Psalm 147:1-20

Cross-references For Better Understanding a Related Topics b Additional Materials c

Summary

• God heals, God provides, God governs the world and blesses us.

Details and/or Comments

• As with many other passages in Scripture, we read here about God's providential control over creation.

Scripture

Psalm 147:1-20

The God who understands and heals

Scripture Passage	Comments and Links
Psa 147:1 Praise Yah, for it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant and fitting to praise him.	Praise of God - not only a command, but also the most appropriate thing to do! Worship
Psa 147:2 Yahweh builds up Jerusalem. He gathers together the outcasts of Israel. Psa 147:3 He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds.	He builds us up and heals us. (This may have been written after the return from the exile.) Reversal of Circumstances
Psa 147:4 He counts the number of the stars. He calls them all by their names. Psa 147:5 Great is our Lord, and mighty in power. His understanding is infinite.	He has infinite comprehension and understanding. Example: knowing the names (significance) of each star. Omniscience Stars The Greatness of God
Psa 147:6 Yahweh upholds the humble. He brings the wicked down to the ground.	The God of justice who raises the humble and destroys the wicked. Justice - God's nature defines it. The Need for Humility - Such people are willing to admit their neediness. The Judgment of the Wicked

The God who provides for all his creatures

Scripture Passage	Comments and Links
Psa 147:7 Sing to Yahweh with thanksgiving. Sing praises on the harp to our God, Psa 147:8 who covers the sky with clouds, who prepares rain for the earth, who makes grass grow on the mountains. Psa 147:9 He provides food for the livestock, and for the young ravens when they call.	He sends rain to provide for the plants and animals. Rain Livestock - animals which are useful to humans; ravens - animals which seem to have no value to humans. God provides for both. Livestock Ravens - described as "crying out" (to God) for food.
Psa 147:10 He doesn't delight in the strength of the horse. He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man. Psa 147:11 Yahweh takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his loving kindness.	God's pleasure is not in those who boast of strength and power, but in those who fear him and who put their trust in him. Human Might (Strength and Power) Fear of God The Need to Trust God

The God who blesses abundantly, by means of his Word

Scripture Passage	Comments and Links
Psa 147:12 Praise Yahweh, Jerusalem! Praise your God, Zion! Psa 147:13 For he has strengthened the bars of your gates. He has blessed your children within you. Psa 147:14 He makes peace in your borders. He fills you with the finest of the wheat.	Praise the God who has blessed us. Blessings (and Their Nature)
Psa 147:15 He sends out his commandment to the earth. His word runs very swiftly. Psa 147:16 He gives snow like wool, and scatters frost like ashes. Psa 147:17 He hurls down his hail like pebbles. Who can stand before his cold? Psa 147:18 He sends out his word, and melts them. He causes his wind to blow, and the waters flow.	The "Word" by which God governs nature: His mighty word controls the weather (here focusing on frozen sources of water). Weather This "word" from God is related to the concept of "General Revelation." General Revelation
Psa 147:19 He shows his word to Jacob; his statutes and his ordinances to Israel. Psa 147:20 He has not done this for just any nation. They don't know his ordinances. Praise Yah!	The "Word" by which God redeems his people: He has given us his Law/Word. This is the greatest blessing of all! This "word" from God is related to the concept of "Special Revelation." Special Revelation The Word of God No other nation was given this redemptive Word. This means just what it says! Israel received this Word because of God's covenant promise to Abraham (their forefather), not because they deserved it more than any other nation. Abrahamic Covenant

Scripture Passages (Only books that have relevance to this study have active links. The others are in italics.) Genesis  •  Exodus  •  Leviticus  •  Numbers  •  Deuteronomy  •  Joshua  •  Judges  •  Ruth  •  1 Samuel  •  2 Samuel  •  1 Kings  •  2 Kings  •  1 Chronicles  •  2 Chronicles  •  Ezra  •  Nehemiah  •  Esther  •  Job  •  Psalms  •  Proverbs  •  Ecclesiastes  •  Song of Solomon  •  Isaiah  •  Jeremiah  •  Lamentations  •  Ezekiel  •  Daniel  •  Hosea  •  Joel  •  Amos  •  Obadiah  •  Jonah  •  Micah  •  Nahum  •  Habakkuk  •  Zephaniah  •  Haggai  •  Zechariah  •  Malachi Matthew  •  Mark  •  Luke  •  John  •  Acts  •  Romans  •  1 Corinthians  •  2 Corinthians  •  Galatians  •  Ephesians  •  Philippians  •  Colossians  •  1 Thessalonians  •  2 Thessalonians  •  1 Timothy  •  2 Timothy  •  Titus  •  Philemon  •  Hebrews  •  James  •  1 Peter  •  2 Peter  •  1 John  •  2 John  •  3 John  •  Jude  •  Revelation

—— To avoid any copyright issues, all Scripture is either from a public domain translation (such as the World English Bible), my own translation, or a combination of these. ——

The name "Yahweh," when present in an Old Testament passage, represents the Hebrew name for the God of the Bible.

Unless otherwise noted, all notes and comments are © by Dennis Hinks.