God, the Builder of Israel

Transcription

1 1 God, the Builder of Israel Psalm 147:1-20

2 2 God, the Builder of Israel Commentary by Clyde M. Miller Text: Psalm 147:1-20, 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 broken hearted 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 thanksgiving; 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 a man;

3 the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love. 12. Extol the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Zion, 13. for 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. (NIV) Introduction: I. For the beginning and ending, see the introduction to Psalm 146. II. This psalm focuses attention on three works of God that make him praiseworthy. A. First, he is the builder of Jerusalem (Psalm 147:1-6). 1. Psalm 147:1-6, Praise the LORD. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fit-

4 4 ting to praise him! The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the exiles of Israel. He heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit. The LORD sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground. (NIV) B. Second, he is the sustainer of the universe (Psalm 147:7-11). 1. Psalm 147:7-11, Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make music to our God on the harp. He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills. He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call. His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of a man; the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love. (NIV) C. Third, he is the God of Zion (Psalm 147:12-20). 1. Psalm 147:12-20, Extol the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Zion, for he strengthens the bars of your gates and blesses your people within you. He grants peace to your borders and satisfies you with the finest of wheat. He sends his command to the earth; his

5 5 word runs swiftly. He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes. He hurls down his hail like pebbles. Who can withstand his icy blast? He sends his word and melts them; he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow. He has revealed his word to Jacob, his laws and decrees to Israel. He has done this for no other nation; they do not know his laws. Praise the LORD. (NIV) III. Psalm 147:19-20 indicates that the security of Jerusalem, by synecdoche, stands for the security of the nation (cf. Psalm 48:11). A. Psalm 147:19-20, He has revealed his word to Jacob, his laws and decrees to Israel. He has done this for no other nation; they do not know his laws. Praise the LORD. (NIV) B. Psalm 48:11, Mount Zion rejoices, the villages of Judah are glad because of your judgments. (NIV) IV. The threefold summons to praise or thanksgiving (Psalm 147:1,7 and 12) reveals the structure of the psalm. A. Psalm 147:1, 7, 12, Praise the LORD. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him! Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make music to our God on the harp. Extol the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Zion. (NIV) V. The poetic structure in Hebrew is both striking and informative.

6 6 A. Practically all the verb forms, with the exception of Psalm 147:20a and possibly Psalm 147:13, need to be translated by the English present tense. 1. Psalm 147:13, for he strengthens the bars of your gates and blesses your people within you. (NIV) 2. The psalmist is vividly describing present action. B. In Psalm 147:3, 6, 8, each line begins with a participle that lays stress on the continuance of the action. 1. Psalm 147:3, 6, 8, He heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds. The LORD sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground. He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills. (NIV) 2. In Psalm 147:11, 19, the one participle is related to both lines. a. Psalm 147:11, 19, the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love. He has revealed his word to Jacob, his laws and decrees to Israel. (NIV) 3. In Psalm 147:2, 4, 9, and 14-17, a participle begins the first line and an imperfect ends the sec-

7 7 ond line (except that in Psalm 147:15b the verb is next to the last word). a. Psalm 147:2, 4, 9, 14-17, The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the exiles of Israel. He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call. He grants peace to your borders and satisfies you with the finest of wheat. He sends his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly. He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes. He hurls down his hail like pebbles. Who can withstand his icy blast? (NIV) b. Psalm 147:15, He sends his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly. (NIV) 4. The inverted form in which the word order is reversed in the two lines lays stress on both the action and objects of the verbs. 5. The imperfect, preceded by a participle, is to be taken as a frequentative imperfect and translated by the English present tense. 6. The two imperfects in Psalm 147:10, 18 should also be rendered as present tense, in light of the context. a. Psalm 147:10, 18, His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his de

8 8 light in the legs of a man; He sends his word and melts them; he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow. (NIV) 7. No verbs are written in Psalm 147:1 and Psalm 147:5, but the context suggests that the present tense be supplied. a. Psalm 147:1, 5, Praise the LORD. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him! Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit. (NIV) 8. The two perfects of Psalm 147:13 might be taken as indicating completed action (KJV, NASB), but again, in light of the context, are probably perfects of certainty and thus are to be translated in present tense. a. Psalm 147:13, for he strengthens the bars of your gates and blesses your people within you. (NIV) 9. The summonses to praise the Lord in Psalm 147:1,7 and Psalm 147:12, and at the end of the psalm are imperatives indicating an exhortation in each case. a. Psalm 147:1, 7, Praise the LORD. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him! Sing to

9 9 Commentary: the LORD with thanksgiving; make music to our God on the harp. (NIV) b. Psalm 147:12, Extol the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Zion, (NIV) 10. The perfect tense of Psalm 147:20a is used in the sense of a Greek perfect indicating action of the past with results continuing to the present. a. Psalm 147:20, He has done this for no other nation; they do not know his laws. Praise the LORD. (NIV) 11. The perfect of Psalm 147:20b is a stative and, as such, should be translated in present tense. a. Psalm 147:20, He has done this for no other nation; they do not know his laws. Praise the LORD. (NIV) The Rebuilding of Jerusalem Psalm 147:1-6, Praise the LORD. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him! The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the exiles of Israel. He heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power;

10 10 his understanding has no limit. The LORD sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground. (NIV) Psalm 147:1, Praise the LORD. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him! (NIV) I. This introductory verse shows why it is appropriate to praise God. A. Seemly ( becoming, NASB, fitting, NIV) is from a word which basically means desire. 1. Though usually used in a bad sense of lust (cf. Psalm 10:3), it is occasionally used in a good sense of God's desire (cf. Psalm 132:13-14) or man's (cf. Psalm 10:17; and 38:9). a. Psalm 10:3, He boasts of the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD. (NIV) b. Psalm 132:13-14, For the LORD has chosen Zion, he has desired it for his dwelling: "This is my resting place for ever and ever; here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it. (NIV) c. Psalm 10:17, You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry. (NIV)

11 11 d. Psalm 38:9, Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my growning is not hid from thee. (KJV) Psalm 147:2, The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the exiles of Israel. (NIV) I. Builds up, a participle, and gathers, an imperfect, suggest that the rebuilding of the city was in progress when the psalm was written (cf. Ezra 1 2 and Nehemiah 6 7). A. Ezra 1:1-11, In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and to put it in writing: "This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: " 'The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Anyone of his people among you may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the LORD, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem. And the people of any place where survivors may now be living are to provide him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem.' " Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites everyone whose heart God had moved prepared to go up and build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem. All their neighbors assisted them with articles of silver and gold, with goods and livestock,

12 12 and with valuable gifts, in addition to all the freewill offerings. Moreover, King Cyrus brought out the articles belonging to the temple of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and had placed in the temple of his god. Cyrus kingof Persia had them brought by Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah. This was the inventory: gold dishes; silver dishes 1,000; silver pans 29; gold bowls 30; matching silver bowls 410; other articles 1,000. In all, there were 5,400 articles of gold and of silver. Sheshbazzar brought all these along when the exiles came up from Babylon to Jerusalem. (NIV) B. Ezra 2:1-70, Now these are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had taken captive to Babylon (they returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town, in company with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum and Baanah): The list of the men of the people of Israel: the descendants of Parosh 2,172; of Shephatiah 372; of Arah 775; of Pahath-Moab (through the line of Jeshua and Joab) 2,812; of Elam 1,254; of Zattu 945; of Zaccai 760; of Bani 642; of Bebai 623; of Azgad 1,222; of Adonikam 666; of Bigvai 2,056; of Adin 454; of Ater (through Hezekiah) 98; of Bezai 323; of Jorah 112; of Hashum 223; of Gibbar 95; the men of Bethlehem 123; of Netophah 56; of Anathoth 128; of Azmaveth 42; of Kiriath Jearim, Kephirah and

13 13 Beeroth 743; of Ramah and Geba 621; of Micmash 122; of Bethel and Ai 223; of Nebo 52; of Magbish 156; of the other Elam 1,254; of Harim 320; of Lod, Hadid and Ono 725; of Jericho 345; of Senaah 3,630; The priests: the descendants of Jedaiah (through the family of Jeshua) 973; of Immer 1,052; of Pashhur 1,247; of Harim 1,017; The Levites: the descendants of Jeshua and Kadmiel (through the line of Hodaviah) 74; The singers: the descendants of Asaph 128; The gatekeepers of the temple: the descendants of Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita and Shobai 139; The temple servants: the descendants of Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth, Keros, Siaha, Padon, Lebanah, Hagabah, Akkub, Hagab, Shalmai, Hanan, Giddel, Gahar, Reaiah, Rezin, Nekoda, Gazzam, Uzza, Paseah, Besai, Asnah, Meunim, Nephussim, Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur, Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha, Barkos, Sisera, Temah, Neziah and Hatipha The descendants of the servants of Solomon: the descendants of Sotai, Hassophereth, Peruda, Jaala, Darkon, Giddel, Shephatiah, Hattil, Pokereth-Hazzebaim and Ami The temple servants and the descendants of the servants of Solomon 392; The following came up from the towns of Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon and Immer, but they could not show that their families were descended from Israel: The descendants of Delaiah, Tobiah and Nekoda 652; And from among the priests: The descendants of Hobaiah, Hakkoz and Barzillai (a man who had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by that name). These searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. The governor ordered them not to eat any of the most sacred food until there

14 14 was a priest ministering with the Urim and Thummim. The whole company numbered 42,360, besides their 7,337 menservants and maidservants; and they also had 200 men and women singers. They had 736 horses, 245 mules, 435 camels and 6,720 donkeys. When they arrived at the house of the LORD in Jerusalem, some of the heads of the families gave freewill offerings toward the rebuilding of the house of God on its site. According to their ability they gave to the treasury for this work 61,000 drachmas of gold, 5,000 minas of silver and 100 priestly garments. The priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers and the temple servants settled in their own towns, along with some of the other people, and the rest of the Israelites settled in their towns. (NIV) C. Nehemiah 6:1-19, When word came to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left in it though up to that time I had not set the doors in the gates-sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: "Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono." But they were scheming to harm me; so I sent messengers to them with this reply: "I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?" Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer. Then, the fifth time, Sanballat sent his aide to me with the same message, and in his hand was an unsealed letter in which was written: "It is reported among the nations and Geshem says it is true that you and

15 15 the Jews are plotting to revolt, and therefore you are building the wall. Moreover, according to these reports you are about to become their king and have even appointed prophets to make this proclamation about you in Jerusalem: 'There is a king in Judah!' Now this report will get back to the king; so come, let us confer together." I sent him this reply: "Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head." They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, "Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed." But I prayed, "Now strengthen my hands." One day I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was shut in at his home. He said, "Let us meet in the house of God, inside the temple, and let us close the temple doors, because men are coming to kill you by night they are coming to kill you." But I said, "Should a man like me run away? Or should one like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!" I realized that God had not sent him, but that he had prophesied against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would commit a sin by doing this, and then they would give me a bad name to discredit me. Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, O my God, because of what they have done; remember also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who have been trying to intimidate me. So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days. When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God. Also, in those days the nobles of Judah were sending many let

16 16 ters to Tobiah, and replies from Tobiah kept coming to them. For many in Judah were under oath to him, since he was son-in-law to Shecaniah son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam son of Berekiah. Moreover, they kept reporting to me his good deeds and then telling him what I said. And Tobiah sent letters to intimidate me. (NIV) D. Nehemiah 7:1-73, After the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers and the singers and the Levites were appointed. I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most men do. I said to them, "The gates of Jerusalem are not to be opened until the sun is hot. While the gatekeepers are still on duty, have them shut the doors and bar them. Also appoint residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some near their own houses." Now the city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it, and the houses had not yet been rebuilt. So my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles, the officials and the common people for registration by families. I found the genealogical record of those who had been the first to return. This is what I found written there: These are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had taken captive (they returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town, in company with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Misper

17 17 eth, Bigvai, Nehum and Baanah): The list of the men of Israel: the descendants of Parosh 2,172; of Shephatiah 372; of Arah 652; of Pahath-Moab (through the line of Jeshua and Joab) 2,818; of Elam 1,254; of Zattu 845; of Zaccai 760; of Binnui 648; of Bebai 628; of Azgad 2,322; of Adonikam 667; of Bigvai 2,067; of Adin 655; of Ater (through Hezekiah) 98; of Hashum 328; of Bezai 324; of Hariph 112; of Gibeon 95; the men of Bethlehem and Netophah 188; of Anathoth 128; of Beth Azmaveth 42; of Kiriath Jearim, Kephirah and Beeroth 743; of Ramah and Geba 621; of Micmash 122; of Bethel and Ai 123; of the other Nebo 52; of the other Elam 1,254; of Harim 320; of Jericho 345; of Lod, Hadid and Ono 721; of Senaah 3,930; The priests: the descendants of Jedaiah (through the family of Jeshua) 973; of Immer 1,052; of Pashhur 1,247; of Harim 1,017; The Levites: the descendants of Jeshua (through Kadmiel through the line of Hodaviah) 74; The singers: the descendants of Asaph 148; The gatekeepers: the descendants of Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita and Shobai 138; The temple servants: the descendants of Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth, Keros, Sia, Padon, Lebana, Hagaba, Shalmai, Hanan, Giddel, Gahar, Reaiah, Rezin, Nekoda, Gazzam, Uzza, Paseah, Besai, Meunim, Nephussim, Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur, Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha, Barkos, Sisera, Temah, Neziah and Hatipha The descendants of the servants of Solomon: the descendants of Sotai, Sophereth, Perida, Jaala, Darkon, Giddel, Shephatiah, Hattil, Pokereth-Hazzebaim and Amon. The temple ser

18 18 vants and the descendants of the servants of Solomon 392; The following came up from the towns of Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon and Immer, but they could not show that their families were descended from Israel: the descendants of Delaiah,Tobiah and Nekoda 642; And from among the priests: the descendants of Hobaiah, Hakkoz and Barzillai (a man who had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by that name). These searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. The governor, therefore, ordered them not to eat any of the most sacred food until there should be a priest ministering with the Urim and Thummim. The whole company numbered 42,360, besides their 7,337 menservants and maidservants; and they also had 245 men and women singers. There were 736 horses, 245 mules, 435 camels and 6,720 donkeys. Some of the heads of the families contributed to the work. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 drachmas of gold, 50 bowls and 530 garments for priests. Some of the heads of the families gave to the treasury for the work 20,000 drachmas of gold and 2,200 minas of silver. The total given by the rest of the people was 20,000 drachmas of gold, 2,000 minas of silver and 67 garments for priests. The priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers and the temple servants, along with certain of the people and the rest of the Israelites, settled in their own towns. (NIV)

19 19 II. The word for builds up can mean either build or rebuild (cf. Psalm 51:18-19; and 102:13-17). A. Psalm 51:18-19, In your good pleasure make Zion prosper; build up the walls of Jerusalem. Then therewill be righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings to delight you; then bulls will be offered on your altar. (NIV) B. Psalm 102:13-17, You will arise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show favor to her; the appointed time has come. For her stones are dear to your servants; her very dust moves them to pity. The nations will fear the name of the LORD, all the kings of the earth will revere your glory. For the LORD will rebuild Zion and appear in his glory. He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea. (NIV) C. Exiles, in the emphatic position in Hebrew, refers here to those who had been in captivity (cf. Isaiah 56:8). 1. Isaiah 56:8, The Sovereign LORD declares he who gathers the exiles of Israel: I will gather still others to them bedsides those already gathered. (NIV) Psalm 147:3, He heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds. (NIV) I. Brokenhearted describes these exiles as having been in a state of dejection (cf. Isaiah 61:1; Psalm 137:1-6).

20 20 A. Isaiah 61:1, The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. (NIV) B. Psalm 137:1-6, By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. There on the poplars we hung our harps, for there our captors asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!" How can we sing the songs of the LORD while in a foreign land? If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill. May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not consider Jerusalem my highest joy. (NIV) II. Their wounds probably refers metaphorically to healing the sin-sick people (cf. Isaiah 1:5-6; Jeremiah 30:12-13; Hosea 5:13-14; Micah 1:9; and Jeremiah 30:17). A. Isaiah 1:5-6, By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. There on the poplars we hung our harps, for there our captors asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!" How can we sing the songs of the LORD while in a foreign land? If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill. May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not consider Jerusalem my highest joy. (NIV)

21 21 B. Jeremiah 30:12-13, "This is what the LORD says: " 'Your wound is incurable, your injury beyond healing. There is no one to plead your cause, no remedy for your sore, no healing for you. (NIV) C. Hosea 5:13-14, "When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah his sores, then Ephraim turned to Assyria, and sent to the great king for help. But he is not able to cure you, not able to heal your sores. For I will be like a lion to Ephraim, like a great lion to Judah. I will tear them to pieces and go away; I will carry them off, with no one to rescue them. (NIV) D. Micah 1:9, For her wound is incurable; it has come to Judah. It has reached the very gate of my people, even to Jerusalem itself. (NIV) E. Jeremiah 30:17, But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,' declares the LORD, 'because you are called an outcast, Zion for whom no one cares.'(niv) III. Heals and binds up are Hebrew participles indicating continuing action. Psalm 147:4, He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. (NIV) I. The psalmist here enlarges his thoughts to show God's control of the vast universe.

22 22 A. Determines is a Hebrew participle indicating continuing action. 1. Though man cannot number the stars (cf. Genesis 15:5), God knows their number, for he created them. a. Genesis 15:5, He took him outside and said, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be." (NIV) 2. He calls is a Hebrew imperfect which, following a participle, is to be rendered in present tense. a. The psalmist may be alluding to the original creation in part, but he is not content to leave the matter there. b. God continues to control and utilize His creation to serve His purpose. c. Notice the same shifting from past creative acts to continuing divine control in Psalm 104:1-23. i. Psalm 104:1-23, Praise the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty. He wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent and lays

23 23 the beams of his upper chambers on their waters. He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind. He makes winds his messengers, flames of fire his servants. He set the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved. You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains. But at your rebuke the waters fled, at the sound of your thunder they took to flight; they flowed over the mountains, they went down into the valleys, to the place you assigned for them. You set a boundary they cannot cross; never again will they cover the earth. He makes springs pour water into the ravines; it flows between the mountains. They give water to all the beasts of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. The birds of the air nest by the waters; they sing among the branches. He waters the mountains from his upper chambers; the earth is satisfied by the fruit of his work. He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for man to cultivate bringing forth food from the earth: wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread that sustains his heart. The trees of the LORD are well watered, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted. There the birds make their nests; the

24 24 stork has its home in the pine trees. The high mountains belong to the wild goats; the crags are a refuge for the coneys. The moon marks off the seasons, and the sun knows when to go down. You bring darkness, it becomes night, and all the beasts of the forest prowl. The lions roar for their prey and seek their food from God. The sun rises, and they steal away; they return and lie down in their dens. Then man goes out to his work, to his labor until evening. (NIV) d. Determines the number and calls each one by name here means that God determines the function of each star. B. The Hebrew word for name includes the idea of character or function (cf. Genesis 2:19-23). 1. Genesis 2:19-23, Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with

25 25 flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman,' for she was taken out of man." (NIV) Psalm 147:5, Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit. (NIV) I. The works of God that are enumerated above prove that he is great and mighty in power. A. His understanding, or wisdom, by which he created and sustains the universe, has no limit (cf. Psalm 104:24; 136:5; and Job 28:12-28). 1. Psalm 104:24, How many are your works, O LORD! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. (NIV) 2. Psalm 136:5, who by his understanding made the heavens, His love endures forever. (NIV) 3. Job 28:12-28, "But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell? Man does not comprehend its worth; it cannot be found in the land of the living. The deep says, 'It is not in me'; the sea says, 'It is not with me.' It cannot be bought with the finest gold, nor can its price be weighed in silver. It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir, with precious onyx or sapphires. Neither gold nor crystal can compare

26 26 with it, nor can it be had for jewels of gold. Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention; the price of wisdom is beyond rubies. The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it; it cannot be bought with pure gold. "Where then does wisdom come from? Where does understanding dwell? It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing, concealed even from the birds of the air. Destruction and Death say, 'Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.' God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells, for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens. When he established the force of the wind and measured out the waters, when he made a decree for the rain and a path for the thunderstorm, then he looked at wisdom and appraised it; he confirmed it and tested it. And he said to man, 'The fear of the Lord that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.'"(niv) Psalm 147:6: The LORD sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground. (NIV) I. The paragraph closes with a return to God's acts of kindness (cf. Psalm 147:2b-3). A. Psalm 147:2-3, The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the exiles of Israel. He heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds. (NIV) B. The humble can refer to the afflicted or the humble.

27 27 C. Sustains is another participle indicating continuing action, as is he casts. D. For the contrast between the righteous and the wicked, see Psalm 145:20 and Psalm 146:9. 1. Psalm 145:20, The LORD watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. (NIV) 2. Psalm 146:9, The LORD watches over the alien and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked. (NIV) E. Antithetic parallelism stresses the contrast between God's treatment of the righteous and the wicked. 1. He casts to the ground is the opposite of he sustains. God Sustains His Creation Psalm 147:7-11, Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make music to our God on the harp. He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills. He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call. His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of a man; the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love. (NIV) Psalm 147:7, Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make music to our God on the harp. (NIV)

28 28 I. The Hebrew text shows the synonymous parallelism by using the same preposition in both lines. A. The verse reflects the thought of Psalm 98: Psalm 98:4-6, Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; make music to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the ram's horn shout for joy before the LORD, the King. (NIV) Psalm 147:8-9, He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills. He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call. (NIV) I. The verbs in Psalm 147:8-9a are participles indicating continuing action and that in Psalm 147:9b is an imperfect used with the force of a present tense. A. Psalm 147:8-9, He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills. He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call. (NIV) B. God, the Creator, cares for His creation (cf. Psalm 104:10-15; 145:15-17). 1. Psalm 104:10-15, He makes springs pour water into the ravines; it flows between the mountains. They give water to all the beasts of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. The birds of the

29 29 air nest by the waters; they sing among the branches. He waters the mountains from his upper chambers; the earth is satisfied by the fruit of his work. He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for man to cultivate bringing forth food from the earth: wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread that sustains his heart. (NIV) 2. Psalm 145:15-17, The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. The LORD is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made. (NIV) Psalm 147:10-11, His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of a man; the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love. (NIV) I. These two verses employ external antithetic parallelism. II. The two lines of Psalm 147:10 are synonymous, as are the two lines of Psalm 147:11. A. Psalm 147:10-11, His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of a man; the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love. (NIV) 1. Thus, each verse contains a single thought.

30 30 III. The thought of Psalm 147:11 is in contrast to that of Psalm 147:10. A. Psalm 147:10-11, His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of a man; the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love. (NIV) B. The legs of a man suggests strength as in the parallel phrase, the strength of the horse. C. Delight and pleasure are synonymous. D. Those who fear him (reverence him) are those who hope in his unfailing love (covenant loyalty; cf. Psalm 33:8,18; 145:19-20). 1. Psalm 33:8, 18, Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him. But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love. (NIV) 2. Psalm 145:19-20, He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. The LORD watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. (NIV) 3. God does not delight in (Hebrew glory in ) any manifestation of the strength of His creatures, but rather in the voluntary loving devotion of those who thus glorify God.

31 31 The God of Zion Psalm 147:12-20, Extol the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Zion, for he strengthens the bars of your gates and blesses your people within you. He grants peace to your borders and satisfies you with the finest of wheat. He sends his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly. He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes. He hurls down his hail like pebbles. Who can withstand his icy blast? He sends his word and melts them; he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow. He has revealed his word to Jacob, his laws and decrees to Israel. He has done this for no other nation; they do not know his laws. Praise the LORD. (NIV) Psalm 147:12, Extol the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Zion. (NIV) I. Synonymous parallelism again employs repetition for emphasis (cf. Psalm 147:7). Jerusalem and Zion are metonyms for the people. A. Psalm 147:7, Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make music to our God on the harp. (NIV) Psalm 147:13-14a, for he strengthens the bars of your gates and blesses your people within you. He grants peace to your borders. (NIV) I. The result obtained in the building and fortifying of Jerusalem (cf. Ps. 147:2) is that the people feel secure. A. Psalm 147:2, The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the exiles of Israel. (NIV)

32 32 II. Psalm 147:14a in Hebrew is much more expressive than our English versions. A. It reads, He makes your borders peace. 1. Peace is doubtless a play on the word Jerusalem, the latter part of which comes from the same Hebrew word (cf. Psalm 76:1-6; 122:6-9). a. Psalm 76:1-6, In Judah God is known; his name is great in Israel. His tent is in Salem, his dwelling place in Zion. There he broke the flashing arrows, the shields and the swords, the weapons of war. Selah You are resplendent with light, more majestic than mountains rich with game. Valiant men lie plundered, they sleep their last sleep; not one of the warriors can lift his hands. At your rebuke, O God of Jacob, both horse and chariot lie still. (NIV) b. Psalm 122:6-9, Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May those who love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels." For the sake of my brothers and friends, I will say, "Peace be within you." For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your prosperity. (NIV)

33 33 Psalm 147:14b-18, and satisfies you with the finest of wheat. He sends his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly. He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes. He hurls down his hail like pebbles. Who can withstand his icy blast? He sends his word and melts them; he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow. (NIV) I. God brings on the snow and frost of winter and the thawing in the springtime. II. His hail and his icy blast (Psalm 147:17) and his word and his breezes (Psalm 147:18) lay stress on the fact that God causes both the freezing and the thawing. Psalm 147:19-20, He has revealed his word to Jacob, his laws and decrees to Israel. He has done this for no other nation; they do not know his laws. Praise the LORD. (NIV) I. Word here refers to God's decrees that revealed His will for Israel, here called Jacob. A. In this respect, Israel was a favored nation, for God had not given any such detailed revelation of Himself to any other nation. Application: 1. The nations do not know his laws. I. Psalm 147 reflects God s mighty power and glory that should have been evidence of his sovereignty to all people.

34 34 A. He manifested himself to Israel in a special way by giving her his laws. 1. They were, therefore, expected to honor Him in their worship and devotion to Him. a. Ability plus opportunity equals responsibility. II. We Americans live in a land of opportunity with the freedom of speech, of the press and of religion. A. How great is our responsibility to honor God by submitting to His laws that are much greater than the decrees of man! B. When possible, we need to obey God and our government, but if demonstrable conflict occurs, we must obey God rather than man (Acts 5:29). 1. Acts 5:29, Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. (KJV)

35 35 Questions Psalm 147:1-20 (Questions based on NIV text.) 1. The first and last sentence in Psalm 147 is, the. 2. How it is to to our, how and to him! 3. The up ; he the of. He the and up their. 4. He the of the and them each by. is our and in ; his has. The the but the to the. 5. to the with ; make to our on the. He

36 36 the with ; he the with and makes on the. He for the and for the when they. 6. His is not in the of the, nor his in the of a ; the in those who him, who put their in his. 7. the, O ; your, O, for he the of your and your within you. He to your and you with the of. 8. He sends his to the ; his. He the like and the like. He down his like. Who can

37 37 his? He sends his and them; he up his, and the. 9. He has his to, his and to. He has done this for no other ; they do not his. 10. On what three works of God that make him praiseworthy does this psalm focus? 11. Define synecdoche, participle, frequentative imperfect, grammatic perfect, imperative, external antithetic parallelism and metonym. 12. When, by whom and in what historical setting was Psalm 147 written?

38 To what do brokenhearted and their wounds in verse 3 refer? 14. Speak to what the psalmist taught regarding God s continuing action in the case of his animate and inanimate creation. 15. God is and in. His, or, by which he and the,. 16. Contrast God s treatment of the righteous and the wicked as addressed in Psalm 145:2 and 146:9.

39 Those who fear him ( him) are those who in his. God does not in any manifestation of the of His, but rather in the of those who thus. 18. What caused the people of Zion to feel secure and their borders peaceful? 19. God s,, were given to which designated as a. The other did not his which indicates that they were not as was. 20. God is. was, therefore, expected to Him in their and. Our to God by to his is greater than our to obey the of! We must rather than man.