HOW PLEASANT IT IS TO PRAISE GOD

Psalm 147:1-20 / Keywords 147:1

Praise the LORD. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!

Psalm 147

147:1 Praise the Lord.[a]

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.[b]

Praise the Lord.

Footnotes

a. Psalm 147:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verse 20

b. Psalm 147:20 Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint nation; / he has not made his laws known to them

1. Praise the LORD! The LORD remembered and restored his people by rebuilding Jerusalem and returning the exiles to their homeland. He also remembers his covenant in Jesus with you and me and will completely restore us as well. Although the LORD is so great that he has counted and named each of the stars, he draws close to the brokenhearted and heals them. He sustains the humble while casting the wicked to the ground. Our majestic and infinite God cares deeply for each and every person.

 

2. Give thanks to God! The tender care of God covers all his creation. God sends rain to water the grass and provides food for all the birds and animals. His delight is not in the mighty, but in the humble. He delights in those who fear him and put their hope in his love. 3. Extol the LORD! God protects and provides for his people. He strengthened Jerusalem and blessed it with peace. Nothing happens without his knowledge and approval. God even commands the weather and it obeys his voice. The greatest blessing of all, however, is the gift of his word. God revealed his laws and decrees to Israel so that they could learn of his love and know his perfect will for their lives.

 

Prayer Father, your praise brings joy to our hearts.

One Word Sing praises to our God!