JULY 24
Psalm 146:5, “Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God.”
That great hymn, Great Is Thy Faithfulness, speaks of how God brings “strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.” The psalmist praised God for just that kind of sustaining grace. In Psalm 146, he declares his intention: “I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being” (Psalm 146:2). His worship is not tied to circumstances but to the unchanging character of the Lord—faithful, powerful, and endlessly good.
Help and hope are two things we all desperately need—often more than we realize. We are weak, limited, and vulnerable in a world filled with adversity, spiritual warfare, and heartache. But the psalmist reminds us that our help comes from the One “who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them” (Psalm 146:6). God’s power is limitless, and His compassion is personal. He is great enough to handle our greatest burdens and tender enough to care about the smallest concerns of our hearts.
Psalm 146 paints a vivid picture of this compassionate God: He sets the prisoners free, opens the eyes of the blind, lifts up those who are bowed down, watches over the sojourner, upholds the widow and the orphan (Psalm 146:7–9). These are not just poetic phrases—they are real actions God takes. Jesus lived this out during His earthly ministry, and He continues to do so now. He invites us to bring our cares to Him, knowing that He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7).
Not only is He our present help, but He is also our future hope. The psalm warns us not to place our trust in princes or human leaders, for they are mortal and their plans die with them (vv. 3–4). But those who hope in the Lord are never abandoned. He is faithful, His promises are sure, and “bright hope for tomorrow” is guaranteed because He holds all things in His hands.
And this is not just poetic truth—it’s personal. Recall how God has helped in times past: a word of encouragement, an unexpected provision of assistance, strength to endure some challenging situation. As He’s been faithful to help in times past, so we can trust Him with our future. This psalm calls us not only to remember what God has done, but to praise Him for it, and to keep trusting Him for all that lies ahead. As long as I have breath, like the psalmist, I want to declare: “Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God (Psalm 146:5).”
Our big problems are small to His power; our small problems are big to His love.
Application Questions: In what specific areas of your life do you need to remember God’s faithfulness and bring your concerns to Him as your help and hope? How can you cultivate a habit of praising God daily, even when your circumstances feel uncertain or challenging?
LookingtoJesus 