Who wrote Psalm 147 is again not known. However we can see it
contains a very good theme. Here, the Psalmist exhorts us to freely praise and
give thanks to the good God and the things He had done for us.
In verses 1-6 we see the first call to praise is raised. The Psalmist
begins the exhortation with the term Hallelujah which literally means praise
the Lord. The reasons given in these verses are two. Firstly, praise is not
only good and pleasant but the right and fitting thing for God’s people to do. Secondly,
it’s because of the things He has done for His people and is still doing. From
verses 2-6, the Psalmist shows us the many deeds of God. He gathers the outcasts
and builds Jerusalem. He heals the broken hearted. Verse 4 is probably a
reference to the promise God made to Abraham where He said that his descendants
would be as numerous as the stars in the sky. So to say that God counts the number
of stars is to say that He knows the number of Abraham’s descendants. And verse
6 says that God is wise and powerful and is ever ready to lift up the meek and
bring low the wicked.
Verses 7-11 issue the second exhortation to praise the Lord. The
Psalmist urged that praise and thanksgiving be offered with the lyre or the harp.
The key reason given in verses 8-11 is this: God is the provider and He sustains
not only the birds and the beast but especially His children. Especially those
who trust and fear Him, He will make it His business to provide and sustain them.
God never disappoints.
Verses 12-20 is the third call to praise. This is specially
addressed to Zion or Jerusalem and her people. This is probably a reference to
the exile who returned from captivity. God is seen to be the one who had
rebuilt Jerusalem and blessed the children of Jerusalem. He promoted her peace
and abundantly supplied for their material needs. Besides, He also revealed His
Word to them. This God had so favored Israel and her people in a way that He
had never done for other nations. No wonder the Psalmist rounds up with the final
call in the last line of verse 20 to Praise the Lord.
Whether we realize it or not, the God we serve delights in our
praise and thanksgiving. Thus it is good and fitting to offer praise and thanksgiving
to Him. And this very loving and merciful God is ever ready to provide for us,
His people, in all our needs. Hence it is wise for us to put our trust and set our
hope in Him. He truly is the source of our life! Praise the Lord!
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