Psalms 147
FBMeyerPsalms 147:1-11
Why We Praise the Lord Psalms 147:1-11 It has been supposed that this psalm was prepared for use when the new walls of the city were completed in the days of Nehemiah. It contains a further enumeration of God’ s present tenses. The psalmist never tires of celebrating the immediateness of God. He will not tolerate the intervention of second causes, which are the artifice of scientific explanation. Laws are, after all, only the convenient statement of the regularity of God’ s methods. The couplets of this psalm are amazingly suggestive.
By contrast they complete each other. God builds up the great city of Jerusalem, but His heart goes out to the individual prodigal. He is equally at home in the hospital where broken hearts congregate, and among the stars, which He names and counts as a shepherd His flock. He upholds the meek and overthrows the proud. Spring, with its clouds and rain and sprouting grass, is His work; but so also the wild life of the forest, with its beasts and birds. He has no such delight in athletic strength or speed as He has in the reverent worship of His people.
There is a perfect balance and rhythm in God’ s nature.
It is good to sing praises! It is supposed that this Psalm dates from the re-establishment of Jerusalem (Psalms 147:2), and the re-building of its wails (Psalms 147:13). It might have been composed for the occasion mentioned in Nehemiah 12:27.
Psalms 147:1. Praise ye the Lord! Heb. “Hallelujah!” Praise ye Jah! The first verse is compiled from three other Psalms: Psalms 92:1; Psalms 135:3; Psalms 33:1. The R.V. (marg.) Suggests a beautiful alternative reading: “For He is good; sing praises unto our God, for His is gracious.”
Psalms 147:2. The Lord doth build Though Nehemiah and his companions wrought, yet they realized that the Lord was the true builder (Zechariah 6:12; Matthew 16:18).
Psalms 147:3-4. He healeth the broken in heart Another of these marvellous contrasts. God of all the stars, yet healer of broken hearts, needing such gentle touches (Psalms 51:17; Isaiah 57:15; Isaiah 66:2). The Creator and Monarch is also Father. One “broken heart” is of more value than the stars. Bigness is not greatness.
Psalms 147:6. The Lord lifteth up the meek What reversals are here! Hannah and Mary and a host of saints have celebrated them in song (1 Samuel 2:7-8;Luke 1:48; Luke 1:51-53). And in our Lord there is the most notable example of all (Acts 5:30-31).
Psalms 147:8. Who covereth the heaven with clouds To the devout heart there are no second causes. God is all, and in all (Psalms 104:13-14).
Psalms 147:9. He giveth to the beast his food “Shall God give a ton of herrings to a whale for breakfast, and will He not care for me and my children?”
Psalms 147:10. He delighteth not in the strength of a horse These clauses represent the cavalry and infantry, on which nations are accustomed to rely. God’s deliverances are not given to these, but to those who trust Him utterly.
Psalms 147:14. He maketh peace Here is the hope of distracted communities. God is the great Peacemaker (Job 34:29; Proverbs 16:7). Psalms 147:15. He speaks His word runneth “He spake and it was done” (Psalms 33:9).
Psalms 147:16-17. He giveth snow The snow is like wool, not only because it is white, but because it acts as a blanket, and, being a non-conductor, conserves the latent heat of the soil. The hoar frost resembles the fine grey ash of wood burned in the open air. Who can stand before his cold? Think of the retreat from Moscow!
Psalms 147:18. He, melteth them “so it was on the day of Pentecost. The winter of spiritual captivity was thawed and dissolved by the soft breath of the Holy Ghost.” And such gracious spring-tides come to us all by the direct and sovereign grace of God (Sol. Son 2:11-12).
Psalms 147:19-20. He showeth his words We may plead for this–that He would manifest Himself and his Divine truth to us as He does not unto the world (John 14:22-23).
Psalms 147:12-20
Peace and Prosperity Psalms 147:12-20 From Psalms 147:12 on there is a more personal address to Jerusalem and Zion. The thee and thou justify the application of the psalm to the spiritual condition of the Church and the individual. God’ s work in nature illustrates His dealings with His children. Are we strengthened against temptation, as a city with bars and bolts, blessed with peace, and filled with the fine flour of gospel truth? It is because He hath so appointed it by His commandment and swiftly-running word. Is it winter, the air full of blinding snowflakes; rime everywhere, as if the frost-king had powdered the earth and bound the waters with His chain?
Be of good cheer; God is in it all. Winter is needed to pulverize the soil; but as soon as it has done its necessary work, the warm breath of His manifested love will breathe over desolations, and all the frost and snow will hasten to be gone. Will God give so much thought to garnishing the home in which His children live and neglect them? Besides, He has shown us so many wonderful judgments and such discoveries of His character, that He is pledged to us. Hallelujah!
It is good to sing praises! It is supposed that this Psalm dates from the re-establishment of Jerusalem (Psalms 147:2), and the re-building of its wails (Psalms 147:13). It might have been composed for the occasion mentioned in Nehemiah 12:27.
Psalms 147:1. Praise ye the Lord! Heb. “Hallelujah!” Praise ye Jah! The first verse is compiled from three other Psalms: Psalms 92:1; Psalms 135:3; Psalms 33:1. The R.V. (marg.) Suggests a beautiful alternative reading: “For He is good; sing praises unto our God, for His is gracious.”
Psalms 147:2. The Lord doth build Though Nehemiah and his companions wrought, yet they realized that the Lord was the true builder (Zechariah 6:12; Matthew 16:18).
Psalms 147:3-4. He healeth the broken in heart Another of these marvellous contrasts. God of all the stars, yet healer of broken hearts, needing such gentle touches (Psalms 51:17; Isaiah 57:15; Isaiah 66:2). The Creator and Monarch is also Father. One “broken heart” is of more value than the stars. Bigness is not greatness.
Psalms 147:6. The Lord lifteth up the meek What reversals are here! Hannah and Mary and a host of saints have celebrated them in song (1 Samuel 2:7-8;Luke 1:48; Luke 1:51-53). And in our Lord there is the most notable example of all (Acts 5:30-31).
Psalms 147:8. Who covereth the heaven with clouds To the devout heart there are no second causes. God is all, and in all (Psalms 104:13-14).
Psalms 147:9. He giveth to the beast his food “Shall God give a ton of herrings to a whale for breakfast, and will He not care for me and my children?”
Psalms 147:10. He delighteth not in the strength of a horse These clauses represent the cavalry and infantry, on which nations are accustomed to rely. God’s deliverances are not given to these, but to those who trust Him utterly.
Psalms 147:14. He maketh peace Here is the hope of distracted communities. God is the great Peacemaker (Job 34:29; Proverbs 16:7). Psalms 147:15. He speaks His word runneth “He spake and it was done” (Psalms 33:9).
Psalms 147:16-17. He giveth snow The snow is like wool, not only because it is white, but because it acts as a blanket, and, being a non-conductor, conserves the latent heat of the soil. The hoar frost resembles the fine grey ash of wood burned in the open air. Who can stand before his cold? Think of the retreat from Moscow!
Psalms 147:18. He, melteth them “so it was on the day of Pentecost. The winter of spiritual captivity was thawed and dissolved by the soft breath of the Holy Ghost.” And such gracious spring-tides come to us all by the direct and sovereign grace of God (Sol. Son 2:11-12).
Psalms 147:19-20. He showeth his words We may plead for this–that He would manifest Himself and his Divine truth to us as He does not unto the world (John 14:22-23).