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Psalm 147

Praise for God’s Care for Jerusalem

1

Praise the L ord!

How good it is to sing praises to our God;

for he is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting.

2

The L ord 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 L ord lifts up the downtrodden;

he casts the wicked to the ground.

 

7

Sing to the L ord with thanksgiving;

make melody to our God on the lyre.

8

He covers the heavens with clouds,

prepares rain for the earth,

makes grass grow on the hills.

9

He gives to the animals their food,

and to the young ravens when they cry.

10

His delight is not in the strength of the horse,

nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner;

11

but the L ord takes pleasure in those who fear him,

in those who hope in his steadfast love.

 

12

Praise the L ord, O Jerusalem!

Praise your God, O Zion!

13

For he strengthens the bars of your gates;

he blesses your children within you.

14

He grants peace within your borders;

he fills you with the finest of 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 hail 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 ordinances to Israel.

20

He has not dealt thus with any other nation;

they do not know his ordinances.

Praise the L ord!


12. Celebrate Jehovah, O Jerusalem! Having spoken in general of the mercies of God, he again addresses his discourse to the Lord’s people, who alone, as we have remarked already, can appreciate them, calling upon them to recognize with thanksgiving the blessings which others riot upon without acknowledgment. Under the name of Jerusalem, he comprises the whole Church, for in that place the faithful then held their religious assemblies, and flowed together as it were to the standard of the Lord. Although he will take occasion afterwards again to speak of the government of the world at large, he here commemorates the goodness of God as manifested to his own people, in protecting his own Church, bountifully cherishing it, enriching it abundantly with all blessings, and preserving it in peace and safety from all harm. When he says that the bars of the gates are strengthened by God, he means that the holy city was perfectly guarded by him from all fear of hostile attack. To the same effect is the other expression which comes after — that all its bounds were made peace Enemies were under divine restraint so as to cause no disturbance or confusions. Not that the Church is always in a state of peace throughout its whole extent, and exempt from attack, but that God in a visible manner stretches forth his hand to repel these assaults, and it can securely survey the whole array of its enemies. A more extensive meaning indeed may be given to the term peace, which is often taken to signify a happy and prosperous condition. But as mention is made of bounds, the former sense seems most appropriate. The blessing of God enjoyed within is next spoken of, consisting in this, that the citizens dwell prosperously and happily in it, and are fed bountifully, even to satiety; which does not mean that the children of God always wallow in abundance. This might be the means of corrupting them, prone as our nature is to wantonness; but it suggests that they recognize the liberality of God in their daily food more clearly than others who want faith, and whom either abundance renders blind, or poverty vexes with deplorable anxiety, or covetousness inflames with a desire that never can be satisfied. God’s paternal favor was shown more particularly to our fathers under the law in the abundance of temporal provision, it being necessary to lead them forward to something higher by what was elementary.

15. While he sends forth, etc. He again touches upon some instances of the operation of God, everywhere to be seen in the system of nature. And as the changes which take place in the air, and upon the earth, and which should be considered evidences of his power, may perhaps be regarded by the world as the effect of chance, the Psalmist, before proceeding to speak of the snow, hoar frost, and ice, expressly declares, that earth is governed by his power and control. The sending forth of his word is nothing else than the secret influence by which he regulates and governs all things, for without his orders and appointment no movement could take place among the elements, nor could they be borne, now one way and now another, upon their own spontaneous impulse without his foregoing secret decree. He says, that his word runneth quickly, because, when once God has intimated his will, all things concur to carry it into effect. If we do not hold fast by this principle, however acutely we may investigate second causes, all our perspicacity will come to nothing. It is thus that Aristotle, for example, has shown such ingenuity upon the subject of meteors, that he discusses their natural causes most exactly, while he omits the main point of all, upon which the merest child, at least having any religion, has the superiority over him. He must have little discernment who, in the sudden snows and hoar-frosts, does not perceive how quickly the word of God runs. If, then, we would avoid a senseless natural philosophy, we must always start with this principle, that everything in nature depends upon the will of God, and that the whole course of nature is only the prompt carrying into effect of his orders. When the waters congeal, when the hail spreads through the air, and hoar frosts darken the sky, surely we have proof how effectual his word is. But if all these wonders produce no effect upon most men, at least the piercing cold which benumbs our bodies, should force us to recognize the power of God. When the heat of the sun scorches us in summer, and again, upon the succession of winter, all things are bound up, such a change as this, which must have appeared incredible had we not been accustomed to it, cries out loudly that there is a being who reigns above.


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