Psalm 147

"Praise the LORD!" - Psalm 147:1a

That is how this Psalm begins, and it is one of the last Psalms in the book. In fact, the last five each begin and end with that declaration of praise. If only each of us began and ended our days in that way.

I recently read this Psalm and, while studying some footnotes, realized it can be broken into three sections.

Possibly written as the Jews were returning from exile (vss. 2-3), it recounts God's care for His people through a series of examples, each followed by a contrast.

First (vss. 1-6), He shows His care for the outcast and the brokenhearted, contrasted with how He will bring down the wicked. Verses seven through 11 show how He tends to nature. He then contrasts those who trust in nature or in people with those who trust in Him alone. Lastly, in the closing verses, He shows His care for Israel and how He has dealt with His elect people in a way different than the rest of the nations (vs. 20).

Yet, because it speaks of those returning from exile, is there no truth for us today? Is this just a bit of history, interesting, but irrelevant to us? Of course, not.

1. "The LORD supports the afflicted; He brings down the wicked to the ground." - Psalm 147:6

Throughout Scripture we see reference to God's care for those who are burdened, brokenhearted, and in need. And the truth is we all must come to a place of recognizing our need, for being a Christian means that we have seen our spiritual bankruptcy (Matthew 5:3). God promises to save those who call upon Him (Romans 10:13).

The one who knows and names the stars (Psalm 147:4) knows each of His own. He is there in their need, their struggle, and their brokenness, and He will bring us out of the exile of our sin into relationship with Him, and one day into His very presence.

2. "The Lord favors those who fear Him, those who wait for His lovingkindness." - Psalm 147:11

He provides for His creation, and He provides for His people. Yet the struggle is real; we're so often tempted to trust in anything and everything but Him. Our health, wealth, career, spouse, children, friends, church, ministry, hobbies, all threaten to take the place of God. Beyond those, we face pressure to trust in the economy and world leaders, and a plethora of other things and possessions.

But God shows us here how foolish it is, for He is not delighted in the strength of a horse nor does He take pleasure in the legs of a man.

Have you ever thought of the horses we see in representations of battles? They would charge headlong into battle, swords clanging or guns firing all around. Yet they're unmoved, fearless.

Likewise, the warrior who runs into the fray, unafraid of what fight is before him.

These serve as two examples of might and courage. Yet, God is not impressed.

Judah even looked to others for help, including Egypt, something that God expressly called them out on (Isaiah 31:1). But Egypt would be no help to them. Only God could deliver them.

We, too, fall into the same kinds of thinking. Sometimes we think we're meeting God halfway, that He is waiting for us to do this or that, then He will come in and finish up what's left.

But He favors those who fear Him, and those who wait for His lovingkindness (Psalm 147:11). Those who trust in Him are helped.

Not only does He save those who call upon His name, but He also is there to guide them and help through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (John 15:26, 16:7) and through intercession (Romans 8:26-27, 34, Hebrews 7:25).

We cannot trust in our own works or others to save us; only Jesus can save us. Trust in Him today.

3. "He has not dealt thus with any nation; And as for His ordinances, they have not known them." - Psalm 147:20a

God shows that He is sovereign over nature but also over the protection of His people. Nature is under God's absolute control. He shows us this by displaying His power over snow and ice in vss. 16-18. Elsewhere in Scripture we see Jesus' power over the natural world (Mark 4:35-41).

More specifically though, God shows us in these verses His sovereign care for His people. He is the one who has protected them and provided for their needs (vss. 13-14).

Beyond that, He chose to reveal Himself to Israel in a special and specific way (vs. 19). The rest of the world did not have this special knowledge of God. Though they could know of Him through creation (Romans 1:19-21), they could not know Him specifically or savingly through that revelation.

Paul touches on this in Ephesians chapter two:

"remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world." - Ephesians 2:12

But now, as God's elect, there is no more Jew or Gentile (Galatians 3:28-29). While we were previously separated, now we have access to God through Christ; all who are in Him are God's people.

And so, while we may debate some of the finer points of how God will carry out His promises revealed in Scripture, we can all agree that because of Christ, we are part of His family, and He will sovereignly take care of us as He had for Israel (Philippians 1:6).

God has and will continue to bring lost sinners into His kingdom, care for the brokenhearted, contend for those who trust in Him, and provide for His people, for He is the same God today as He was when the Psalmist declared:

"Praise the LORD!" - Psalm 147:20b