Advent Devotional

Psalm 146

"Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul! I will praise the LORD while I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.  Do not trust in princes, in mortal man, in whom there is no salvation.  His spirit departs, he returns to the earth; in that very day his thoughts perish. How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry.  The LORD sets the prisoners free.  The LORD opens the eyes of the blind; the LORD raises up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous; the LORD protects the strangers; He supports the fatherless and the widow, but He thwarts the way of the wicked.  The LORD will reign forever, Your God, O Zion, to all generations.  Praise the LORD!"

God is so concerned for our future that He makes this command “Do not put your trust in princes, nor mortal man, in whom there is no help.” He defines these men as those who “return to the earth” and whose “plans perish”.  In other words, they aren’t followers of Christ who will live forever with Him.

This Psalm has great hope! In direct contrast to the perishing ones, God reminds us why we can put our trust in Him. He is the creator who made heaven and earth and the seas.  He is Lord, who will reign forever.  He is also the God-Man, Jesus, who fed the hungry, freed the slaves, opened the eyes of the blind, lifted up the hurt and downtrodden, and cared for the orphans and widows.  Seeing the love Jesus showed helps us to want to trust and follow Him.

For Reflection & Discussion: Looking back at Psalm 146, what would you like to praise God for today?

Prayer: I praise You Lord for loving me enough to come to earth to show me what true love looks like in the way You treated others.  Help my life reflect Your image so that others will trust and follow You.  Amen.
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