Psalms 147

1 (146-1) Alleluia. Praise ye the Lord, because psalm is good: to our God be joyful and comely praise.

2 (146-2) The Lord buildeth up Jerusalem: he will gather together the dispersed of Israel.

3 (146-3) Who healeth the broken of heart, and bindeth up their bruises.

4 (146-4) Who telleth the number of the stars: and calleth them all by their names.

5 (146-5) Great is our Lord, and great is his power: and of his wisdom there is no number.

6 (146-6) The Lord lifteth up the meek, and bringeth the wicked down even to the ground.

7 (146-7) Sing ye to the Lord with praise: sing to our God upon the harp.

8 (146-8) Who covereth the heaven with clouds, and prepareth rain for the earth. Who maketh grass to grow on the mountains, and herbs for the service of men.

9 (146-9) Who giveth to beasts their food: and to the young ravens that call upon him.

10 (146-10) He shall not delight in the strength of the horse: nor take pleasure in the legs of a man.

11 (146-11) The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him: and in them that hope in his mercy.

12 (147-1) Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem: praise thy God, O Sion.

13 (147-2) Because he hath strengthened the bolts of thy gates, he hath blessed thy children within thee.

14 (147-3) Who hath placed peace in thy borders: and filleth thee with the fat of corn.

15 (147-4) Who sendeth forth his speech to the earth: his word runneth swiftly.

16 (147-5) Who giveth snow like wool: scattereth mists like ashes.

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.

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.