Psalms 147:11-20

11 The Lord takes pleasure in his worshippers, and in those whose hope is in his mercy.

12 Give praise to the Lord, O Jerusalem; give praise to your God, O Zion.

13 He has made strong the iron bands of your doors; he has sent blessings on your children inside your walls.

14 He gives peace in all your land, making your stores full of fat grain.

15 He sends out his orders to the earth; his word goes out quickly.

16 He gives snow like wool; he sends out ice-drops like dust.

17 He sends down ice like raindrops: water is made hard by his cold.

18 At the outgoing of his word, the ice is turned to water; when he sends out his wind, there is a flowing of waters.

19 He makes his word clear to Jacob, teaching Israel his laws and his decisions.

20 He has not done these things for any other nation: and as for his laws, they have no knowledge of them. Let the Lord be praised.

Psalms 147:11-20 Meaning and Commentary

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.