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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 146:1-4

David is supposed to have penned this psalm; and he was himself a prince, a mighty prince; as such, it might be thought, 1. That he should be exempted from the service of praising God, that it was enough for him to see that his priests and people did it, but that he needed not to do it himself in his own person. Michal thought it a disparagement to him to dance before the ark; but he was so far from being of this mind that he would himself be first and foremost in the work, Ps. 146:1, 2. He... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 146:3

Put not your trust in princes ,.... Not in foreign princes, in alliances and confederacies with them; nor in any at home. David did not desire his people to put their trust in him, nor in his nobles and courtiers; but in the Lord Christ, who, as he is the object of praise, is also the proper object of trust. Princes, though ever so liberal and bountiful, as their name signifies, and therefore called benefactors, Luke 22:25 or ever so mighty and powerful, wise and prudent, yet are not to be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 146:4

His breath goeth forth ,.... That is, the breath of a son of man, of any and everyone of the princes; it goes forth continually, and is drawn in again as long as a man lives; but at death it goes forth, and returns no more till the resurrection: the breath which the Lord breathed into man, and which is in his nostrils while he lives, and is very precarious. And when it is taken away, he dies, and he returneth to his earth ; from whence he was taken, and of which he was made; upon which... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 146:3

Put not your trust in princes - This may refer, as has been stated above, to Cyrus, who had revoked his edict for the rebuilding of Jerusalem. Perhaps they had begun to suppose that they were about to owe their deliverance to the Persian king. God permitted this change in the disposition of the king, to teach them the vanity of confidence in men, and the necessity of trusting in himself. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 146:4

His breath goeth forth - His existence depends merely, under God, on the air he breathes. When he ceases to respire he ceases to live; his body from that moment begins to claim its affinity to the earth; and all his thoughts, purposes, and projects, whether good or evil, come to nought and perish. He, then, who has no other dependence, must necessarily be miserable. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 146:3

Verse 3 3.Trust not in princes This admonition is appropriately inserted, for one means by which men blind themselves is that of involving their minds through a number of inventions, and being thus prevented from engaging in the praises of God. That God may have the whole praise due to him, David exposes and overthrows those false stays on which we would otherwise be too much disposed to trust. His meaning is, that we should withdraw ourselves from man in general, but he names princes, from... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 146:1-10

Three fulfillments. There are three ways in which these verses (or most of them) have been or are fulfilled. I. IN DIVINE PROVIDENCE . In God's dealing with his people Israel. 1. Israel found, again and again, that it was not in human alliances, but in the living God, that its true help was found ( Psalms 146:3-5 ). Princes and powers proved to be but broken reeds; but while Jehovah was sought and served, everything was secure. 2. Israel in captivity found its true hope... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 146:1-10

God alone worthy of trust. "Bears evident traces of belonging to the post-Exile literature; and the words of Psalms 146:7-9 are certainly no inapt expression of the feelings which would naturally be called forth at a time immediately subsequent to the return from the Captivity." I. EVEN THE MIGHTIEST OF MANKIND ARE UNWORTHY OF TRUST . 1. They cannot save in our greatest extremities . "In whom is no help." From want of ability and often from want of wilt. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 146:3

Put not your trust in princes (comp. Psalms 118:10 ). Israel was always apt to trust in bureau rather than Divine help. Now it was Egypt ( Isaiah 30:2 ; Isaiah 36:6 ), now Assyria ( 2 Kings 16:7 ), now their own kings or nobles. At the time of the return from the Captivity, too much was expected from Zerubbabel and the other "princes." Nor in the son of man. The Prayer-book paraphrase, "nor in any child of man," brings out the sense. Confidence in human aid of whatever kind is... read more

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