Morning Moments

[146:8] The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous:
[9] The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.

The word “alleluia” or hallelujah” as it is sometimes written means “praise the Lord” and is only found in the book of Revelation, and the only chapter in that book to use the word in chapter 19 where the term is used in verses 1,3,4, and 6. Every time it is used in the NT it is in connection with the Marriage of the Lamb.

Its use in the Old Testament is much broader and Psalm 146:8-9 offer an excellent example of OT use. The word is used 4 times in this Psalm and these 2 verses give us 7 reasons why He should be praised. We can see seven reasons:

1. He loses the prisoners – The prison speaks of guilt and bondage. Christ came to preach deliverance to the captives (Lk 4:18). We are also told that “Whom the Son shall set free, he shall be free indeed (Jn 8:36).

2. He opens the eyes of the blind – This implies moral and spiritual darkness. “The recovering of sight to the blind” is another reason Jesus said He came in Lk 4:18 – Believe and see.

3. He raises the bowed-down – Those like the woman in the gospel who could “in no wise lift herself up” (Lk 13:11). Bowed with the burden of grief or guilt or the deformity of sin, He raises up by the Word of cheer and the Arm of power (2 Cor 7:6) – He comforts those that are cast down.

4. He loves the righteous – Those who are right with God and man. Jesus grew in wisdom and knowledge and in favor with God and man (Lk 2:52). He loves those who obey Him because they love Him (Jn 14:23). He draws near to those who draw near to Him (Ja 4:8).

5. He preserves the stranger – The helpless and destitute, with no place to go and little desire to live, but afraid to die. He will take you in and give you water to drink (living water) and bread to eat (that comes down from heaven), and a shelter in the time of storm and rest for the weary soul. I was a stranger and He took me in.

6. He upholds (relieves) the fatherless and widow. He helps the helpless, heals the hurt. Your condition is no hindrance to Him. What is your ill that He cannot heal? What is your anxiety that He cannot calm? What is your broken heart that He cannot mend? If you are lonely, He will stay with you. If you need wisdom, He will give it. If you need protection, there is none better to protect you.

7. He turns the way of the wicked upside down. Those who would harm the righteous in any way will come to nothing. The way of the ungodly shall perish. Every abuse, criticism, mistreatment, or attack you have suffered as a believer will not go un-avenged. It shall be recompensed. He shall turn the way of the wicked upside down.

Meditate on these things and praise the Lord.

BLESSINGS!