Psalms 146:7

7 Who 1executes justice for the oppressed; Who 2gives food to the hungry. The LORD 3sets the prisoners free.

Psalms 146:7 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 146:7

Which executeth judgment for the oppressed
All judgment being committed to Christ as Mediator, he executes it on the behalf of his oppressed ones, and breaks in pieces their oppressors; being oppressed with sin, and lying under the power of it, he condemned it in his flesh, wrought out a righteousness to justify from it, and redeemed them from all their iniquities; being oppressed by Satan, and led captive by him, he took them as a prey from the mighty, and led captivity captive; and, when oppressed by the world, he is on their side and takes their part, and thoroughly pleads their cause, and suffers no weapon formed against them to prosper; and will before long destroy antichrist and his followers, and bring down his judgments on them, so that men of the earth shall no more oppress; and especially at the last judgment, he, the righteous Judge, will render tribulation to them that have troubled his people, and set the crown of righteousness on their heads; see ( Psalms 10:18 ) ( 72:4 ) ; which giveth food to the hungry:
in a literal sense he gave manna and quails to the hungry Israelites in the wilderness, fed five thousand with five loaves and two small fishes, and four thousand with seven loaves and a few fishes, when here on earth; and in a spiritual sense, to such as are in a starving and famishing condition, and hunger and thirst after righteousness, he gives himself, the bread of life, and his grace, the water of life; he gives them to eat of the hidden manna, and of the tree of life; he gives them his word, his Gospel, which is milk for babes and meat for strong men; he gives them his ordinances, which are a feast of fat things, and so he tills and satisfies their hungry souls; the Lord looseth the prisoners:
such as were bound by diseases and infirmities of body, he loosed in the days of his flesh here; and some that were held with the cords of death he raised from the dead, ( Luke 13:11 Luke 13:12 ) ( Matthew 11:5 ) ; and his people, who are in a spiritual sense prisoners of sin, Satan, and the law, being shut up and held under by them, he proclaims liberty to them, and the opening the prison to them that are bound; he opens the prison doors, and says to the prisoners, Go forth; he delivers them from the power of sin, the slavery of Satan, and the bondage of the law, and brings them into a state of liberty, ( Isaiah 61:1 ) ( 49:9 ) ; yea, all the prisoners in the grave he will loose at the last day; he has the key of hell and death, and will open those prisons and set them free; they shall come forth, some to the resurrection of life, and others to the resurrection of damnation.

Psalms 146:7 In-Context

5 How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, Whose hope is in the LORD his God,
6 Who made heaven and earth, The sea and all that is in them; Who keeps faith forever;
7 Who executes justice for the oppressed; Who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free.
8 The LORD opens the eyes of the blind; The LORD raises up those who are bowed down; The LORD loves the righteous;
9 The LORD protects the strangers; He supports the fatherless and the widow, But He thwarts the way of the wicked.

Cross References 3

  • 1. Psalms 103:6
  • 2. Psalms 107:9; Psalms 145:15
  • 3. Psalms 68:6; Isaiah 61:1
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