Read Psalm 147
1 Praise the Lord.
How good it is to sing praises to our God,
how pleasant and fitting to praise him!
2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem;
he gathers the exiles of Israel.
3 He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.
4 He determines the number of the stars
and calls them each by name.
5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power;
his understanding has no limit.
6 The Lord sustains the humble
but casts the wicked to the ground.
7 Sing to the Lord with grateful praise;
make music to our God on the harp.
8 He covers the sky with clouds;
he supplies the earth with rain
and makes grass grow on the hills.
9 He provides food for the cattle
and for the young ravens when they call.
10 His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse,
nor his delight in the legs of the warrior;
11 the Lord delights in those who fear him,
who put their hope in his unfailing love.
12 Extol the Lord, Jerusalem;
praise your God, Zion.
13 He strengthens the bars of your gates
and blesses your people within you.
14 He grants peace to your borders
and satisfies you with the finest of wheat.
15 He sends his command to the earth;
his word runs swiftly.
16 He spreads the snow like wool
and scatters the frost like ashes.
17 He hurls down his hail like pebbles.
Who can withstand his icy blast?
18 He sends his word and melts them;
he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow.
19 He has revealed his word to Jacob,
his laws and decrees to Israel.
20 He has done this for no other nation;
they do not know his laws.
Praise the Lord.
Go Deeper
Today’s Psalm starts by praising God and declaring that it is “good” to sing praises to Him. Verse 1 seems a bit formal upon first reading, and the rest of the chapter can feel like reading a grocery list, but a deeper dive into the translation reveals the soul-touching, life-changing revelation that comes from deeply, truly recognizing and engaging in the practice of praise.
The verse begins with “How good it is to sing praises to our God…” The word good sounds a bit lackluster as it is commonly used today, but good meant something completely different to the Psalmist. The Hebrew word used here is towb. It is the same word used in the creation story of Genesis when the Bible states, “and He saw that it was good.” Good is the declaration of God when He spoke the universe into being! Good is not dull or boring! Good means excellent, magnificent, complete, valuable. This is the benefit and beauty of praising God!
The verse ends with “…how pleasant and fitting to praise him!” Upon first reading, it may remind us of an etiquette lesson with instructions on how using the appropriate fork or proper dinner topics are “pleasant and fitting.” Again, the depth of the meaning seems to be lost in translation, so let’s dive in! The Hebrew words used here are naiym and nawah, meaning lovely or delightful and becoming or attractive. What we find revealed in the translation is that praising God changes us; it makes us better. Praising God transforms us into lovely and becoming people.
The chapter proceeds to list examples of God’s provision throughout Israel’s history, proclaiming them as the present perfection of His purpose for His people. The writer realizes that God’s work in the past remains God’s work in the present and prepares us for God’s work in the future. He wants us to remember what He has done to grow our faith and that He will do it again. Sometimes, we may approach praising God as something we “have” to do or just church-speak for singing, but God designed the action of praising Him so we recognize His magnificent power and His eternal provision. We are better people for His good and for His glory when we praise Him!
Questions
- How can you praise God today? Is it through prayer, music, reading His word, writing?
- What are the reasons to praise God today? Start by writing down five things and add to your list throughout the day.
- Tonight, reflect on your list and praise God because it is good and pleasant and fitting. Acknowledge His provision and His power.
Watch This
Interested in how gratitude impacts your brain? Check out this short video.
Leave a Comment Below
Join the Team
Interested in writing for the Bible Reading Plan? Email hello@biblereadingplan.org.
4 thoughts on “Psalms of Praise: Psalm 147”
He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He does not take pleasure in the legs of a man. 11 The LORD favors those who fear Him, Those who wait for His lovingkindness. Psalms 147:10-11 NASB
Do we know God personally or majesticly. We need to know Him both ways. We can fear Him (majestic) and also wait (personal) on Him. God is both glorified the vast unexplained aspects of this world as well as the simple, personal aspects of life. At itmes it is hard to focus on both, we get our brains wrapped around on or the other. Tim Keller said ” “someone who has been broken by the knowledge of his or her sin, and even greater knowledge of Jesus’ costly grace”.
God thank You for me knowing You pesonally, intimatley and magesticly with a great knowledge and comprehensio of just what You did for me. To fear You is to be afaid of being away from You. Thank You that I can see myself as You see me through Christ. Thank You for showing me Your creation of this world and the people of this world through Your love goggles, majesticly. God thank You for Love in these minutes of this day in Jesus name amen
WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!
“He covers the sky with clouds;
he supplies the earth with rain
and makes grass grow on the hills” (v8).
I recall last August as we met as a church body and prayed for God to send rain upon our parched land. We’ve seen an abundance of rain this year, due to his goodness and mercy. This week in what is normally our hottest and driest seasons, our rain gauge measured over 4 inches of rain! That’s grace, that’s our God!
3 “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
I have loved this verse for quite some time. Have always found it curious that God “heals the brokenhearted AND binds up their wounds”. Interesting that the binding up of wounds is called out as a separate act. Are we sent back out still with bandages and splints?
5 “Great is our Lord and mighty in power;
his understanding has no limit.”
This verse brings me so much peace, as it reminds me of Who is in control.