Trust is a part of everyday life…you cannot get away from it. When you sit down, you trust the chair to hold you. As you drive, you are trusting other drivers to stay in their lane and follow the rules. We trust our spouses and our friends.
We trust often, each day. Trust is a part of life. And even though we all have had our trust broken at times, we still have to trust – even when we don’t want to, or are afraid to trust. Our need is: knowing who to trust.
In Psalm 146, the psalmist makes it clear.
3 Do not trust in nobles, in man, who cannot save. 4 When his breath leaves him, he returns to the ground; on that day his plans die. 5 Happy is the one whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord His God.
Very clearly we are told who not to trust: nobles, or man. This is counter-intuitive; it certainly goes against what we see in society. The nobles are the highly placed and esteemed; the powerful, famous and wealthy in our world. They are the ones many people look to – trust in – for guidance, insight and answers.
Yet the psalmist says not to trust in these; and gives two reasons. First, they cannot save. When you need real help – effective assistance in a time of great need – these will not be there for you. Here’s a news flash: the powerful and wealthy in this world don’t know you, and truly don’t care. They certainly don’t mind espousing their opinions for everyone else’s consumption. But do you really think they care for you and the problems of your life?
And look at what the psalmist wrote. Even if they did care, they really have no adequate answer…they cannot save you! Why trust someone who cannot really help?
Second reason for not trusting the nobles is that they die! When they die all their great ideas and plans die with them (just like happens with regular folks). Why trust someone who will not be there for you all your life? Sooner or later, they are leaving this planet. What will you do then?
The psalmist has an answer. Instead of trusting in the temporal (temporary, bound in time on this earth as we are), trust in the Eternal! Read verse 5: “Happy (or blessed) is the one whose help is the God of Jacob.” The one who trust in God is happy because God can really help – indeed, He desires to; and He won’t let you down by leaving – He always will be here for you. Both verse 6 and verse 10 say that God is forever.
So the question is…are you trusting someone temporal, or are you trusting the One who is eternal?
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