Read Psalm 147
Psalm 147 is the second of five songs called the “Hallelujah Psalms.” Psalms 146-150- the last five songs of the Psalter- are a great chorus of praise to the Lord. Hallelu Yah.
Hallelu (Praise) Yah (Yahweh shortened- or the “LORD” in all caps).
In some Bible translations, Psalm 147 is titled. He Heals the Brokenhearted (ESV); Praise for Jerusalem’s Restoration and Prosperity (NASB); Praise to God for His Word and Providence (NKJV); and Praise God Who Helps His People (ICB), among others.
Some scholars see the author as David’s hand, maybe after bringing the ark of the covenant into Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6). Others see a later date, possibly when Cyrus the king of Persia helped the Israelites return to Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile (Ezra). But, again, God did not record an author or time period. So, all there is to do is praise the Lord.
Psalm 147 begins and ends with Hallelu Yah.
Praise the LORD! How good to sing praises to our God! How delightful and how fitting! Psalm 147:1 NLT Halleluyah! How good it is to sing praises to our God! How sweet, how fitting to praise him! Psalm 147:1 Complete Jewish Bible
The psalmist begins with praising God for the provision of His people- the Israelites, and their home- Zion or Jerusalem.
The LORD is rebuilding Jerusalem and bringing the exiles back to Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds. He counts the stars and calls them all by name. How great is our Lord! His power is absolute! His understanding is beyond comprehension! The LORD supports the humble, but he brings the wicked down into the dust. Psalm 147:2-6 NLT
In the psalmist’s day, God is gathering His children and bringing them home to the tabernacle or temple to fellowship and worship together once again. At this time, the people see His hand in the re-building of their home physically as well as spiritually. They feel His presence and His strength.
God rebuilds walls and heals at the same time. As He brings His children home, He heals their hurts. God teaches us that there is peace and healing within a community of believers gathered together in worship of Him.
What a beautiful picture this psalm paints for us today. Today, God builds His church, and He calls His children home, into the church where He still heals their broken hearts and bandages their wounds. Do you have pain in your life right now? God is with you now, but amongst a community of believers fellowshipping together in a church, something amazing happens. Have you experienced this? This is what God wants for you.
the Lord is not only a Builder, but a Healer; he restores broken hearts as well as broken walls.
Charles Spurgeon, English preacher, 1834-1892
The God of the universe cares about your broken heart. He cares about the things that hurt you.
Let me say this again: the God of the universe- who has names for all the stars- cares when you are hurting!
Our Lord is great and very powerful. There is no limit to what he knows (ICB).
Sing out your thanks to the LORD; sing praises to our God with a harp. He covers the heavens with clouds, provides rain for the earth, and makes the grass grow in mountain pastures. He gives food to the wild animals and feeds the young ravens when they cry. Psalm 147:7-10 NLT
Why should we praise the Lord? Because He’s the One who waters the earth. He makes the grass grow. He feeds the animals. He holds all of creation in the palm of His hand. Some might believe that everything around us works so efficiently by mere chance. But this is the Truth,
The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world and all who live in it. Psalm 24:1
See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands. Always in my mind is a picture of Jerusalem's walls in ruins. Isaiah 49:16 NLT
Do you ever worry about the future? Do not. God has written your name on His hands. He cannot forget you. He knows when the ravens need food; He has a name for all the stars. He remembers always when the people were far from home and the walls of His great city were in ruins. He has your name on His hands!
He never forgets you. He never stops thinking about you. You are that important to Him.
And this is why we sing God’s praise. Hallelu Yah.
He takes no pleasure in the strength of a horse or in human might. No, the LORD's delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love. Glorify the LORD, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion! Psalm 147:10-12 NLT
God does not need your strength or might. Instead, He wants your devotion- He wants you to fear Him and hope in His unfailing love. These are two attributes of the Lord that are hard for us to understand. Fear of the Lord and His unfailing love.
To fear the Lord is equal parts actual fear of the God who created the universe and awe of Him as our loving Father. The Being who created all and holds all in His mighty hands now sits next to you and knows you.
His unfailing love (hesed/chesed in Hebrew) translated as grace, steadfast love, mercy, constant love, lovingkindness, faithfulness, or faithful love. Hesed (God’s love) is as hard to understand as it is to translate.
Sometimes these things about God are easier to believe than they are to explain in words.
Glorify the LORD, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion! For he has strengthened the bars of your gates and blessed your children within your walls. He sends peace across your nation and satisfies your hunger with the finest wheat. He sends his orders to the world- how swiftly his word flies! He sends the snow like white wool; he scatters frost upon the ground like ashes. He hurls the hail like stones. Who can stand against his freezing cold? Then, at his command, it all melts. He sends his winds, and ice thaws. Psalm 147:12-18 NLT
The people are returning home, and God is protecting the city. There are bars and gates, but the Lord fortifies them. No longer will He allow evil inside. He sends peace, He satisfies all their needs.
The psalmist lists four things here that God does for His people, and four reasons to praise. Hallelu Yah.
- He provides protection
- He blesses the children
- He brings peace
- He provides sustenance
While the angel who was speaking to me was leaving, another angel came to meet him and said to him: "Run, tell that young man, 'Jerusalem will be a city without walls because of the great number of people and animals in it. And I myself will be a wall of fire around it,' declares the LORD, 'and I will be its glory within.' Zechariah 2:3-5
God is a wall of fire around His people and the city’s glory within.
And God does all these things with just a Word. Just a Word from God flies across the earth, swiftly moves across the land. He sends snow and frost. Hurls hail. Then just a Word from His mouth and a wind melts the cold and new life begins. Fear the Lord- equal parts complete terror at His mighty power . . . and awe at how He loves us. His great power creates a storm and then calms it, but He deeply loves His children. He knows each of them by name.
Your name is written on His hand.
Do you know God in this way?
You can know God in this way. He wants to know you and you know Him. It’s not hard, just like building a friendship. Spend time reading His Word and telling Him what’s on your heart.
He has revealed his words to Jacob, his decrees and regulations to Israel. He has not done this for any other nation; they do not know his regulations. Praise the LORD! Psalm 147:19-20 NLT He reveals his words to Ya'akov, his laws and rulings to Isra'el. He has not done this for other nations; they do not know his rulings. Halleluyah! Tehillim (Psalm) 147:19-20 Complete Jewish Bible
God chose His people, Israel, to bring His love and Word to all people. He chose Israel to be the guardians and protectors of His revealed Word, and the line of Abraham to lead eventually to Jesus.
First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God. Romans 3:2b
My friend, never doubt that God chose you to know Him. He chose you before you were even born to be His child, to receive His mercy and love. He will not force you. You must choose for yourself. He is not a Creator programmer God who forces His creation to love Him. He gave us free will. He gave us a choice. But He chose you.
Choose today to sing Hallelu Yah for that very thing, that God chose you.
He who causes summer to come in the place of winter has also removed the coldness of death from our hearts by the power of his word, and this is abundant cause for singing unto his name.
Charles Spurgeon, English preacher, 1834-1892
We end where we began, Praise the LORD. Hallelu Yah.
Father in heaven, thank you for this beautiful little song. Thank you for choosing us as your children. Thank you for your word and for sending Jesus. Father, if there is anyone who reads my words but does not know you, please soften their heart to your love and reveal yourself to them. Thank you for your faithfulness. Amen.
Heidi xoxo