The first five psalms in this set are attributed to David, and move from pleading to praise. The last five are known as the Hallelujah Psalms: all five begin and end with the exclamation, “Praise ye the Lord!” (hallelu-jah, הַֽלְלוּ־יָ֡הּ, in Hebrew).
Psalm 141: Set a Watch Before My Mouth
David prays for self-control. He asks God to help him control his words (“Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.”), his desires (“Incline not my heart to any evil thing.”), and his actions (“Let me not eat of their dainties.”). He invites correction: “Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head.”
Psalm 142: Prayer from a Cave
David cries out in loneliness: “I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.” But he trusts God: “Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.”
Psalm 143: To Know the Way
David prays for guidance. He says that he has meditated on God’s works. He pleads, “Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk. … Teach me to do thy will.”
Book of Mormon connection:
- The psalm says, “In thy sight shall no man living be justified.” Lehi teaches the same principle to his son Jacob: “Men are instructed sufficiently that they know good from evil. And the law is given unto men. And by the law no flesh is justified” (2 Nephi 2:5; compare Romans 3:20; Galatians 2:16; 3:11).
Psalm 144: Happy Is That People
David says that God teaches his hands to fight. He pleads with God to rid him of his enemies, so that “our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace.” He concludes, “Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord.”
Psalm 145: One Generation to Another
The final psalm attributed to David. He praises God and says, “One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.”
Book of Mormon connections:
- The psalm says, “The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.” Nephi ends the first chapter of the Book of Mormon with a similar affirmation: “I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen” (1 Nephi 1:20).
- The psalm says, “Great is the Lord, … and his greatness is unsearchable.” Jacob testifies, “Behold, great and marvelous are the works of the Lord. How unsearchable are the depths of the mysteries of him” (Jacob 4:8).
Psalm 146: Put Not Your Trust in Princes
The first of the final five Hallel Psalms. The psalmist contrasts earthly rulers with God. “Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.” But “happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help.” He concludes, “The Lord shall reign for ever, … unto all generations.”
Book of Mormon connection:
- Jacob shares the following passage from Isaiah: “Behold, who art thou, that thou shouldst be afraid of man, who shall die, and of the son of man, who shall be made like unto grass?” (2 Nephi 8:12).
Psalm 147: Stars and Broken Hearts
The God who rules the universe is attentive to every detail and to every person. “He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.” And also, “He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.” The psalmist lists natural phenomena which God governs, like clouds and snow, and he also emphasizes God’s goodness toward Israel, including bringing peace and sending commandments.
Psalm 148: Praise Ye Him, All His Hosts
The psalmist calls upon all creation to praise the Lord, including angels, sun, moon, stars, snow and wind, mountains and trees, animals, kings, and all people.
Psalm 149: He Will Beautify the Meek
The psalmist calls upon all Israel to praise God with song and dance, saying, “The Lord taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.”
Psalm 150: Let Everything That Hath Breath Praise the Lord
A final call for everyone to praise God. Where? In His sanctuary. Why? For His mighty acts. How? With musical instruments. Who? Everyone.
Today I will praise God with joy and trust Him with unqualified confidence.
Leave a Reply