Author: Administrador

Israel has long employed three groups of hymnic praise or “Hallels” in worship: the “Egyptian Hallel” (Psalms 113-118) recited in the home as a part of Passover celebrations; the “Great Hallel” (Psalms 135-136) recited in the Temple during the slaughter of the lambs at Passover, Tabernacles, and Dedication or Hanukkah; and the “Daily Hallel” (Psalms … Continue reading “Psalm 146 Commentary by Mark Throntveit”

This psalm of praise resonates with peace and justice. Make that divine peace and justice. In this psalm, it is the Lord who is given all of the credit for executing justice in behalf of the oppressed, for feeding the hungry, for setting prisoners free, for opening the eyes of the blind, etc. On the … Continue reading “Psalm 146 Commentary by Hans Wiersma”

The first lesson addresses a fearful people with a prophetic promise that God will bring justice, salvation, and healing. God’s redemptive action applies not only to humans but even extends to the hydration of the desiccated earth. The magnitude of the restoration (or the depth of the despair of the ailing — or both!) is … Continue reading “Psalm 146 Commentary by Henry Langknecht”

Each day began the same way in the elementary school where I grew up. The bell rang, we stood up, put our right hands over hearts, and recited, “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.” There was a patriotic spirit in our Lutheran church, too. At the front were two … Continue reading “Psalm 146 Commentary by James Limburg”

Psalm 145 ends with the words, “The praise of the Lord my mouth will speak, and all flesh will bless his holy name for all time and beyond” (145:21). And in the five psalms that follow, Psalms 146-150, that is precisely what takes place. Psalms 146-150 are known as the “Final Hallel” of the book … Continue reading “Psalm 146 Commentary by Nancy deClaissé-Walford”

Psalm 146 opens a collection of five hallelujah psalms at the end of the book of Psalms (146-150). Each of these psalms begins and ends by encouraging everyone to “praise the LORD!” which is the meaning of the Hebrew phrase hallelu-yah. This joyful set of psalms is a fitting conclusion for the book of Psalms, … Continue reading “Psalm 146 Commentary by Esther M. Menn”

Psalm 146 is structurally simple, yet theologically profound. Its genre is one of praise and it is part of the crescendo ending of the psalter. The psalm begins and ends with the same “Praise the LORD” or “Hallelujah,” providing an envelope called an “inclusio.” Inside this envelope are two doxologies surrounding two stanzas, giving a … Continue reading “Psalm 146 Commentary by Beth L. Tanner”

Psalm 146 lacks any evidence of context enabling the reader to hear it in her own time and place. In the psalm God is the author of liberation (v 7), the only one worthy of our trust (v 3) and praise (v 2). The psalmist knows these truths to be abiding and commits to a … Continue reading “Psalm 146 Commentary by Wil Gafney”

Psalm 145 is the last of a group of eight psalms at the end of Book Five of the Psalter that are ascribed, in their superscriptions, to David (Psalms 138-145). It is an acrostic, in which in each verse of the psalm begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Acrostic poems were the … Continue reading “Psalm 145:10-18 Commentary by Nancy deClaissé-Walford”

Psalm interpretation can sometimes feel like swimming against a swiftly flowing mountain stream. The experience can seem at times like a numbing experience of futility.  With each arm stroke forward the current carries you somewhere else and it can seem as if you are going nowhere or at best going backward.  Reading Psalm 145 may … Continue reading “Psalm 145:10-18 Commentary by Paul O. Myhre”