humanity, God is the Creator of the vast universe. There is nothing too difficult for Him to accomplish. He will never fail in fulfilling His promises to His children. Keepeth truth. Since God “keepeth truth,” we need not fear to put our trust and confidence in Him. His word is true (Ps. 119:160), and He has promised to keep His word, not for a time, but forever.

Looseth the prisoners. Compare Isa. 61:1.

Openeth the eyes. Releasing from prison and opening blind eyes are coupled together by Isaiah as the work Christ was to perform (Isa. 42:7). He who made the

delicate mechanism of the eye knows just how to open it when it is blind. He also grants spiritual eyesight, that men may behold the things of the Spirit.

Fatherless. Compare Deut. 14:29. Turneth upside down. God defeats the evil designs of the wicked.

Lord shall reign for ever. Unlike earthly princes, who in time pass away, God, the Great King, is ever on His throne. He never abdicates nor will he ever be deprived of His crown. Praise ye the Lord. Heb. halelu–Yah, as in v. 1.