May the Reader be blessed: Psalms 147 with commentary The following is adapted from my original manuscript notes “Meditations on the Psalms” Written between 2003-2010. All Scriptures cited are from the New King James Version (NKJV/NKJ) unless otherwise noted. Special note 1: I have yet to transcribe into electronic format the majority of my manuscript notes. I do apologize if there are references to other notes that are not presently available. I am working on them as I have time and energy. In the meantime, if other material is already transcribed or, is of limited enough volume that I can quickly get it done, then any cross-references with notes will be at the bottom. Thank you for your patience and support. Special Note 2: Todays Psalm selection and notes (to verses 19-20) cover a topic that is not well liked by the world or even by many Christians brought up under the influence of Arminian teaching (i.e., the majority of present day Evangelical teaching). Before getting upset, I do recommend actually reading all the cross-referenced Scriptures in their context. Psalm 147:1 Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; For it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful. 2 The LORD builds up Jerusalem; He gathers together the outcasts of Israel. 3 He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds. 4 He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name. 5 Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite. 147:4-5 God’s Omniscience and Omnipotence ● “He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name. Great is our LORD, and Mighty in Power; His understanding is infinite.” ● “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” (cf. Genesis 1:1). That God’s power is great and His knowledge is infinite is demonstrated very clearly hear. Consider the implications of the statement by the psalmist in light of the size of the universe He created. ● Our galaxy [the Milky Way], which God created as a part of the universe, is a medium sized galaxy. Yet, astronomers estimate that it contains some 200 billion plus stars! [They don’t know, as they can’t count them all.] God not only counted them, but He knows each one of them by name. And not just the stars of our galaxy, but also those of the entire universe; each and every star in each and every star in each of the estimated [the astronomers don’t know the exact number] 200-300 billion galaxies, each with their own multiple hundreds of billions of stars! Truly the heavens declare the glory of God. 6 The LORD lifts up the humble; He casts the wicked down to the ground. 147:6,10,11 Humble or Wicked ● “The LORD lifts the humble; He castes the wicked down to the ground…He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He takes no pleasure in the legs of man. The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy.” ● The LORD does Not “help those who help themselves”. Rather, He is there to help those who fear Him and rely upon Him. Cf. 2nd Kings 4:1-7 and note. ● See also, 2nd Kings 4:34-36; 4:42-44; Matthew 9:18-25; 9:27-30, etc. 7 Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; Sing praises on the harp to our God, 8 Who covers the heavens with clouds, Who prepares rain for the earth, Who makes grass to grow on the mountains. 9 He gives to the beast its food, And to the young ravens that cry. 10 He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man. 11 The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him, In those who hope in His mercy. 12 Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O 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, And fills you with the finest wheat. 15 He sends out His command to the earth; His word runs very swiftly. 16 He gives snow like wool; He scatters the frost like ashes; 17 He casts out His hail like morsels; 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 declares His word to Jacob, His statutes and His judgments to Israel. 20 He has not dealt thus with any nation; And as for His judgments, they have not known them. Praise the LORD! 147:19-20 GODS SOVEREIGNTY IN REVELATION – VIII ● See Topical Notes: X-References: Gods Sovereignly In Election and Gods Sovereignly In... ● First note that it is God who reveals Himself. If He did not reveal Himself, and especially His Word, we could not know Him. We would only know that He [she, it, them, etc.] exists, and is powerful (cf. Psalms 19:1-5; Romans 1:18-22.) ● Second, until the New Testament mandate to go into all the world and preach the Gospel a/k/a “The Great Commission,” cf. Matthew 28:10=9-20; Mark 16:15; God, according to the counsel of His own will and according to His own good pleasure (cf. Ephesians 1:8-11), limited the revelation of His of His Word to only one people of all the peoples and nations in all the world: God revealed Himself in a personal, special way to Abraham and His descendants, to Israel, leaving the rest of the world in the dark. This is clearly seen in the comparison of verses 19 and 20, esp. 20a which reads, “He [God] has not dealt thus with any nation” (bracketed material added for emphasis). ● The Scriptural truth that no man may know God except He reveal Himself to him is clearly seen here. This connects also with the writing of Paul in the New Testament. Note particularly, Romans 10:13-17, with its emphasis on the need for the preaching (with its consequential hearing) of Gods Word, the Gospel. (Psa 147:1-20 NKJ)
Posted on: Sat, 01 Feb 2014 13:02:10 +0000