Psalms 147

Hallelujah. (See cxlvi.) St. Chrysostom and Theodoret think this Psalm hath respect to the return of the Jewish nation from the captivity of Babylon, and the instauration of Jerusalem, t which followed upon it. And the second and thirteenth - verses may well incline us to be of the opinion, that it. was made by some holy man at that time (Haggai or Zechariah some ancient interpreters imagine; or rather Nehcmiah, who built the walls and set up the gates); especially if we observe, that there are some phrases in it which savour of the Chaldean language. And though this can be no more than a conjecture, yet it is very certain and evident, that, in that deliverance, God gave such illustrious proofs of his pow r er, wisdom, mercy, and justice, as the Psalmist here exhorts the people to celebrate with their thankful praises. I shall follow it therefore in my Paraphrase; it being reasonable to suppose that devout persons would be as forward to acknowledge the wonderful providence of God in their restoration, as they were to bewail (which they do, Psal. exxxvii.) the ruin of their country; and that posterity would be no less careful to preserve what was composed in memory of the one, than they had been to continue the memory of the other: and there is no Hymn we can find so suitable to that occasion as this. the walls of that city; but he hath settled all the country in peace: no enemy appearing to infest thy borders, and to disturb the husbandmen in their labours; which have produced so rich a crop, that plentiful provision is made for all our satisfaction. Vcr. 15. lie sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly.’] This we ought to ascribe to his merciful providence, who shews by the fruitful seasons he sends, after all things seem to be killed by a hard winter, that he doth not intend by our affliction to destroy us; and that ho can easily bring all our brethren hither who remain still in captivity: for when he would have any alteration made in the earth, it is done as speedily as we can speak. Vcr. 1G. He givetk snow like wool: he scattereth the m hoarfrost like ashes.] He sends, for instance, a sudden cold; which sometimes turns the moist vapours, in the air, into flakes of snow, to cover the earth as with a fleece of wool, and defend the corn from the biting winds; and sometimes into hoary frost, which he gently scatters. and strews, like ashes, upon the earth.. - It (loth not appear who was the author of this Hymn, nor upon what occasion it was composed. But the last verse sufficiently shews the nation was then in a very flourishing condition; and therefore probably it Mas J made by David, when God had given him rest from all his enemies: which filled his heart with such love to God, that it transported him into this rapture. Wherein, finding how short his own praises were, he wishes all creatures in heaven and earth would conspire in a sweet symphony, as Theodoict speaks, of singing hymns unto him, And first he calls upon the world above, and all that is therein, from the first verse to the seventh: where he descends to the world here below; and calls upon all things on the earth to praise the Lord; concluding (ver. 13.) that as there is one maker of both, so all that they can say of him, when they have joined all their powers together in one choir, falls infinitely short of his most excellent majesty: who hath set forth his most transcendent wisdom, power, and munificence, in such variety of stupendous work, that there is not the smallest of them, but ministers such matter of praise, nay admiration, to those that attentively consider them; that they cannot but wish with the Psalmist here, that every one of them were able to tell us how much skill and kindness he hath shewn in their contrivance; or that we were able to find it out, and comprehend it. Thus he is to be understood when he calls upon all creatures to praise the Lord; or it is as if he had said, the Lord is to be praised by, or in, all these things, as long as the world lasts. This I take to be the true account of this Psalm, which I refer to the times of David, because the two following seem to have been then made; and there is no other we can so well fix upon; unless we will conceive that it was a meditation, when they were perfectly settled in a peaceable enjoyment of their religion, after the captivity; of which there is not the least intimation of this Psalm.

Psalms 147:1

Jr RAISE ye the Lord: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely. 2 Let all the nations praise the Lord; who will send us new benefits when we arc truly thankful to him, our great benefactor, for the old: for it is a thing highly acceptable to him, as well as delightful to those who are employed therein, and best becomes us of all other things; there being nothing so decent as to see men grateful to him that hath obliged them. Jr RAISE ye the Lord. Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: praise him in the heights.] Let all creatures praise the Lord. First let the celestial choir begin, and sing their thankful hymns to him, who hath raised them so high above us in power and might, as well as in dignity and place. Vcr. 2* Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his f hosts.] Praise him all ye angels, who have’ the honour to be the prime ministers of his excellent majesty: O let their several hosts and companies, in whatsoever rank or order they stand, praise him whose sovereign authority commands them all.

Psalms 147:2

The Lord doth build up Jerusalem: he gather eth together the outcasts of Israel. To which we stand bound above all other men: for the Lord hath not only delivered us out of a sad captivity; but, in spite of all the opposition our enemies have made to it, (Ezra iv. 12.) hath raised Jerusalem out of its ruins; whereby he invites the rest of our brethren, who remained behind, to return to their own country, from whence they are expelled.

Psalms 147:3

He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. He comforts us after our long sorrows, which had, in a manner, broken our heart with grief and sadness; and hath, in some measure, repaired our breaches, which, like a festering wound, endangered the life of our nation. Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye< stars of light.] Praise him ye sun and moon, who are his greatest visible ministers, and unwearied in his service: praise him all the Test of the shining stars; and declare to all future generations, as ye have done for so many ages past, how glorious he is. Vcr. 4. Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.] Let all the heavenly regions praiso him: particularly the clouds, which hang in the air, and distil in fruitful showers to enrich the earth.

Psalms 147:4

He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names. Whom he knows how to gather, out of all their dispersions, and to find every one of them wheresoever they are, though as numerous as the stars of heaven: (Gen. xv. 5.) which he as directly and exactly understands (how confusedly soever they seem to us to be scattered in the sky), as we do those things which we call by their proper names.

Psalms 147:5

Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite. Let us not despair of it, for nothing is impossible with our Lord and governor: who is not like earthly kings, that rule over a few petty provinces, but the great Sovereign of the whole world; whose power and wisdom are so unlimited, that he is able to do whatever he pleases, and knows how to compass whatever he designs. Let thefn praise the name of.the Lord: for he commanded, and they were created.] Let all these set forth the adorable wisdom, and power, and goodness, of the Lord: for by his omnipotent word, these, whom the mistaken world calls gods, were created; not to bo worshipped, but perpetually to proclaim his praise. Vcr. C. He hath also established them for ever and ever:

Psalms 147:6

The Lord lifteth up the meek: he cast eth the icicked down to the ground. And doth not, because he is so great, despise the afflicted; but, if they meekly commit’ themselves to his care, will raise them up to a better condition; and throw down the mightiest princes that proudly oppress them as low as the very ground. ■

Psalms 147:7

Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God. Celebrate therefore with your thankful songs (you cannot make a less return unto him) this infinite power, and wisdom, and goodness: begin now, with the usual instruments of music, to sing hymns of praise unto our God, for all his benefits.

Psalms 147:8

Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepdreth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains. Particularly for the great plenty he hath given us by his almighty goodness: (Haggai ii. 1.) which, shews itself, first in raising vapours from the earth; and then turning them into clouds", wherewith he covers the face of heaven; and then bringing forth rain out of those clouds: which he sends back to the earth again; and makes not only the green pastures but the parched mountains and desert places become fruitful.

Psalms 147:9

He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry. By which wonderful providence he provides food even for the wild goats, and such-like beasts, that live upon the top of craggy rocks: for he neglects not the vilest* creatures, but satisfies the hunger of the young ravens; though it be so ravenous, that they are continually crying for new supplies.'

Psalms 147:10

He delighteth not in the strength of the horse; he taketh % not pleasure in the legs of man. Let us not doubt, then, but he that takes care of crows, will much more take" care of us; and not be afraid, though we are of little force, (Neh. iv. 3, 4. vii. 4.) and have no armies of horse and foot to defend us: for the Lord (who fights for us, Nehem. iv. 20.) hath no need of these; and will not take part with our enemies, because they are superior to us in the strength of their horses, and the nimbleness of their soldiers.

Psalms 147:11

The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy. But delights to give those his assistance and protection, who, worshipping him devoutly, fear to offend him; and having no help in themselves, nor any earthly refuge to fly unto, depend uotwith- " standing with a steadfast faith on his infinite mercy.

Psalms 147:12

Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, OZion. Praise the Lord, O ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; sing joyful hymns unto your God, O ye people of Zion, (Nehem. xii. 27. 31. 40. 43.) who have seen this truth abundantly demonstrated in your days.

Psalms 147:13

For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee. For he hath made this city, which was lately without walls and gates, so strong a place, that no enemy dare kssault it, (Nehem. vi. 14 — lG.)and hath increased the number of thy citizens, which were but few, (vii. 4. xi. 1, 2.) by the manifold blessings he hath poured on them.

Psalms 147:14

lie maketh peace in thy borders, andfilleth thee with the finest of the wheat. Which arc not confined within

Psalms 147:17

He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold?. And sometimes congeals them into ice; which he breaks into bits, and throws down in violent hail; accompanied with such extremity of cold, that neither man nor beast, nor the fishes in the ponds and rivers, are able long to endure it. Ver. 1§. He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow,and the waters flow.] But then, to prevent the hurt that might ensue by its continuance, he issues forth another command, which as suddenly (vcr.15.) makes a thaw; and, by the warm breath of softer winds, loosens the waters which were bound up, and causes them to flow again.

Psalms 147:19

He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. In such things as these the whole world see how. powerful and how good he is: but we have more peculiar reasons to depend upon him, for a happy return of our nation; whom he doth not teach merely by the snow, the hoar-frost, and the ice"; but by another sort of word thau that which sends them upon the earth: (ver. 15.) even by his ten commandments delivered from heaven, (Exod. xx. 1.) in a most glorious and astouishing manner, (ver. 18.) and by laws of all sorts, which he hath given us for the government of our life.

Psalms 147:20

He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the Lord. This is a privilege which no other nation in the world enjoys, (Deut. iv. 32, 33.) For though they all receive the showers and snow out of the clouds, yet laws from thence they have no acquaintance withal. Therefore let not ns dishonour him so much as to distrust his providence; but continually praise the Lord, and acknowledge his bounty to us. PSALM CXLVTII. Hallelujah. (See cxlvi.)