Psalms 147 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Psalm 147

He Heals the Brokenhearted

147:1   Praise the LORD!
  For it is good to sing praises to our God;
    for it is pleasant,¹ and a song of praise is fitting.
2   The LORD builds up Jerusalem;
    he gathers the outcasts of Israel.
3   He heals the brokenhearted
    and binds up their wounds.
4   He determines the number of the stars;
    he gives to all of them their names.
5   Great is our Lord, and abundant in power;
    his understanding is beyond measure.
6   The LORD lifts up the humble;²
    he casts the wicked to the ground.
7   Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving;
    make melody to our God on the lyre!
8   He covers the heavens with clouds;
    he prepares rain for the earth;
    he makes grass grow on the hills.
9   He gives to the beasts their food,
    and to the young ravens that cry.
10   His delight is not in the strength of the horse,
    nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,
11   but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him,
    in those who hope in his steadfast love.
12   Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem!
    Praise your God, O Zion!
13   For he strengthens the bars of your gates;
    he blesses your children within you.
14   He makes peace in your borders;
    he fills you with the finest of the wheat.
15   He sends out his command to the earth;
    his word runs swiftly.
16   He gives snow like wool;
    he scatters frost like ashes.
17   He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs;
    who can stand before his cold?
18   He sends out his word, and melts them;
    he makes his wind blow and the waters flow.
19   He declares his word to Jacob,
    his statutes and rules³ to Israel.
20   He has not dealt thus with any other nation;
    they do not know his rules.⁴
  Praise the LORD!

Footnotes

[1] 147:1 Or for he is beautiful
[2] 147:6 Or afflicted
[3] 147:19 Or and just decrees
[4] 147:20 Or his just decrees

Commentary

Wisdom and majesty and power of God.

v1: Praise to God is commended; it pleases God and it does us good; it is the right thing to do. See also v7, 12, where the psalmist calls us to praise God.

v2-6: God's power in different circumstances;

blessings upon Israel (v2);
He heals the broken-hearted (v3);
All the stars are His (v4) - does He not also know His people by name? (Matt 10.29-31);
He is mighty God (Job 36.5);
He exalts the humble (v6).

v7: Praise has to do with thanksgiving, for God is so great, and He has given us so much! We find that music can encourage praise; it lifts our hearts.

v8-9: God sustains all creation; we do well to recognise that we too are dependent upon Him. Both man and animals are dependent on God's provision. Even the raven, an unclean bird, has to look to God for his food.

v10-11: Man prefers force, God prefers faith. His people are those who put their trust in Him, and who fear Him.

v12-14: Israel had been specially blessed by God, and had a special responsibility to praise God. He strengthens, He blesses, He grants peace, He satisfies; not just past blessings, but present and on going experiences.

v15-18: God at work in the world; the power of His word. We recognise His constant activity in His world.

v19-20: The privilege of the nation of Israel; set apart by God from all other nations. The nation had heard His word.