Psalm 147: Verses 1-20

by Charlie Anthony Fink
(Frederick, MD, U.S.)

God heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds, as so when I'm brokenhearted, God binds up my wounds. Great is Jesus Christ, the Lord, that has "wisdom beyond measure." Jesus Christ, "the LORD sustains the poor, but casts the wicked to the ground," as so he sustains my uncle, but casts wicked people to the ground, as to make them trip or fall, etc. "The LORD sends a command to earth; his word runs swiftly!"

When God gave the ten commandments, he sends his commandments to the people of the earth, and so the word of God runs swiftly. Also, God's word, is a word as life-giving as water. For example, when God gives his word, most people obey it sometimes, from here and there, depending on what God wants them to do.

Another example is he doesn't want us to kill or steal, and most people obey that to an extent.

"God clothes the fields and feeds the birds," meaning he gives the fields crops in order for the farmers to grow and sell it, and the fields also provides fruit, vegetables, and pumpkins. This is also important: "Acknowledging one's dependence upon God rather than claiming self-sufficiency pleases God."

God, the creator, restores exiled Judah, which proves that he provides shelter and rebuilt even the exiled. "12 Glorify the LORD, Jerusalem; Zion, offer praise to your God, 13 Who has strengthened the bars of your gates, blessed your children within you, 14 Brought peace to your borders, and filled you with finest wheat," which means that God the creator (our creator) and Jesus Christ, the KING OF KINGS and the LORD OF LORDS, glorified the new Jerusalem, described in the book of Revelation, or also it could mean the old Jerusalem, described in the new testament when Jesus was alive.

Note that in Psalm 147: Verse 12 that it says Zion. This describes the specific place in Jerusalem, but still Zion, Jerusalem offers praise to God, who has strengthened the bars of its gates, just as God binds up the wounds of the brokenhearted.

God brought peace to the borders, which could only have been done by God and gives Zion, Jerusalem the finest wheat, as he gives us wheat.

Also, 16 Thus snow is spread like wool, frost is scattered like ash, 17 Hail is dispersed like crumbs; before such cold the waters freeze. 18 Again he sends his word and they melt; the wind is unleashed and the waters flow. 19 The LORD also proclaims his word to Jacob, decrees and laws to Israel. 20 God has not done this for other nations; of such laws they know nothing. Hallelujah!

This means that his words melt into our hearts and that Jesus, the Lord proclaims his word to Jacob, his decrees and laws to Israel. God hasn't done this for other nations, thus condoning that other nations have no knowledge of his laws. That why this part of proverbs in verse 20: Psalms 147 says "such laws they know nothing." Hallelujah! represents the thankfulness of all that God has done for us. Anyways, the whole Psalm goes like this:

1
Hallelujah! 1 How good to celebrate our God in song; how sweet to give fitting praise.

2
The LORD rebuilds Jerusalem, gathers the dispersed of Israel,

3
Heals the brokenhearted, binds up their wounds,

4
Numbers all the stars, calls each of them by name.

5
Great is our Lord, vast in power, with wisdom beyond measure.

6
The LORD sustains the poor, but casts the wicked to the ground.

7
Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; with the lyre celebrate our God,

8
Who covers the heavens with clouds, provides rain for the earth, makes grass sprout on the mountains,

9
Who gives animals their food and ravens what they cry for.

10
God takes no delight in the strength of horses, no pleasure in the runner's stride.

11
Rather the LORD takes pleasure in the devout, those who await his faithful care.

12
Glorify the LORD, Jerusalem; Zion, offer praise to your God,

13
Who has strengthened the bars of your gates, blessed your children within you,

14
Brought peace to your borders, and filled you with finest wheat.

15
The LORD sends a command to earth; his word runs swiftly!

16
Thus snow is spread like wool, frost is scattered like ash,

17
Hail is dispersed like crumbs; before such cold the waters freeze.

18
Again he sends his word and they melt; the wind is unleashed and the waters flow.

19
The LORD also proclaims his word to Jacob, decrees and laws to Israel.

20
God has not done this for other nations; of such laws they know nothing. Hallelujah!

Notice in verse 1 how it says that "How good to celebrate our God in song; how sweet to give fitting praise." This means that when we celebrate our God in song, that it's sweet to give him fitting praise.

My footnotes include the following quote (that I copied down from another website. That will be in my bibliography at the end):

Footnotes

1 Psalm 147 The hymn is divided into three sections by the calls to praise in Psalm 147:1; 7,12. The first section praises the powerful creator who restores exiled Judah (Psalm 147:1-6); the second section, the creator who provides food to animals and humans; the third and climactic section exhorts the holy city to recognize it has been re-created and made the place of disclosure for God's word, a word as life-giving as water.

2 8-9 God clothes the fields and feeds the birds. Cf Matthew 6:26, 30.

3 10-11 Acknowledging one's dependence upon God rather than claiming self-sufficiency pleases God. Cf Psalm 20:8; 33:16-19.

4 15-19 God speaks through the thunder of nature and the word of revealed law. Cf Isaiah 55:10-11. The weather phenomena are well known in Jerusalem: a blizzard of snow and hail followed by a thunderstorm that melts the ice."




Bibliography: http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/psalms/psalm147.htm