Psalm 147 Part 1
Good morning to all of our Readers.
The impact of COVID-19 around the world is growing more widespread. Although things seem to be better in China and South Korea this disease has spread to more than 100 nations.
I urge all of our Readers to make this concern a matter for prayer for all the people sickened by COVID-19. Let us pray together that our God will provide help to all those who are infected and that each nation will have the resources needed to deal with this crisis.
In times like these we must rely upon our Lord to sustain us and to guide us. Psalm 147 will help us do just that.
A call to praise and worship
Psalm 147:1 Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.
This lovely "halal" psalm begins with a call to praise Jehovah and for all voices to join in singing praises to Elohim. Praising God is something beautiful that we have the privilege to participate in. Praising is pleasant for our souls. It is the highest activity that man was created for.
Jehovah led His people home and rebuilt the Holy City.
Psalm 147:2-3 The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel. 3 He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
The Psalmist tells us that Jehovah built up Jerusalem. He gathered together all the outcasts of Israel. The Psalmist is writing after the Jews have returned from 70 years of captivity in Babylonia/Persia.
During the time of Ezra and Nehemiah the city was rebuilt and all of it was clearly by God.
We also see that Jehovah heals all those who have broken hearts and He binds up their wounds. It is a tender expression of our Father in heaven caring for the sheep of His pasture.
Numbering and naming all the stars & galaxies is a small task for Jehovah.
Psalm 147:4-5 He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names. 5 Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.
How vast is Jehovah? He knows the number of all the stars and planets. In fact, He gave each one a distinct name. How many stars are there in our Milky Way galaxy? Estimates range from 100 to 400 billion! Now, how many galaxies are there? Astronomers estimate as many as 100 billion galaxies full of stars and planets!
The vast God of eternity cares for the meek people on earth.
Psalm 147:6 The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.
Notice the quick change of focus from a vast God who has infinite understanding and who names all the planets, stars and constellations. This same vast God who can do such awe inspiring things cares about insignificant humans like you and me.
Jehovah lifts up the meek, those who are afflicted, oppressed or poor. He removes the weighty He loves us and cares for us. The other side of this aspect is that He will cast the wicked down to the ground.
Another call to praise Jehovah for His providential governing of life on earth.
Psalm 147:7-10 Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God: 8 Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains. 9 He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry. 10 He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.
Because of all these wonderful things that the Psalmist has told us about Jehovah he now leads us into more praising. Our voices and instruments should fully sound with His praises. Our hearts should be filled with overwhelming thanksgiving for who Jehovah is and all that He does for us.
Next, the Psalmist shows us that Jehovah governs the weather systems. He prepared the clouds and the water cycle so that all life can survive and prosper on the earth. He feeds birds and beasts alike and He is not impressed with the strength or man nor beast.
Thoughts to Ponder...
After almost 380 Bible lessons posted on this blog in the past year, we know that our gracious God is worthy of all the praise and adoration that we can offer.
We also know that Jehovah is the promise keeping, covenant keeping God. He always keeps His word and does what He said He will do. Israel experienced this when they returned to their beloved homeland after spending more than 7 decades as captives in a far off pagan land.
The vastness of Jehovah and His infinite power, knowledge and presence quickly boggles our minds. He named every star, sun, moon and constellation that exists today. He created them all. He governs them all with His laws of physics.
This same eternally vast God turns His gaze upon the meek people in the world. He cares for the widows and fatherless. He cares for the poor. He made provision for their care in His law. This means that He cares for each one of us and that thought should bring much comfort.
Last, we saw the providential care of Jehovah in creating the water cycle with rain, clouds and the life sustaining power that He uses for all life on earth.
All of these things are ample reasons for us to stop, reflect and bask in the grace, goodness and mercy of Jehovah. Such reflection will naturally cause each one of us to praise Him.
Bob
The impact of COVID-19 around the world is growing more widespread. Although things seem to be better in China and South Korea this disease has spread to more than 100 nations.
I urge all of our Readers to make this concern a matter for prayer for all the people sickened by COVID-19. Let us pray together that our God will provide help to all those who are infected and that each nation will have the resources needed to deal with this crisis.
In times like these we must rely upon our Lord to sustain us and to guide us. Psalm 147 will help us do just that.
A call to praise and worship
Psalm 147:1 Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.
This lovely "halal" psalm begins with a call to praise Jehovah and for all voices to join in singing praises to Elohim. Praising God is something beautiful that we have the privilege to participate in. Praising is pleasant for our souls. It is the highest activity that man was created for.
Jehovah led His people home and rebuilt the Holy City.
Psalm 147:2-3 The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel. 3 He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
The Psalmist tells us that Jehovah built up Jerusalem. He gathered together all the outcasts of Israel. The Psalmist is writing after the Jews have returned from 70 years of captivity in Babylonia/Persia.
During the time of Ezra and Nehemiah the city was rebuilt and all of it was clearly by God.
We also see that Jehovah heals all those who have broken hearts and He binds up their wounds. It is a tender expression of our Father in heaven caring for the sheep of His pasture.
Numbering and naming all the stars & galaxies is a small task for Jehovah.
Psalm 147:4-5 He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names. 5 Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.
How vast is Jehovah? He knows the number of all the stars and planets. In fact, He gave each one a distinct name. How many stars are there in our Milky Way galaxy? Estimates range from 100 to 400 billion! Now, how many galaxies are there? Astronomers estimate as many as 100 billion galaxies full of stars and planets!
The vast God of eternity cares for the meek people on earth.
Psalm 147:6 The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.
Notice the quick change of focus from a vast God who has infinite understanding and who names all the planets, stars and constellations. This same vast God who can do such awe inspiring things cares about insignificant humans like you and me.
Jehovah lifts up the meek, those who are afflicted, oppressed or poor. He removes the weighty He loves us and cares for us. The other side of this aspect is that He will cast the wicked down to the ground.
Another call to praise Jehovah for His providential governing of life on earth.
Psalm 147:7-10 Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God: 8 Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains. 9 He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry. 10 He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.
Because of all these wonderful things that the Psalmist has told us about Jehovah he now leads us into more praising. Our voices and instruments should fully sound with His praises. Our hearts should be filled with overwhelming thanksgiving for who Jehovah is and all that He does for us.
Next, the Psalmist shows us that Jehovah governs the weather systems. He prepared the clouds and the water cycle so that all life can survive and prosper on the earth. He feeds birds and beasts alike and He is not impressed with the strength or man nor beast.
Thoughts to Ponder...
After almost 380 Bible lessons posted on this blog in the past year, we know that our gracious God is worthy of all the praise and adoration that we can offer.
We also know that Jehovah is the promise keeping, covenant keeping God. He always keeps His word and does what He said He will do. Israel experienced this when they returned to their beloved homeland after spending more than 7 decades as captives in a far off pagan land.
The vastness of Jehovah and His infinite power, knowledge and presence quickly boggles our minds. He named every star, sun, moon and constellation that exists today. He created them all. He governs them all with His laws of physics.
This same eternally vast God turns His gaze upon the meek people in the world. He cares for the widows and fatherless. He cares for the poor. He made provision for their care in His law. This means that He cares for each one of us and that thought should bring much comfort.
Last, we saw the providential care of Jehovah in creating the water cycle with rain, clouds and the life sustaining power that He uses for all life on earth.
All of these things are ample reasons for us to stop, reflect and bask in the grace, goodness and mercy of Jehovah. Such reflection will naturally cause each one of us to praise Him.
Bob
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