Tehillim 147

1 47 Praise ye Hashem: for it is tov to sing praises unto Eloheinu; for it is na’im (pleasant); and tehillah is fitting.

2 Hashem is the Boneh Yerushalayim (builder of Jerusalem): He gathereth together the nidkhei Yisroel (the outcasts Of Israel, those of the Golus).

3 He is the Rofeh (healer) of the Shevurei-lev (broken in heart), binds up their wounds.

4 He determines the mispar of the kokhavim; He calleth them all by their shemot.

5 Gadol is Adoneinu, and of rav ko’ach; to His tevunah (understanding, intelligence) there is no mispar (number, limit).

6 Hashem lifteth up the anavim (meek ones, humble ones); He casteth the resha’im down to the ground.

7 Sing unto Hashem with todah; make music upon the kinnor (harp) unto Eloheinu:

8 Who covereth Shomayim with clouds, Who prepareth matar (rainfall) for ha’aretz, HaMatzemi’ach (Who maketh to spring up) the khatzir (grass) upon the harim (hills, mountains).

9 He giveth to the behemah her lechem, and to the bnei orev (young ravens) when they cry out.

10 He delighteth not in the gevurat hasus: He taketh not pleasure in the shokayim of an ish (legs of a man).

11 Hashem taketh pleasure in them that fear Him, in those that hope in His chesed.

12 Praise Hashem, O Yerushalayim; praise thy G-d, O Tziyon.

13 For He hath strengthened the bars of thy she’arim (gates); He hath blessed thy banim within thee.

14 He granteth shalom within thy borders, and filleth thee with the chelev chittim (the finest of wheat).

15 He sendeth forth His imrah (command) upon eretz: His Devar runneth swiftly.

16 He giveth sheleg (snow) like tzemer (wool); He scattereth the kfor (frost) like ashes.

17 He casteth down His kerach (ice) like crumbs: who can stand before His cold?

18 He sendeth out His Devar, and melteth them: He causeth His ruach to blow, and the mayim to flow.

19 He declareth His Devar unto Ya’akov, His chukkot and His mishpatim unto Yisroel.

20 He hath not dealt so with any Goy (nation): and as for His mishpatim, they have not known them. Praise ye Hashem.

Tehillim 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.