Psalm 147

1 Lobet Jehova! Denn es ist gut, unseren Gott zu besingen; denn es ist lieblich, es geziemt sich Lobgesang.

2 Jehova baut Jerusalem, die Vertriebenen Israels sammelt er.

3 Der da heilt, die zerbrochenen Herzens sind, und ihre Wunden verbindet;

4 der da zählt die Zahl der Sterne, sie alle nennt mit Namen.

5 Groß ist unser Herr, und groß an Macht; seiner Einsicht ist kein Maß.

6 Jehova hält aufrecht die Elenden; er erniedrigt bis zur Erde die Gesetzlosen.

7 Stimmet Jehova einen Lobgesang an, singet Psalmen unserem Gott mit der Laute!

8 Ihm, der die Himmel mit Wolken bedeckt, der Regen bereitet für die Erde, der Gras sprossen läßt auf den Bergen;

9 der dem Vieh sein Futter gibt, den jungen Raben, die da rufen.

10 Er hat nicht Lust an der Stärke des Rosses, noch Gefallen an den Beinen des Mannes;

11 Jehova hat Gefallen an denen, die ihn fürchten, an denen, die auf seine Güte harren.

12 Rühme, Jerusalem, Jehova! Lobe, Zion, deinen Gott!

13 Denn er hat befestigt die Riegel deiner Tore, hat deine Kinder gesegnet in deiner Mitte;

14 Er, der Frieden stellt in deine Grenzen, dich sättigt mit dem Fette des Weizens;

15 der seinen Befehl auf die Erde sendet: sehr schnell läuft sein Wort;

16 der Schnee gibt wie Wolle, Reif wie Asche streut;

17 der sein Eis wirft wie Brocken: wer kann bestehen vor seinem Frost?

18 Er sendet sein Wort und schmelzt sie; er läßt seinen Wind wehen: es rieseln die Wasser.

19 Er verkündet Jakob sein Wort, Israel seine Satzungen und seine Rechte.

20 Keiner Nation hat er also getan; und die Rechte, sie haben sie nicht gekannt. Lobet Jehova!

Psalm 147 Commentary

Chapter 147

The people of God are exhorted to praise him for his mercies and care. (1-11) For the salvation and prosperity of the church. (12-20)

Verses 1-11 Praising God is work that is its own wages. It is comely; it becomes us as reasonable creatures, much more as people in covenant with God. He gathers outcast sinners by his grace, and will bring them into his holy habitation. To those whom God heals with the consolations of his Spirit, he speaks peace, assures them their sins are pardoned. And for this, let others praise him also. Man's knowledge is soon ended; but God's knowledge is a dept that can never be fathomed. And while he telleth the number of the stars, he condescends to hear the broken-hearted sinner. While he feeds the young ravens, he will not leave his praying people destitute. Clouds look dull and melancholy, yet without them we could have no rain, therefore no fruit. Thus afflictions look black and unpleasant; but from clouds of affliction come showers that make the soul to yield the peaceable fruits of righteousness. The psalmist delights not in things wherein sinners trust and glory; but a serious and suitable regard to God is, in his sight, of very great price. We are not to be in doubt between hope and fear, but to act under the gracious influences of hope and fear united.

Verses 12-20 The church, like Jerusalem of old, built up and preserved by the wisdom, power, and goodness of God, is exhorted to praise him for all the benefits and blessings vouchsafed to her; and these are represented by his favours in the course of nature. The thawing word may represent the gospel of Christ, and the thawing wind the Spirit of Christ; for the Spirit is compared to the wind, ( John 3:8 ) . Converting grace softens the heart that was hard frozen, and melts it into tears of repentance, and makes good reflections to flow, which before were chilled and stopped up. The change which the thaw makes is very evident, yet how it is done no one can say. Such is the change wrought in the conversion of a soul, when God's word and Spirit are sent to melt it and restore it to itself.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 147

This psalm is thought to be written by David, and according to Theodoret predicts the return of the Jews from Babylon, and the rebuilding of Jerusalem by Zerubbabel, which seems to be grounded on Ps 147:2; though the words there agree well enough with the times of David; hence the title in the Septuagint, Ethiopic, Arabic, and Syriac versions, and Apollinarius, is as the preceding; the Syriac adds,

``concerning Zerubbabel and Joshua the priest, and Ezra, who were solicitous and diligent in building Jerusalem.''

Aben Ezra and other Jewish writers think it foretells the future rebuilding of Jerusalem, and the restoration of the Jews from their present captivity, and refer it to the times of the Messiah; and so far it may be right, that it respects Christ and the praise of him, on account of his nature and works; and may take in the conversion of the Jews. It seems to be written by the same person, and on the same account, as the preceding psalm.