Psalms 147

1 Praise the Lord. How good it is to sing praises to our God! How pleasant and right it is to praise him!

2 The LORD builds up Jerusalem. He gathers the scattered people of Israel.

3 He heals those who have broken hearts. He takes care of their wounds.

4 He decides how many stars there should be. He gives each one of them a name.

5 Great is our Lord. His power is mighty. There is no limit to his understanding.

6 The LORD gives strength to those who aren't proud. But he throws evil people down to the ground.

7 Sing to the LORD and give thanks to him. Make music to our God on the harp.

8 He covers the sky with clouds. He supplies the earth with rain. He makes grass grow on the hills.

9 He provides food for the cattle. He provides for the young ravens when they cry out.

10 He doesn't take pleasure in the strength of horses. He doesn't take delight in the strong legs of men.

11 The LORD takes delight in those who have respect for him. They put their hope in his faithful love.

12 Jerusalem, praise the Lord. Zion, praise your God.

13 He makes the bars of your gates stronger. He blesses the people who live inside you.

14 He keeps your borders safe and secure. He satisfies you with the finest wheat.

15 He sends his command to the earth. His word arrives there quickly.

16 He spreads the snow like wool. He scatters the frost like ashes.

17 He throws down his hail like small stones. No one can stand his icy blast.

18 He gives his command, and the ice melts. He stirs up his winds, and the waters flow.

19 He has made his word known to the people of Jacob. He has made his laws and rules known to Israel.

20 He hasn't done that for any other nation. They don't know his laws. Praise the Lord.

Psalms 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.