Psalm 146 (145):6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Having declared blessed the individual who places their faith in God, he subsequently addresses the might of the Comforter, illustrating the nature of humanity and the divine. Man may fade away, yet God endures; He not only remains eternal but His deeds persist as well. Thus, he further articulates: ‘Who created heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them: who keepeth the truth forever.’ If His deeds are unwavering, how much more is He Himself steadfast and all-powerful; His creations testify to His strength and that He is indeed so. However, there are many who question, claiming that if He possesses unchanging power, then why does He seem unwilling? This doubt is swiftly addressed by the prophet.

The soul declares its praise to God, instructing itself, “Praise the Lord, O my soul” (Psalm 144:1). In times of trial and temptation, our souls may face turmoil, a state referred to in another psalm. To alleviate this unrest, joy is offered—not yet fulfilled, but in hopeful anticipation; the soul, beset by sorrow and grief, is reminded, “Hope in God, for I will yet praise Him.” Who is it that speaks these words, and to whom are they directed? Let us ponder, dear friends: does the flesh encourage the soul to praise the Lord? Can the body provide wise counsel to the soul? Even though our flesh can be subdued and serve us as a servant through the Lord’s grace, it remains important that it does not deter us. For the body, by its very nature, is lesser than the soul; every soul, no matter how degraded, is inherently more valuable than the most distinguished body. Do not be astonished that even the most flawed soul surpasses the most admirable body in essence. The distinction is not in merit but in nature. Though the soul may be marred by sin, it retains a more commendable nature than the finest lead, which pales in comparison. Evaluate all of creation, and you will observe that our assertion holds true: the soul, even in its condemnation, possesses a greater worth than a praiseworthy body. There exist two entities: the soul and the body. I may critique the soul for its moral failings, yet commend the body for its health. In doing so, I judge the soul while acknowledging the type of praise befitting both the soul and the body. If I were to choose between the two in terms of worthiness, a remarkable answer would emerge. Just as one may discuss a superior horse while recognizing the faults of a lesser individual, the preference may lean towards the horse that brings praise. The nature of the soul is spiritually superior to that of the body; it truly transcends it, embodying the essence of the Divine. The soul, somewhat invisible, commands the body, orchestrates its movements, governs the senses, shapes thoughts, executes actions, and perceives countless images. In essence, dear brethren, who can fully suffice in praising the soul? Yet, by grace, this individual proclaims, "Praise the Lord, my soul."

It is not the flesh that voices this praise, for while the body can strive towards angelic qualities, it remains subordinate to the soul. When aptly submissive, the flesh operates as the soul’s servant: the soul commands, and the body fulfills its bidding. Hence, how can the flesh advise the soul? Might it be the soul itself, engaging in self-instruction, encouraging itself, questioning its own thoughts? The soul may falter due to some passionate distraction but, in the realm of reason—the wisdom through which it contemplates—connecting with God, it recognizes disturbances caused by worldly desires and external stimuli that divert focus from the Divine. Conscious of this conflict, the soul redirects itself from the external chaos back to its higher calling, proclaiming, “Praise the Lord, my soul.” The soul reflects on God’s illumination through its rational capacity, which comprehends the wisdom inherent in the eternal nature of its Creator. It discerns there is much reason to fear, honor, love, desire, and pursue; yet, overwhelmed by divine radiance, it struggles to remain in that blessed presence. Ultimately, it regains composure and pledges, “In my life, I will praise the Lord” (Psalm 145:2). What constitutes “my life”? It can only answer: “My death,” for presently I dwell in mortality. Therefore, periodically affirm yourself with “Praise the Lord, my soul.” Your soul may respond, “I praise as much as I am able, albeit faintly.” Why the faintness? Because as long as we dwell in the flesh, we are absent from the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:6).

“In my life”—what does that signify? The soul might say: “I perceive my death.” From what arises this death? It springs from being apart from the Lord. If connection to Him is life, then separation from Him signifies death. Yet, what is your solace? Hope. Now you exist in hope; it is in that hope you shall offer your praises, singing in expectation of the coming life. How shall you honor your Lord? "I will sing to my God for as long as I live." What does the singing entail? Consider, beloved brethren, eternal existence; where there is unending praise, there, too, is abiding being. Observe your present existence: will you sing to God while you have life? Reflect on the times you sang passionately for a fleeting cause, only to cease your song and merely exist. Perhaps your cravings drove you; not only did you refrain from praises but also resorted to actions that offended His ears, existing yet singing no more. What tribute is it to praise while merely existing? But, what does “while I exist” mean? Will there come a moment when it ceases to be? No; this existence is eternal, thereby genuinely enduring. For anything that suffers termination in time, however prolonged, is not true eternity.

Do not place your trust in princes (Psalm 145:3). Beloved brethren, a significant task is set before us; it is a heavenly calling echoing down from above. Confronted with suffering, humanity often turns away from God, opting instead to lean on mortal strength. When faced with misfortune, one might counsel another to rely on the might of a powerful individual who offers a sunny smile, but when invoking God’s deliverance, despair can overshadow hope. Why rejoice over the promise of aid from a mortal, one who also needs salvation alongside you, while growing despondent over the assurance of aid from the Eternal Liberator? Such thoughts stray into darkness; indeed, a profound death lingers within them. Draw closer; begin to hunger and seek out the One who shaped you. He will not abandon His creation unless they abandon Him.

“His breath goes out, and he returns to his earth; in that day, all his thoughts perish” (Psalm 145:4). Where does arrogance and boasting lead? Perhaps this individual, who speaks with pride, departs for a pleasant destination; yet, I cannot discern where such boastful ones end up. When I witness a wicked individual exalted beyond the majestic cedars of Lebanon and pass by without finding them, I realize they were ultimately absent. The righteous who pursue goodness may find themselves arriving at a haven devoid of the wicked. Thus, beloved brethren, let us prioritize our understanding: in whatever tribulation or quest for heavenly blessings, do not place your faith in princes or the offspring of humanity, for there is no salvation in them. All are transient and destined for decay. If we refrain from hoping in mankind or notables, what then should we pursue? Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob (Psalm 145:5)—not this one individual or that, not an angel but rather the Divine, who was a tremendous support to Jacob, transforming him into Israel. O mighty Helper, Israel now beholds God. While you wander here without seeing His face, if you make the God of Jacob your helper, then from wandering, you shall become Israel and glimpse God. Your struggles shall fade, burdensome cares cease, and joy-filled praises arise. Blessed is he whose aid is the God of Jacob, for he is joyful because he places his trust in the Lord during his earthly tribulations.

Who is the Lord of your hope? Our faith rests in one God, the Father, the source of all things, and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom all has come into being (1 Corinthians 8:6). Let Him then be your assurance; place your trust in the Lord, your God. This anticipation is echoed across various forms of worship—some place hope in the lord of their gods, whether Saturn, Neptune, or Mercury; others engage in misguided worship of their own desires, as noted in Philippians 3:19, whose god is their belly. Each has their lord, but the true blessed one places hope in the Lord, their God, who crafted heaven and earth, the sea, and all that dwell therein (Psalm 144:6). My brethren, we serve an extraordinary God; let us glorify His holy name as He has chosen us as His own. Though you cannot yet perceive God, you cannot fully love that which remains unseen. He has fashioned all that exists; marvel at creation: why not marvel at its Creator? You gaze at the heavens in awe; you contemplate the earth with reverence. When will you adequately comprehend the vastness of the sea? Consider the multitude of stars, the diversity of seeds, the various creatures that swim, crawl, and soar; how magnificent and wondrous all this is! Behold, the one who brought all of this into existence is indeed your God. Trust in Him that you may find joy. Hope rests in the Lord, your God, who is indeed mighty and good, the originator of all that exists.

If He only created heaven, earth, and sea, you might ponder whether He concerns Himself with you personally. But know, He created not only these, but you, too. It is an inadequate notion to regard you separately; even the sparrow and the insignificant worm are within His nurturing providence. God’s providential love acknowledges His creation, even if it extends beyond mere commandment, for it encompasses all living things—not merely humans. God does not penalize cattle for their perceived sins; He indeed saves both man and beast (1 Corinthians 9:9; Psalm 36:6). Some people may argue about perceived inconsistencies between the Old and New Testaments, yet we should heed the Lord, the master and guide of His apostles: “Consider the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them” (Matthew 6:26). Even outside human concerns, animals are the recipients of God’s attentive care.

“Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing?” asks our Lord (Matthew 10:29), yet not one falls to the ground without your Father’s will. If you contend that God does not acknowledge you among the multitude, consider the profound truth revealed in the Gospel: “All the hairs of your head are numbered” (Matthew 10:30).

Who holds eternal truth? What truth prevails eternally? He maintains judgment for those suffering unjustly (Psalm 145:7). He executes justice for the downtrodden. Here, the voice of the apostle reminds you, “Therefore, all is at fault among you, for you judge one another; should you not rather bear with wrongdoing?” (1 Corinthians 6:7). He called you not to scorn but to endure the trials of injustice, as not all suffering is unjust. The troubles you face lawfully are not evil; reflect on your journey and ponder the reasons behind your distress to better understand the nature of your suffering.

“Who feeds the hungry?” (Psalm 145:8). Take heed; I seek nothing from you; God is the one who nourishes the hungry. Who are the hungry? All living beings, be it every person or every creature—He reserves sustenance for His beloved. The first step is clarifying what this hunger entails, which will reveal the appropriate nourishment. The blessed ones are those who yearn and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied (Matthew 5:6). We must desire God’s righteousness.

The Lord liberates the captives, uplifts the fallen, and imparts wisdom to the blind (Psalm 145:8). This verse encapsulates the essence of the preceding expressions: when referring to those freed from chains, it’s essential to remember that these chains come from transgressions; regarding those lifted up, it must be acknowledged that we all experience falls in various ways, with another dimension of darkness and light existing.

When it is said, “He imparts wisdom to the blind,” it should not be interpreted merely as physical illumination; rather, it signifies enlightenment about spiritual matters through a certain light of wisdom. Thus, while the blind receive insight, the captives find freedom, and the fallen are restored. What constraints ensnare us? What failures caused our downfall? Initially, our bodies served as adornments, yet through sin, we became bound. What chains bind us? They stem from our inevitable mortality.

In relation to the grandeur of heaven, both the earth and the sea appear insignificant, much like ants and fleas through a worldly lens. Is it not possible for Him, the Creator of both heaven and earth, to rescue the man He brought into existence?

He instructs us to perceive His benevolence and might through the creation of all living things. He who fashioned the heavens and the earth, the seas, and everything within them. The Prophet succinctly encompassed both the visible and unseen creation through his expressions. He referred not only to the heavens, the earth, and the seas, but also to all that inhabits them; in the heavens dwell angels, the spiritual realm, the sun, the moon, and countless stars; on the earth and within the seas exist humanity and the generations of those without a voice. Such is the might of the Creator, declares the Prophet. Hence, observe the vast contrast between the transient rulers and the eternal Creator of all. Having established that God is the Lord of all, he illustrates that He also nurtures every being He has brought into existence, steadfast in His truth. See v. 7.

He who fashioned the heavens and the earth, the ocean, and all that resides within them; who upholds truth eternally. Blessed indeed is the one who places their trust in God, the Maker of heaven, earth, and sea, and all that exists in these realms, who remains faithful in both His promises of grace and His warnings of judgment. Theodoret: With these remarks, he succinctly summarizes the entirety of visible creation; he not only refers to heaven, earth, and sea, but also includes the angels and all the unseen creation within the firmament, as well as the sun, the moon, and countless stars; upon the earth and within the sea, humanity and various creatures without voice. Thus, he emphasizes the immense power of the Creator of all. From this, one can discern the significant contrast between transient earthly rulers and the eternal Creator of everything.

It is essential to commence with the foundational chapter regarding God the Creator, who fashioned the heavens and the earth along with everything contained within them. Those known as Gnostics irreverently depict Him as the product of deficiency. It must be established that there exists nothing above or below Him; He voluntarily and freely created all things, not compelled by anyone, as He is the singular God, the exclusive Lord, the only Creator, and the sole Father who encompasses all and imparts existence to everything. How could there be another fullness, a beginning, a power, or a deity superior to Him when God, the Complete Being, must contain everything within His boundless essence, remaining unhindered by anything else?

The Prophet teaches that placing hope in earthly rulers is futile, and emphasizes that true happiness can only be found in the one true God. This message is echoed in Jeremiah 17:5, 7, where it states: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength," and later, "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose hope is the Lord." Similarly, David affirms, "Blessed is the God of Jacob, his helper." By referring to God as the God of Jacob, David differentiates the true God from the multitude of false deities that the unbelievers worshipped at that time. The descendants of Jacob honored the one true God, while neighboring nations like the Moabites, Ammonites, and Philistines were engaged in idolatry.

The precise origin of the inscription ‘Haggai and Zechariah’ remains uncertain, whether it belongs to the LXX or was added later. What is clear is that the psalm was composed during the period of these two prophets. Some interpreters suggest it was penned after the temple's construction; however, the context of verses 7-9 suggests it was likely written during a time of mourning for Israel, despite their liberation from exile, making it more plausible that it was composed when the building of the temple had been halted. The Psalmist encourages himself and his community to maintain their resolve and to continually rejoice in the Lord, who has liberated them from bondage and to submit to Him with trust and assurance.

Alleluia is a hymn of joyous adoration to the Divine, inspired by this psalm of David, which is imbued with joy and happiness. The prophets Haggai and Zechariah encouraged the people of Israel to sing with joy, recalling their return from Babylonian captivity to Jerusalem. This reflects the delight in the restoration of the new community, which, through the grace of Christ our Lord, has been liberated from the bondage of sinful Babylon, entering into the freedom of the heavenly Jerusalem, eternally praising God. In this psalm, the prophet exhorts everyone to place their trust solely in God, warning that those who rely on mere mortals are cursed (Jeremiah 17:5).

There are numerous reasons to place our hope in the Lord our God. God is an omnipotent being who found it effortless to bring the universe into existence. Would He not possess both the authority and the means to act for our good in whatever way He deems appropriate? God upholds the truth eternally, meaning He is unwaveringly faithful to His promises. Can we believe that He would overlook extending His mercy to those who seek Him when He has Himself assured them of it? If our requests remain unanswered or our needs and desires unmet, let us refrain from hastily concluding that He has abandoned us. Rather, we can trust that in due time, He will grant us far more than we anticipate; even if such fulfillment does not occur in this life, He will reward our patience in the life to come.