“Praise the Lord!
For it is good to sing praises to our God;
For it is pleasant and praise is becoming.”

“The Lord builds up Jerusalem;
He gathers the outcasts of Israel.
He heals the brokenhearted
And binds up their wounds.
He counts the number of the stars;
He gives names to all of them.”

“Great is our Lord and abundant in strength;
His understanding is infinite.
The Lord supports the afflicted;
He brings the wicked down to the ground.”

“Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
Sing praises to our God on the lyre,
Who covers the heavens with clouds,
Who provides rain for the earth,
Who makes grass sprout on the mountains.
He gives to the animal its food,
And to the young ravens which cry out.”

“He does not delight in the strength of the horse;
He does not take pleasure in the legs of a man.
The Lord favors those who fear Him,
Those who wait for His faithfulness.”

“Praise the Lord, Jerusalem!
Praise your God, Zion!
For He has strengthened the bars of your gates;
He has blessed your sons within you.
He makes peace in your borders;
He satisfies you with the finest of the wheat.”

“He sends His command to the earth;
His word runs very swiftly.
He gives snow like wool;
He scatters the frost like ashes.
He hurls His ice as fragments;
Who can stand before His cold?
He sends His word and makes them melt;
He makes His wind blow, and the waters flow.”

“He declares His words to Jacob,
His statutes and His ordinances to Israel.
He has not dealt this way with any other nation;
And as for His ordinances, they have not known them.
Praise the Lord!”

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Context and Meaning

Psalm 147 is a hymn of restoration and thanksgiving likely written after Israel’s return from exile. It celebrates the Lord’s power in creation, His compassion for the brokenhearted, and His faithfulness to His covenant people.

The psalm intertwines God’s cosmic authority with His personal care—He both names the stars and binds up wounds. It also contrasts what God values: not human strength, but humble reverence and trust in His mercy.

Key Themes:

1. The Goodness of Praise: Worship is good, pleasant, and fitting (v. 1).
2. God Restores His People: He builds up and gathers the broken and outcast (v. 2–3).
3. God’s Power and Knowledge: He names the stars and sustains creation (v. 4–5).
4. God’s Care for the Humble: He supports the afflicted and resists the proud (v. 6).
5. God Provides for Creation: From clouds to creatures, He sustains all life (v. 7–9).
6. God’s Delight in Faithful Hearts: He takes pleasure in those who fear and trust Him (v. 10–11).
7. God’s Blessings on His People: He grants security, peace, and abundance (v. 12–14).
8. God’s Word Governs Creation and Covenant: His command controls nature and guides His people (v. 15–20).

Reflection and Impact

Psalm 147 shows that the same God who governs galaxies also heals hearts—His greatness never distances Him from His people:

• God restores the brokenhearted – “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (v. 3) reflects Isaiah 61:1: He binds up the brokenhearted and proclaims liberty to captives.
• God’s understanding is infinite – “His understanding is beyond measure” (v. 5) echoes Romans 11:33: His wisdom and knowledge are unsearchable.
• God sustains creation with His Word – “He provides rain and food” (v. 8–9) parallels Matthew 6:26: He feeds the birds of the air—how much more you!
• God delights in the humble, not the mighty – “He does not delight in the strength of the horse” (v. 10) recalls Micah 6:8: walk humbly with your God.
• God’s Word melts ice and hard hearts – “He sends His word and melts them” (v. 18) connects to Isaiah 55:11: His Word accomplishes what He pleases.

Application

• Praise God Daily: Worship is not only right—it’s good for your soul.
• Find Comfort in His Care: The Creator of stars cares for your wounds.
• Rest in His Understanding: You may not see the plan, but He knows every detail.
• Live Humbly Before Him: God delights in trust, not self-reliance.
• Thank Him for His Word: It gives warmth, direction, and life in every season.

Closing Thought

The Lord who numbers the stars also heals the brokenhearted. His greatness fills the heavens, and His mercy fills the earth.
“The Lord favors those who fear Him, those who wait for His faithfulness.”