American King James Version - AKJV - 1999
Psalm 147
1
Praise you the LORD: for it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.
2
The LORD does build up Jerusalem: he gathers together the outcasts of Israel.
3
He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds.
4
He tells the number of the stars; he calls them all by their names.
5
Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.
6
The LORD lifts up the meek: he casts the wicked down to the ground.
7
Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise on the harp to our God:
8
Who covers the heaven with clouds, who prepares rain for the earth, who makes grass to grow on the mountains.
9
He gives to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.
10
He delights not in the strength of the horse: he takes not pleasure in the legs of a man.
11
The LORD takes pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.
12
Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Zion.
13
For he has strengthened the bars of your gates; he has blessed your children within you.
14
He makes peace in your borders, and fills you with the finest of the wheat.
15
He sends forth his commandment on earth: his word runs very swiftly.
16
He gives snow like wool: he scatters the hoarfrost like ashes.
17
He casts forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold?
18
He sends out his word, and melts them: he causes his wind to blow, and the waters flow.
19
He shows his word to Jacob, his statutes and his judgments to Israel.
20
He has not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise you the LORD.
Summary of Psalm 147
Psalm 147 is a hymn about God's power to restore, heal, provide, and guide His people. It combines two seemingly different subjects: God's control over the entire natural world and His special relationship with Israel. Together, these themes show that the same God who governs the stars, weather, animals, and seasons also cares about individual people and the community of His people.
The psalm begins by saying that praising the LORD is good and appropriate. The writer then immediately presents God as a restorer. He builds Jerusalem and gathers scattered Israelites. This suggests a community that has experienced loss and separation but is now being brought back together.
The next verse makes the message personal. God heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Restoration is therefore not limited to buildings, cities, or nations. God also cares about the inner wounds of people who have suffered.
The psalm then looks upward to the heavens. God knows the number of stars and calls them by name. This is a powerful picture of God's enormous knowledge. The universe is vast beyond human understanding, yet God knows it completely.
The writer then contrasts God's power with human pride. God lifts up the humble and brings down the wicked. He does not measure people according to the standards human societies often use. Military strength, physical power, and impressive resources do not determine a person's value before God.
This idea becomes especially clear when the psalm says that God does not take pleasure simply in the strength of horses or the physical power of people. In the ancient world, horses represented military power and wealth. A powerful army could appear almost unstoppable. Yet the psalm reminds the reader that God is not impressed by military strength.
Instead, God delights in those who fear Him and hope in His mercy.
The psalm then turns toward nature. God provides rain, causes grass to grow, and feeds animals. The writer sees the ordinary processes of nature as evidence of God's continuing care. Even the ravens, which might seem insignificant, receive food from Him.
The second half of the psalm returns specifically to Jerusalem and Israel. Jerusalem is called to praise God because He strengthens its gates, blesses its children, gives peace to the city, and provides abundant food.
These descriptions strongly emphasize restoration and stability. A strong city, healthy families, peace, and sufficient food represent the rebuilding of a community after devastating experiences.
The chapter then describes God's command over winter. Snow, frost, hail, ice, and cold all appear under His authority. When God sends His word, the weather changes. The message is that creation does not operate outside God's control.
Finally, the psalm moves from God's word to God's revealed instruction. The LORD has given His laws and judgments to Israel. This is presented as a special privilege. Israel has received knowledge of God's will and therefore has both a blessing and a responsibility.
The overall movement of Psalm 147 is:
praise ? restoration ? healing ? God's unlimited knowledge ? justice ? provision ? humility ? Jerusalem's restoration ? control of nature ? God's revealed word.
The chapter connects God's care for creation with His care for His people. The God who knows every star also knows the brokenhearted. The God who controls rain and snow also provides food for His people. The God who governs the universe also gives His people guidance through His word.
One of the most encouraging messages of the chapter is that God's greatness does not make Him distant. His power over the universe is precisely what makes His ability to restore and protect His people so meaningful.
Psalm 147 also reminds us that human strength is not the ultimate source of security. Horses, armies, walls, wealth, and physical power can all fail. God's people are called instead to trust Him, respect Him, and hope in His mercy.
Overall, Psalm 147 teaches that God is powerful enough to govern creation, compassionate enough to heal broken hearts, faithful enough to restore His people, and wise enough to guide them through His word.
The chapter ends by emphasizing Israel's special relationship with God. The people have received His instructions and therefore have a responsibility to live according to them. The appropriate response to God's restoration, provision, and revelation is thanksgiving and praise.
The psalm begins by saying that praising the LORD is good and appropriate. The writer then immediately presents God as a restorer. He builds Jerusalem and gathers scattered Israelites. This suggests a community that has experienced loss and separation but is now being brought back together.
The next verse makes the message personal. God heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Restoration is therefore not limited to buildings, cities, or nations. God also cares about the inner wounds of people who have suffered.
The psalm then looks upward to the heavens. God knows the number of stars and calls them by name. This is a powerful picture of God's enormous knowledge. The universe is vast beyond human understanding, yet God knows it completely.
The writer then contrasts God's power with human pride. God lifts up the humble and brings down the wicked. He does not measure people according to the standards human societies often use. Military strength, physical power, and impressive resources do not determine a person's value before God.
This idea becomes especially clear when the psalm says that God does not take pleasure simply in the strength of horses or the physical power of people. In the ancient world, horses represented military power and wealth. A powerful army could appear almost unstoppable. Yet the psalm reminds the reader that God is not impressed by military strength.
Instead, God delights in those who fear Him and hope in His mercy.
The psalm then turns toward nature. God provides rain, causes grass to grow, and feeds animals. The writer sees the ordinary processes of nature as evidence of God's continuing care. Even the ravens, which might seem insignificant, receive food from Him.
The second half of the psalm returns specifically to Jerusalem and Israel. Jerusalem is called to praise God because He strengthens its gates, blesses its children, gives peace to the city, and provides abundant food.
These descriptions strongly emphasize restoration and stability. A strong city, healthy families, peace, and sufficient food represent the rebuilding of a community after devastating experiences.
The chapter then describes God's command over winter. Snow, frost, hail, ice, and cold all appear under His authority. When God sends His word, the weather changes. The message is that creation does not operate outside God's control.
Finally, the psalm moves from God's word to God's revealed instruction. The LORD has given His laws and judgments to Israel. This is presented as a special privilege. Israel has received knowledge of God's will and therefore has both a blessing and a responsibility.
The overall movement of Psalm 147 is:
praise ? restoration ? healing ? God's unlimited knowledge ? justice ? provision ? humility ? Jerusalem's restoration ? control of nature ? God's revealed word.
The chapter connects God's care for creation with His care for His people. The God who knows every star also knows the brokenhearted. The God who controls rain and snow also provides food for His people. The God who governs the universe also gives His people guidance through His word.
One of the most encouraging messages of the chapter is that God's greatness does not make Him distant. His power over the universe is precisely what makes His ability to restore and protect His people so meaningful.
Psalm 147 also reminds us that human strength is not the ultimate source of security. Horses, armies, walls, wealth, and physical power can all fail. God's people are called instead to trust Him, respect Him, and hope in His mercy.
Overall, Psalm 147 teaches that God is powerful enough to govern creation, compassionate enough to heal broken hearts, faithful enough to restore His people, and wise enough to guide them through His word.
The chapter ends by emphasizing Israel's special relationship with God. The people have received His instructions and therefore have a responsibility to live according to them. The appropriate response to God's restoration, provision, and revelation is thanksgiving and praise.