Chapter One Hundred Forty-Five

All the following group of psalms, beginning with 145 and ending with 150, are laudatory, alleluia, devoted to the Lord for the mercies granted by Him to the Hebrew people. All of them closely adjoin one another and mutually complement themselves. Thus psalm 145 speaks of the return of the Hebrews from captivity (Ps 145:7), 146, 147 – about the restoration and strengthening of Jerusalem (Ps 146:2), 149 – about the restoration of Hebrew nationality, therefore all peoples, all nature and all Jews are invited to a as solemn as possible glorification of His great deeds (149–150 psalms). The writing of these psalms should be referred to the time of the completion by the Hebrews of the building of the second temple and Jerusalem, when they, clearly conscious of all the great significance of what had happened to them, were filled with the best hopes for their future life under the shadow of God and when among them, believing in the sayings of the prophets about a happy life after captivity, thoughts could arise about vengeance upon all heathen peoples. This vengeance would be the execution of divine punishment upon them.

I will praise the Lord all my life. Do not put your hope in man, whose life is short and whose strength is weak, but hope in the Lord, the almighty Creator of all that exists, merciful to weak man and eternal, Zion, your king (2–10).