September 4th
Psalm 147
Praising
the Almighty
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.
Psalm 148
Praising
the Lord
1: Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the
LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights. 2: Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts. 3: Praise ye him, sun and moon:
praise him, all ye stars of light. 4:
Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. 5: Let them praise the name of the
LORD: for he commanded, and they were created. 6: He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made
a decree which shall not pass. 7:
Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps: 8: Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour;
stormy wind fulfilling his word: 9:
Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars: 10: Beasts, and all cattle; creeping
things, and flying fowl: 11:
Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth: 12: Both young men, and maidens; old
men, and children: 13: Let them
praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is
above the earth and heaven. 14:
He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of
the children of Israel,
a people near unto him. Praise ye the LORD.
Today we are reading Psalms 147 & 148. Psalm 147 is a
Hallelujah Psalm as is 148. There are five Hallelujah Psalms from 146 – 150.
The structure of this psalm could be as follows.
A.
Hallelujah
B. Praise – kindness to Israel
C. General operations - nature
D. Contrast – what the LORD does
B. Praise – kindness to Israel
C. General operations - nature
D. Contrast – what the LORD delights
in
B. Praise – kindness to Israel
C. General operations - nature
D. Contrast – what the LORD has shown
A.
Hallelujah
This is a Psalm full of verbs that describe all the glorious
things God does. It begins and ends in Praise to the LORD then gives a reason
for this praise – it is a pleasant occupation and praise is a beautiful thing
in Gods people. Then the Psalmist gives a long catalogue of 32 things that God
does which are praiseworthy. He builds up the city of Jerusalem. On a small scale he heals the
broken hearted and binds up their wounds, but on a massive scale he can number
the stars and he has a name for them all. Our God is great and has huge power
and his understanding is infinite. Yet the Lord also lifts up the meek and
casts the wicked down on the ground. So
he calls on Israel
to sing to the LORD with thanksgiving and musical accompaniment. He says the
LORD covers the sky with clouds, he prepares the rain and sends it into the
mountains to make the grass grow. He feeds all the beasts and the young ravens
that call out. The Lord is not delighted in the strength of horses or in the
legs of men (Perhaps he is referring to cavalry and infantry) But the Lord
takes pleasure in those that fear him and who hope in his mercy. Then again he
bursts into praise to the LORD and calls on all Jerusalem to join him. Then he says join me
because the Lord has made the city secure and blessed all the children within.
He brings peace to the land and wheat into the storehouse. And the Lords
commandments are set out on the earth. His word spreads swiftly and he sends
snow like wool. He scatters the hoarfrost like ashes, he casts his ice like
breadcrumbs - who can stand his cold? He speaks and the ice melts. He sends a
warm wind and the waters melt. He reveals his word to Jacob and his laws and
legal judgments to Israel.
He only does this for Israel
and no other nation has known his law. Hallelujah. Psalm 148 is another hymn of
praise. After beginning and ending with praise in the middle he has two verses
of Praise.
A.
Hallelujah
B. Praise from the heavens
C.
Things in the heavens
D. Let them praise
E. The reason - For
B. Praise from the earth
C. Things in the earth
D. Let them praise
E. The reason - For
A.
Hallelujah
This Psalm is a call first of all to
the beings in the heavens. He calls on all angels, the sun, moon and stars to
praise the LORD. And he calls on the clouds to praise the LORD. The Lord has
established them forever and he has ordered that they will not cease. Then he
calls on dinosaurs of land and sea, the weather – fire, hail, snow, steam and
storms, mountains and hills, fruit trees, cedars, beasts, cattle, small
creatures and birds. Then he invites kings, men, princes and judges – young men
and women, old men and little children. Let them all praise the name of the
LORD because his name alone is excellent. His glory is far above the earth and
heaven. He anoints his office bearers who are the praise of his people the
children of Israel,
who are a people that are near to the LORD. Hallelujah.
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