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.
- What does the Psalmist praise the Lord about?
- What does the Psalmist describe as some of the works of the Lord?
- Who does the Psalmist call on to join him in praising the Lord?
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