Wednesday, September 24
Psalm 146
1 Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
2 I will praise the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praises to my God all my life long.
3 Do not put your trust in princes,
in mortals, in whom there is no help.
4 When their breath departs, they return to the earth;
on that very day their plans perish.
5 Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord their God,
6 who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them;
who keeps faith forever;
7 who executes justice for the oppressed;
who gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets the prisoners free;
8 the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
the Lord loves the righteous.
9 The Lord watches over the strangers;
he upholds the orphan and the widow,
but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
10 The Lord will reign forever,
your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the Lord!
“… 3 Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help. …”
“Do you trust me?”
These words are issued by Aladdin and his alter ego Ali in the Disney movie by the same name. Several times, he holds his hand out to Princess Jasmine, issuing the same request. It becomes a theme throughout the animated feature.
“Trust me!”
Rather than a request, some call upon us to simply put our trust in them. Whether politicians, salespersons, influencers, or even clergy, sometime the words come as an imperative. It’s as if, because of the person’s position, role, occupation, or relationship, trust is a foregone conclusion. Fortunately, most of us a wary of such implied imperatives.
“Do not put your trust…”
The psalmist reminds us that mortals – whatever their state, position, role, etc. – are often less than trustworthy. After all, we are all sinners. Instead, the psalmist argues, our trust must be in the Lord. Only God is able to fulfill promises. Only God is to be believed.
“Trust in the Lord always”
Paul’s words. Take them to heart.
Prayer: Lord, you alone are trustworthy, and it is in You that I place my trust and my life. Amen.