Here are some questions based on last Sunday’s sermon text (Psalm 146), in case they’re helpful to you for personal growth or group discussion…

• [1-2] The Psalmist commands his own soul to praise Yahweh, and then pledges to praise Yahweh “as long as I live… while I have my being.” Do you ever issue such commands to yourself? Why would you need to do such a thing? If you were to commit yourself to the praise of Yahweh as long as you live and have your being, how long would that be?

• [3-4] Yahweh alone is the King worthy of our unreserved trust (and praise). All other “very important people,” all earthly rulers, should not be trusted in such ultimate ways. In what ways are you tempted to place your trust, find your security, and invest your hope in earthly rulers? In what ways are you tempted to fear or demonize earthly rulers? What do your reactions to earthly rulers reveal about the state of your soul with regard to your relationship with Yahweh?

• There is one Son of Man in whom there is salvation, whose good plans are brought to fruition and whose kingly power is exercised most definitively in the very moment of his death. Compare and contrast the kingship of Jesus with the reign of earthly rulers. Are you satisfied with the kingship of Jesus? Do you trust that he is Lord, even if all the kingdoms of this world were arrayed against him and his people? What does his Lordship mean for your life? What does his Lordship mean for his people in a world like this?

• [5-7b] Yahweh helps undeserving people like Jacob. Yahweh doesn’t need first to take from his people in order to have something to give to them—he created all things out of nothing! Yahweh doesn’t flip-flop, he faithfully keeps his covenant promises forever. Yahweh doesn’t oppress his people, he gives them justice, and is able to care for those in need. How do you see this all worked out in the life of Yahweh-in-the-flesh, the Lord Jesus Christ?

• [7c-9] The King is close to those who are literally imprisoned, blind, refugees, widows, orphans, et cetera. He also says that these can describe us spiritually (for example, see the Beatitudes in Matthew 5). How might this list of the recipients of the King’s blessings describe you? Can you see yourself in this list? Do you distance yourself from people in this list?

• [10] The crucified, risen, and ascended King Jesus has been reigning for two thousand years, and is still just settling in, relatively speaking. He is unimpeachable, unhurried, unthreatened by the governments of this world. Where do you see his power exercised in the world? Do you testify to his reign by proclaiming him as King and exercising self-giving authority like his? Do you have non-Christian friends who understand that you believe Jesus to be King of heaven and earth?