Psalms 147:19

19 (147-8) Who declareth his word to Jacob: his justices and his judgments to Israel.

Psalms 147:19 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 147:19

He showeth his word unto Jacob
From the things of nature and providence, the psalmist passes to the blessings of grace and goodness; for which the Lord is to be praised, particularly for his word and ordinances. The Targum interprets this of the words of the law; and indeed the law, or decalogue, was given only to the Israelites, the posterity of Jacob; as also the ceremonial and judicial laws; and even the whole Scripture, the oracles of God, were committed to them in a very peculiar manner: all which distinguished them from the Gentiles, and gave them the preference to them; see ( Deuteronomy 4:6-8 ) ( Romans 3:1 Romans 3:2 ) ( 9:4 ) . But the Gospel part of the word is also included; the word of grace, peace, reconciliation, righteousness, eternal life, and salvation, which was first published to the Jews: it was "shown" unto them, for it cannot be known by any without a revelation; the Gospel, and the things of it, are hidden things to natural men, and could never have been discerned by any, had they not been shown by the Lord; as they are externally in the ministration of the word, and internally and effectually by the Spirit of God; who is the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of divine things;

his statutes and his judgments unto Israel;
the ordinances of divine worship under the former dispensation, which were peculiar to literal Israel; and those of the Gospel dispensation, which belong to the spiritual Israel, Jews and Gentiles; and which are shown and directed to in the word, to be observed by them; and both the Gospel and the ordinances of it are instances of divine favour, for which the Lord is to be praised.

Psalms 147:19 In-Context

17 (147-6) He sendeth his crystal like morsels: who shall stand before the face of his cold?
18 (147-7) He shall send out his word, and shall melt them: his wind shall blow, and the waters shall run.
19 (147-8) Who declareth his word to Jacob: his justices and his judgments to Israel.
20 (147-9) He hath not done in like manner to every nation: and his judgments he hath not made manifest to them. Alleluia.
The Douay-Rheims Bible is in the public domain.