Psalms 147:1-20 King James Version (KJV)

¹ Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.

² The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.

³ He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.

⁴ He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.

⁵ Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.

⁶ The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.

⁷ Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:

⁸ Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.

⁹ He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.

¹⁰ He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.

¹¹ The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.

¹² Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion.

¹³ For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee.

¹⁴ He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat.

¹⁵ He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly.

¹⁶ He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes.

¹⁷ He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold?

¹⁸ He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow.

¹⁹ He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.

²⁰ He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD.

Psalms 147:1-20 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

¹ Praise ^H1984 ye the LORD: ^H3050 for it is good ^H2896 to sing praises ^H2167 unto our God; ^H430 for it is pleasant; ^H5273 and praise ^H8416 is comely. ^H5000

² The LORD ^H3068 doth build up ^H1129 Jerusalem: ^H3389 he gathereth together ^H3664 the outcasts ^H1760 of Israel. ^H3478

³ He healeth ^H7495 the broken ^H7665 in heart, ^H3820 and bindeth up ^H2280 their wounds. ^H6094

⁴ He telleth ^H4487 the number ^H4557 of the stars; ^H3556 he calleth ^H7121 them all by their names. ^H8034

⁵ Great ^H1419 is our Lord, ^H113 and of great ^H7227 power: ^H3581 his understanding ^H8394 is infinite. ^H4557

⁶ The LORD ^H3068 lifteth up ^H5749 the meek: ^H6035 he casteth ^H8213 the wicked ^H7563 down ^H8213 to the ground. ^H776

⁷ Sing ^H6030 unto the LORD ^H3068 with thanksgiving; ^H8426 sing praise ^H2167 upon the harp ^H3658 unto our God: ^H430

⁸ Who covereth ^H3680 the heaven ^H8064 with clouds, ^H5645 who prepareth ^H3559 rain ^H4306 for the earth, ^H776 who maketh grass ^H2682 to grow ^H6779 upon the mountains. ^H2022

⁹ He giveth ^H5414 to the beast ^H929 his food, ^H3899 and to the young ^H1121 ravens ^H6158 which cry. ^H7121

¹⁰ He delighteth ^H2654 not in the strength ^H1369 of the horse: ^H5483 he taketh not pleasure ^H7521 in the legs ^H7785 of a man. ^H376

¹¹ The LORD ^H3068 taketh pleasure ^H7521 in them that fear ^H3373 him, in those that hope ^H3176 in his mercy. ^H2617

¹² Praise ^H7623 the LORD, ^H3068 O Jerusalem; ^H3389 praise ^H1984 thy God, ^H430 O Zion. ^H6726

¹³ For he hath strengthened ^H2388 the bars ^H1280 of thy gates; ^H8179 he hath blessed ^H1288 thy children ^H1121 within ^H7130 thee.

¹⁴ He maketh ^H7760 peace ^H7965 in thy borders, ^H1366 and filleth ^H7646 thee with the finest ^H2459 of the wheat. ^H2406

¹⁵ He sendeth forth ^H7971 his commandment ^H565 upon earth: ^H776 his word ^H1697 runneth ^H7323 very swiftly. ^H4120

¹⁶ He giveth ^H5414 snow ^H7950 like wool: ^H6785 he scattereth ^H6340 the hoarfrost ^H3713 like ashes. ^H665

¹⁷ He casteth forth ^H7993 his ice ^H7140 like morsels: ^H6595 who can stand ^H5975 before ^H6440 his cold? ^H7135

¹⁸ He sendeth out ^H7971 his word, ^H1697 and melteth ^H4529 them: he causeth his wind ^H7307 to blow, ^H5380 and the waters ^H4325 flow. ^H5140

¹⁹ He sheweth ^H5046 his word ^H1697 ^H1697 unto Jacob, ^H3290 his statutes ^H2706 and his judgments ^H4941 unto Israel. ^H3478

²⁰ He hath not dealt ^H6213 so with any nation: ^H1471 and as for his judgments, ^H4941 they have not known ^H3045 them. Praise ^H1984 ye the LORD. ^H3050

Psalms 147:1-20 American Standard (ASV)

¹ Praise ye Jehovah; For it is good to sing praises unto our God; For it is pleasant, `and' praise is comely.

² Jehovah doth build up Jerusalem; He gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.

³ He healeth the broken in heart, And bindeth up their wounds.

⁴ He counteth the number of the stars; He calleth them all by `their' names.

⁵ Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite.

⁶ Jehovah upholdeth the meek: He bringeth the wicked down to the ground.

⁷ Sing unto Jehovah with thanksgiving; Sing praises upon the harp unto our God,

⁸ Who covereth the heavens with clouds, Who prepareth rain for the earth, Who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.

⁹ He giveth to the beast his food, `And' to the young ravens which cry.

¹⁰ He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: He taketh no pleasure in the legs of a man.

¹¹ Jehovah taketh pleasure in them that fear him, In those that hope in his lovingkindness.

¹² Praise Jehovah, O Jerusalem; Praise thy God, O Zion.

¹³ For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; He hath blessed thy children within thee.

¹⁴ He maketh peace in thy borders; He filleth thee with the finest of the wheat.

¹⁵ He sendeth out his commandment upon earth; His word runneth very swiftly.

¹⁶ He giveth snow like wool; He scattereth the hoar-frost like ashes.

¹⁷ He casteth forth his ice like morsels: Who can stand before his cold?

¹⁸ He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: He causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow.

¹⁹ He showeth his word unto Jacob, His statutes and his ordinances unto Israel.

²⁰ He hath not dealt so with any nation; And as for his ordinances, they have not known them. Praise ye Jehovah.

Psalms 147:1-20 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

¹ Praise ye Jah! For `it is' good to praise our God, For pleasant -- comely `is' praise.

² Building Jerusalem `is' Jehovah, The driven away of Israel He gathereth.

³ Who is giving healing to the broken of heart, And is binding up their griefs.

⁴ Appointing the number of the stars, To all them He giveth names.

⁵ Great `is' our Lord, and abundant in power, Of His understanding there is no narration.

⁶ Jehovah is causing the meek to stand, Making low the wicked unto the earth.

⁷ Answer ye to Jehovah with thanksgiving, Sing ye to our God with a harp.

⁸ Who is covering the heavens with clouds, Who is preparing for the earth rain, Who is causing grass to spring up `on' mountains,

⁹ Giving to the beast its food, To the young of the ravens that call.

¹⁰ Not in the might of the horse doth He delight, Not in the legs of a man is He pleased.

¹¹ Jehovah is pleased with those fearing Him, With those waiting for His kindness.

¹² Glorify, O Jerusalem, Jehovah, Praise thy God, O Zion.

¹³ For He did strengthen the bars of thy gates, He hath blessed thy sons in thy midst.

¹⁴ Who is making thy border peace, `With' the fat of wheat He satisfieth Thee.

¹⁵ Who is sending forth His saying `on' earth, Very speedily doth His word run.

¹⁶ Who is giving snow like wool, Hoar-frost as ashes He scattereth.

¹⁷ Casting forth His ice like morsels, Before His cold who doth stand?

¹⁸ He sendeth forth His word and melteth them, He causeth His wind to blow -- the waters flow.

¹⁹ Declaring His words to Jacob, His statutes and His judgments to Israel.

²⁰ He hath not done so to any nation, As to judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye Jah!

Psalms 147:1-20 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

¹ Praise ye Jah! for it is good. Sing psalms of our God; for it is pleasant: praise is comely.

² Jehovah doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth the outcasts of Israel.

³ He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.

⁴ He counteth the number of the stars; he giveth names to them all.

⁵ Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.

⁶ Jehovah lifteth up the meek; he abaseth the wicked to the earth.

⁷ Sing unto Jehovah with thanksgiving; sing psalms upon the harp unto our God:

⁸ Who covereth the heavens with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains;

⁹ Who giveth to the cattle their food, to the young ravens which cry.

¹⁰ He delighteth not in the strength of the horse, he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man;

¹¹ Jehovah taketh pleasure in those that fear him, in those that hope in his loving-kindness.

¹² Laud Jehovah, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion.

¹³ For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee;

¹⁴ He maketh peace in thy borders; he satisfieth thee with the finest of the wheat.

¹⁵ He sendeth forth his oracles to the earth: his word runneth very swiftly.

¹⁶ He giveth snow like wool, scattereth the hoar frost like ashes;

¹⁷ He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold?

¹⁸ He sendeth his word, and melteth them; he causeth his wind to blow -- the waters flow.

¹⁹ He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.

²⁰ He hath not dealt thus with any nation; and as for [his] judgments, they have not known them. Hallelujah!

Psalms 147:1-20 World English Bible (WEB)

¹ Praise Yah, For it is good to sing praises to our God; For it is pleasant and fitting to praise him.

² Yahweh builds up Jerusalem. He gathers together the outcasts of Israel.

³ He heals the broken in heart, And binds up their wounds.

⁴ He counts the number of the stars. He calls them all by their names.

⁵ Great is our Lord, and mighty in power. His understanding is infinite.

⁶ Yahweh upholds the humble. He brings the wicked down to the ground.

⁷ Sing to Yahweh with thanksgiving. Sing praises on the harp to our God,

⁸ Who covers the sky with clouds, Who prepares rain for the earth, Who makes grass grow on the mountains.

⁹ He provides food for the cattle, And for the young ravens when they call.

¹⁰ He doesn't delight in the strength of the horse. He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.

¹¹ Yahweh takes pleasure in those who fear him, In those who hope in his loving kindness.

¹² Praise Yahweh, Jerusalem! Praise your God, Zion!

¹³ For he has strengthened the bars of your gates. He has blessed your children within you.

¹⁴ He makes peace in your borders. He fills you with the finest of the wheat.

¹⁵ He sends out his commandment to the earth. His word runs very swiftly.

¹⁶ He gives snow like wool, And scatters frost like ashes.

¹⁷ He hurls down his hail like pebbles. Who can stand before his cold?

¹⁸ He sends out his word, and melts them. He causes his wind to blow, and the waters flow.

¹⁹ He shows his word to Jacob; His statutes and his ordinances to Israel.

²⁰ He has not done this for just any nation. They don't know his ordinances. Praise Yah!

Psalms 147:1-20 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

¹ Give praise to the Lord; for it is good to make melody to our God; praise is pleasing and beautiful.

² The Lord is building up Jerusalem; he makes all the outlaws of Israel come together.

³ He makes the broken-hearted well, and puts oil on their wounds.

⁴ He sees the number of the stars; he gives them all their names.

⁵ Great is our Lord, and great his power; there is no limit to his wisdom.

⁶ The Lord gives help to the poor in spirit; but he sends sinners down in shame.

⁷ Make songs of praise to the Lord; make melody to our God with instruments of music.

⁸ By his hand the heaven is covered with clouds and rain is stored up for the earth; he makes the grass tall on the mountains.

⁹ He gives food to every beast, and to the young ravens in answer to their cry.

¹⁰ He has no delight in the strength of a horse; he takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.

¹¹ The Lord takes pleasure in his worshippers, and in those whose hope is in his mercy.

¹² Give praise to the Lord, O Jerusalem; give praise to your God, O Zion.

¹³ He has made strong the iron bands of your doors; he has sent blessings on your children inside your walls.

¹⁴ He gives peace in all your land, making your stores full of fat grain.

¹⁵ He sends out his orders to the earth; his word goes out quickly.

¹⁶ He gives snow like wool; he sends out ice-drops like dust.

¹⁷ He sends down ice like raindrops: water is made hard by his cold.

¹⁸ At the outgoing of his word, the ice is turned to water; when he sends out his wind, there is a flowing of waters.

¹⁹ He makes his word clear to Jacob, teaching Israel his laws and his decisions.

²⁰ He has not done these things for any other nation: and as for his laws, they have no knowledge of them. Let the Lord be praised.

Commentary on Psalms 147 Matthew Henry Commentary

John Gill Keil & Delitzsch Robert Jamieson: Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Psalm 147

This is another psalm of praise. Some think it was penned after the return of the Jews from their captivity; but it is so much of a piece with Ps. 145 that I rather think it was penned by David, and what is said (v. 2, 13) may well enough be applied to the first building and fortifying of Jerusalem in his time, and the gathering in of those that had been out-casts in Saul's time. The Septuagint divides it into two; and we may divide it into the first and second part, but both of the same import.

I. We are called upon to praise God (v. 1, 7, 12).
II. We are furnished with matter for praise, for God is to be glorified,
- 1. As the God of nature, and so he is very great (v. 4, 5, 8, 9, 15-18).
- 2. As the God of grace, comforting his people (v. 3, 6, 10, 11).
- 3. As the God of Israel, Jerusalem, and Zion, settling their civil state (v. 2, 13, 14), and especially settling religion among them (v. 19, 20).

It is easy, in singing this psalm, to apply it to ourselves, both as to personal and national mercies, were it but as easy to do so with suitable affections.

Psa 147:1-11

Here,

I. The duty of praise is recommended to us. It is not without reason that we are thus called to it again and again: Praise you the Lord (v. 1), and again (v. 7), Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving, sing praise upon the harp to our God (let all our praises be directed to him and centre in him), for it is good to do so; it is our duty, and therefore good in itself; it is our interest, and therefore good for us. It is acceptable to our Creator and it answers the end of our creation. The law for it is holy, just, and good; the practice of it will turn to a good account. It is good, for
- 1. It is pleasant. Holy joy or delight are required as the principle of it, and that is pleasant to us as men; giving glory to God is the design and business of it, and that is pleasant to us as saints that are devoted to his honour. Praising God is work that is its own wages; it is heaven upon earth; it is what we should be in as in our element.
- 2. It is comely; it is that which becomes us as reasonable creatures, much more as people in covenant with God. In giving honour to God we really do ourselves a great deal of honour.
II. God is recommended to us as the proper object of our most exalted and enlarged praises, upon several accounts.
- 1. The care he takes of his chosen people, v. 2. Is Jerusalem to be raised out of small beginnings? Is it to be recovered out of its ruins? In both cases, The Lord builds up Jerusalem. The gospel-church, the Jerusalem that is from above, is of this building. He framed the model of it in his own counsels; he founded it by the preaching of his gospel; he adds to it daily such as shall be saved, and so increases it. He will build it up unto perfection, build it up as high as heaven. Are any of his people outcasts? Have they made themselves so by their own folly? He gathers them by giving them repentance and bringing them again into the communion of saints. Have they been forced out by war, famine, or persecution? He opens a door for their return; many that were missing, and thought to be lost, are brought back, and those that were scattered in the cloudy and dark day are gathered together again.
- 2. The comforts he has laid up for true penitents, v. 3. They are broken in heart, and wounded, humbled, and troubled, for sin, inwardly pained at the remembrance of it, as a man is that is sorely wounded. Their very hearts are not only pricked, but rent, under the sense of the dishonour they have done to God and the injury they have done to themselves by sin. To those whom God heals with the consolations of his Spirit he speaks peace, assures them that their sins are pardoned and that he is reconciled to them, and so makes them easy, pours the balm of Gilead into the bleeding wounds, and then binds them up, and makes them to rejoice. Those who have had experience of this need not be called upon to praise the Lord; for when he brought them out of the horrible pit, and set their feet upon a rock, he put a new song into their mouths, Ps. 40:2, 3. And for this let others praise him also.
- 3. The sovereign dominion he has over the lights of heaven, v. 4, 5. The stars are innumerable, many of them being scarcely discernible with the naked eye, and yet he counts them, and knows the exact number of them, for they are all the work of his hands and the instruments of his providence. Their bulk and power are very great; but he calleth them all by their names, which shows his dominion over them and the command he has them at, to make what use of them he pleases. They are his servants, his soldiers; he musters them, he marshals them; they come and go at his bidding, and all their motions are under his direction. He mentions this as one instance of many, to show that great is our Lord and of great power (he can do what he pleases), and of his understanding there is no computation, so that he can contrive every thing for the best. Man's knowledge is soon drained, and you have his utmost length; hitherto his wisdom can reach and no further. But God's knowledge is a depth that can never be fathomed.
- 4. The pleasure he takes in humbling the proud and exalting those of low degree (v. 6): The Lord lifts up the meek, who abase themselves before him, and whom men trample on; but the wicked, who conduct themselves insolently towards God and scornfully towards all mankind, who lift up themselves in pride and folly, he casteth down to the ground, sometimes by very humbling providences in this world, at furthest in the day when their faces shall be filled with everlasting shame. God proves himself to be God by looking on the proud and abasing them, Job 40:12.
- 5. The provision he makes for the inferior creatures. Though he is so great as to command the stars, he is so good as not to forget even the fowls, v. 8, 9. Observe in what method he feeds man and beast.
  - (1.) He covereth the heaven with clouds, which darken the air and intercept the beams of the sun, and yet in them he prepareth that rain for the earth which is necessary to its fruitfulness. Clouds look melancholy, and yet without them we could have no rain and consequently no fruit. Thus afflictions, for the present, look black, and dark, and unpleasant, and we are in heaviness because of them, as sometimes when the sky is overcast it makes us dull; but they are necessary, for from these clouds of affliction come those showers that make the harvest to yield the peaceable fruits of righteousness (Heb. 12:11), which should help to reconcile us to them. Observe the necessary dependence which the earth has upon the heavens, which directs us on earth to depend on God in heaven. All the rain with which the earth is watered is of God's preparing.
  - (2.) By the rain which distils on the earth he makes grass to grow upon the mountains, even the high mountains, which man neither takes care of nor reaps the benefit of. The mountains, which are not watered with the springs and rivers, as the valleys are, are yet watered so that they are not barren.
  - (3.) This grass he gives to the beast for his food, the beast of the mountains which runs wild, which man makes no provision for. And even the young ravens, which, being forsaken by their old ones, cry, are heard by him, and ways are found to feed them, so that they are kept from perishing in the nest.
- 6. The complacency he takes in his people, v. 10, 11. In times when great things are doing, and there are great expectations of the success of them, it concerns us to know (since the issue proceeds from the Lord) whom, and what, God will delight to honour and crown with victory. It is not the strength of armies, but the strength of grace, that God is pleased to own.
  - (1.) Not the strength of armies-not in the cavalry, for he delighteth not in the strength of the horse, the war-horse, noted for his courage (Job 39:19, etc.)-nor in the infantry, for he taketh no pleasure in the legs of a man; he does not mean the swiftness of them for flight, to quit the field, but the steadiness of them for charging, to stand the ground. If one king, making war with another king, goes to God to pray for success, it will not avail him to plead, "Lord, I have a gallant army, the horse and foot in good order; it is a pity that they should suffer any disgrace;' for that is no argument with God, Ps. 20:7. Jehoshaphat's was much better: Lord, we have no might, 2 Chr. 20:12. But,
  - (2.) God is pleased to own the strength of grace. A serious and suitable regard to God is that which is, in the sight of God, of great price in such a case. The Lord accepts and takes pleasure in those that fear him and that hope in his mercy. Observe,
    - [1.] A holy fear of God and hope in God not only may consist, but must concur. In the same heart, at the same time, there must be both a reverence of his majesty and a complacency in his goodness, both a believing dread of his wrath and a believing expectation of his favour; not that we must hang in suspense between hope and fear, but we must act under the gracious influences of hope and fear. Our fear must save our hope from swelling into presumption, and our hope must save our fear from sinking into despair; thus must we take our work before us.
    - [2.] We must hope in God's mercy, his general mercy, even when we cannot find a particular promise to stay ourselves upon. A humble confidence in the goodness of God's nature is very pleasing to him, as that which turns to the glory of that attribute in which he most glories. Every man of honour loves to be trusted.

Psa 147:12-20

Jerusalem, and Zion, the holy city, the holy hill, are here called upon to praise God, v. 12. For where should praise be offered up to God but where his altar is? Where may we expect that glory should be given to him but in the beauty of holiness? Let the inhabitants of Jerusalem praise the Lord in their own houses; let the priests and Levites, who attend in Zion, the city of their solemnities, in a special manner praise the Lord. They have more cause to do it than others, and they lie under greater obligations to do it than others; for it is their business, it is their profession. "Praise thy God, O Zion! he is thine, and therefore thou art bound to praise him; his being thine includes all happiness, so that thou canst never want matter for praise.' Jerusalem and Zion must praise God,

I. For the prosperity and flourishing state of their civil interests, v. 13, 14.
- 1. For their common safety. They had gates, and kept their gates barred in times of danger; but that would not have been an effectual security to them if God had not strengthened the bars of their gates and fortified their fortifications. The most probable means we can devise for our own preservation will not answer the end, unless God give his blessing with them; we must therefore in the careful and diligent use of those means, depend upon him for that blessing, and attribute the undisturbed repose of our land more to the wall of fire than to the wall of water round about us, Zec. 2:5.
- 2. For the increase of their people. This strengthens the bars of the gates as much as any thing: He hath blessed thy children within thee, with that first and great blessing, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the land. It is a comfort to parents to see their children blessed of the Lord (Isa. 61:9), and a comfort to the generation that is going off to see the rising generation numerous and hopeful, for which blessing God must be blessed.
- 3. For the public tranquillity, that they were delivered from the terrors and desolations of war: He makes peace in thy borders, by putting an end to the wars that were, and preventing the wars that were threatened and feared. He makes peace within thy borders, that is, in all parts of the country, by composing differences among neighbours, that there may be no intestine broils and animosities, and upon thy borders, that they may not be attacked by invasions from abroad. If there be trouble any where, it is in the borders, the marches of a country; the frontier-towns lie most exposed, so that, if there be peace in the borders, there is a universal peace, a mercy we can never be sufficiently thankful for.
- 4. For great plenty, the common effect of peace: He filleth thee with the finest of the wheat-wheat, the most valuable grain, the fat, the finest of that, and a fulness thereof. What would they more? Canaan abounded with the best wheat (Deu. 32:14) and exported it to the countries abroad, as appears, Eze. 27:17. The land of Israel was not enriched with precious stones nor spices, but with the finest of the wheat, with bread, which strengthens man's heart. This made it the glory of all lands, and for this God was praised in Zion.
II. For the wonderful instances of his power in the weather, particularly the winter-weather. He that protects Zion and Jerusalem is that God of power from whom all the powers of nature are derived and on whom they depend, and who produces all the changes of the seasons, which, if they were not common, would astonish us.
- 1. In general, whatever alterations there are in this lower world (and it is that world that is subject to continual changes) they are produced by the will, and power, and providence of God (v. 15): He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth, as one that has an incontestable authority to give orders, and innumerable attendants ready to carry his orders and put them in execution. As the world was at first made, so it is still upheld and governed, by a word of almighty power. God speaks and it is done, for all are his servants. That word takes effect, not only surely, but speedily. His word runneth very swiftly, for nothing can oppose or retard it. As the lightning, which passes through the air in an instant, such is the word of God's providence, and such the word of his grace, when it is sent forth with commission, Lu. 17:24. Angels, who carry his word and fulfil it, fly swiftly, Dan. 9:21.
- 2. In particular, frosts and thaws are both of them wonderful changes, and in both we must acknowledge the word of his power.
  - (1.) Frosts are from God. With him are the treasures of the snow and the hail (Job 38:22, 23), and out of these treasures he draws as he pleases.
    - [1.] He giveth snow like wool. It is compared to wool for its whiteness (Isa. 1:18), and its softness; it falls silently, and makes no more noise than the fall of a lock of wool; it covers the earth, and keeps it warm like a fleece of wool, and so promotes its fruitfulness. See how God can work by contraries, and bring meat out of the eater, can warm the earth with cold snow.
    - [2.] He scatters the hoar-frost, which is dew congealed, as the snow and hail are rain congealed. This looks like ashes scattered upon the grass, and is sometimes prejudicial to the products of the earth and blasts them as if it were hot ashes, Ps. 78:47.
    - [3.] He casts forth his ice like morsels, which may be understood either of large hail-stones, which are as ice in the air, or of the ice which covers the face of the waters, and when it is broken, though naturally it was as drops of drink, it is as morsels of meat, or crusts of bread.
    - [4.] When we see the frost, and snow, and ice, we feel it in the air: Who can stand before his cold? The beasts cannot; they retire into dens (Job 37:8); they are easily conquered then, 2 Sa. 23:20. Men cannot, but are forced to protect themselves by fires, or furs, or both, and all little enough where and when the cold is in extremity. We see not the causes when we feel the effects; and therefore we must call it his cold; it is of his sending, and therefore we must bear it patiently, and be thankful for warm houses, and clothes, and beds, to relieve us against the rigour of the season, and must give him the glory of his wisdom and sovereignty, his power and faithfulness, which shall not cease any more than summer, Gen. 8:22. And let us also infer from it, If we cannot stand before the cold of his frosts, how can we stand before the heat of his wrath?
  - (2.) Thaws are from God. When he pleases (v. 18) he sends out his word and melts them; the frost, the snow, the ice, are all dissolved quickly, in order to which he causes the wind, the south wind, to blow, and the waters, which were frozen, flow again as they did before. We are soon sensible of the change, but we see not the causes of it, but must resolve it into the will of the First Cause. And in it we must take notice not only of the power of God, that he can so suddenly, so insensibly, make such a great and universal alteration in the temper of the air and the face of the earth (what cannot he do that does this every winter, perhaps often every winter?) but also of the goodness of God. Hard weather does not always continue; it would be sad if it should. He does not contend for ever, but renews the face of the earth. As he remembered Noah, and released him (Gen. 8:1), so he remembers the earth, and his covenant with the earth, Cant. 2:11, 12. This thawing word may represent the gospel of Christ, and this thawing wind the Spirit of Christ (for the Spirit is compared to the wind, Jn. 3:8); both are sent for the melting of frozen souls. Converting grace, like the thaw, softens the heart that was hard, moistens it, and melts it into tears of repentance; it warms good affections, and makes them to flow, which, before, were chilled and stopped up. The change which the thaw makes is universal and yet gradual; it is very evident, and yet how it is done is unaccountable: such is the change wrought in the conversion of a soul, when God's word and Spirit are sent to melt it and restore it to itself.
III. For his distinguishing favour to Israel, in giving them his word and ordinances, a much more valuable blessing than their peace and plenty (v. 14), as much as the soul is more excellent than the body. Jacob and Israel had God's statutes and judgments among them. They were under his peculiar government; the municipal laws of their nation were of his framing and enacting, and their constitution was a theocracy. They had the benefit of divine revelation; the great things of God's law were written to them. They had a priesthood of divine institution for all things pertaining to God, and prophets for all extraordinary occasions. No people besides went upon sure grounds in their religion. Now this was,
- 1. A preventing mercy. They did not find out God's statutes and judgments of themselves, but God showed his word unto Jacob, and by that word he made known to them his statutes and judgments. It is a great mercy to any people to have the word of God among them; for faith comes by hearing and reading that word, that faith without which it is impossible to please God.
- 2. A distinguishing mercy, and upon that account the more obliging: "He hath not dealt so with every nation, not with any nation; and, as for his judgments, they have not known them, nor are likely to know them till the Messiah shall come and take down the partition-wall between Jew and Gentile, that the gospel may be preached to every creature.' Other nations had plenty of outward good things; some nations were very rich, others had pompous powerful princes and polite literature, but none were blessed with God's statutes and judgments as Israel were. Let Israel therefore praise the Lord in the observance of these statutes. Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself to us, and not to the world! Even so, Father, because it seemed good in thy eyes.

Worthy.Bible » Parallel » Psalms » Chapter 147