A God You Can Trust | Psalm 146

Phillip Bates
1 day ago
4 min read

From the Sermon Series: Highs, Lows, & Hallelujahs: Psalms for Every Season

Sermon Guide for June 21, 2026

How to Use This Guide:

These guides are designed to help you engage more deeply with my weekly sermon or serve as stand-alone, self-guided Bible studies. Use them to prepare your heart before worship or to reflect on God’s Word throughout the week.

Parents, use the “Family Practice” section to lead meaningful conversations that nurture your kids' faith and help them grow in God’s love.

A God You Can Trust | Psalm 146

Big Idea

Because God is all-powerful, deeply compassionate, and perfectly just, he alone is worthy of our complete trust.

Setting the Scene

Psalm 146 opens and closes with the command to “Praise the LORD.” But before telling us why God deserves our praise, the psalm warns us not to place our ultimate trust in human beings—even powerful ones.

Human leaders, experts, friends, and mentors can help us, but they are finite and imperfect. God alone can carry the weight of our hope.

Main Point 1

Nothing Is Too Hard for Him (vv. 5-6)

“...who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever...”

God is powerful enough to create the universe and faithful enough to sustain it. Nothing in our lives is beyond his ability or outside his control.

What This Means

God is never surprised by our circumstances.
No problem is too difficult for him.

Reflection Questions

What situation in your life feels overwhelming right now?
Have you begun to believe that your problem is an exception to God's power?
How does remembering God as Creator change your perspective?

Practice This Week

Write down one burden you have been carrying. Spend time each day intentionally surrendering it to God in prayer.

Main Point 2

No One Is Too Small for Him (vv. 7-9a)

“The LORD executes justice for the oppressed… gives food to the hungry… sets the prisoners free... opens the eyes of the blind...watches over the sojourner… upholds the widow and the fatherless.”

The God who created the universe is also attentive to the needs of the vulnerable, forgotten, and hurting.

What This Means

God notices those whom society overlooks.
Your struggles are not insignificant to him.
Although God is powerfully transcendent, he is also compassionately near.

Reflection Questions

Have you ever felt overlooked, forgotten, or insignificant?
Which group in this list (oppressed, hungry, prisoner, blind, bowed down, foreigner, fatherless, widow) stands out to you most? Why?
What does this passage teach us about God's heart?

Practice This Week

Ask God to show you someone who may feel overlooked or forgotten. Look for one practical way to encourage or serve them.

Main Point 3

No Wrong Is Beyond Him (v. 9b)

“The way of the wicked he brings to ruin.”

What This Means

God is perfectly just. Evil will not win in the end.
No sin escapes God's notice.
No injustice will go unanswered.
God's people can endure hardship knowing he will ultimately make all things right.

Reflection Questions

What injustice or wrong is difficult for you to release into God's hands?
How does God's promise of justice help you resist bitterness and revenge?

Practice This Week

Pray specifically about a situation where you desire justice. Ask God to help you pursue what is right while trusting him with the final outcome.

The Gospel Connection

Psalm 146 reminds us that God brings the way of the wicked to ruin. The sobering reality is that all of us have sinned and stand in need of God's mercy. The good news of the gospel is not that God ignored our sin, but that he dealt with it through Jesus Christ.

Because of Jesus:

Our sins can be forgiven.
Our guilt can be removed.
Our story does not have to end in "ruin."

Personal Response

Where are you most tempted to place your trust?

In your abilities?
In your finances?
In a leader?
In a relationship?
In yourself?

Psalm 146 invites us to place our hope in the Lord because:

Nothing is too hard for him.
No one is too small for him.
No wrong is beyond him.

Family Discussion Guide

Read Together

Psalm 146:1-10

Big Truth

God is so powerful, loving, and good that we can trust him with everything.

Talk About It

Question 1: Why does the psalm say we should not put our ultimate trust in people?

Parent Help: People can help us, but people make mistakes, get tired, and cannot save us. God never fails.

Question 2: What are some things God does for people in Psalm 146?

Look for:

Helps the oppressed
Feeds the hungry
Frees prisoners
Opens blind eyes
Helps widows and orphans

Parent Help: God notices people who are hurting and cares deeply about them.

Question 3: What do we learn about God from this psalm?

Possible answers:

God is powerful.
God is loving.
God is faithful.
God is just.
God can be trusted.

Family Activity

Ask each family member: "If you had a huge problem, who would you talk to first?"

After everyone answers, discuss:

Why is it good to ask people for help?
Why is God the One we can trust most?

Family Prayer

Father, thank you for being a God we can trust. We are thankful that nothing is too hard for you, no one is too small for you, and no wrong is beyond you. Help us put our hope in you rather than in people, and to trust you every day. In Jesus’ name, amen.