Praise for Jerusalem’s Restoration and Prosperity.
147 [a]Praise [b]the Lord!
For it is good to sing praises to our God;
For [c]it is pleasant and praise is becoming.
2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem;
He gathers the outcasts of Israel.
3 He heals the brokenhearted
And binds up their [d]wounds.
4 He counts the number of the stars;
He [e]gives names to all of them.
5 Great is our Lord and abundant in strength;
His understanding is [f]infinite.
6 The Lord [g]supports the afflicted;
He brings down the wicked to the ground.7 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
Sing praises to our God on the lyre,
8 Who covers the heavens with clouds,
Who provides rain for the earth,
Who makes grass to [h]grow on the mountains.
9 He gives to the beast its food,
And to the young ravens which cry.
10 He does not delight in the strength of the horse;
He does not take pleasure in the legs of a man.
11 The Lord favors those who fear Him,
Those who wait for His lovingkindness.
This psalm seems to be written during, or just after, the exile of the Jews. They were ruled by several empires, which is a bit unreal considering the short timeline (a mere 70 years). But this nails home a couple points that the writer brings out. In the first passage, we have a description of God restoring Jerusalem, releasing captives, healing their hearts and mending their wounds.
This goes directly into a description of God’s unmeasurable characteristics. God can count the stars that seem innumerable to us, because He made each one. God’s strength is “abundant” and far beyond anything else, and His understanding is infinite. God knew, before He ever sent them into captivity, that He would rescue His people again.
You would think that plan would involve some massive military assault, an uprising by the captives, or something equally violent. But the psalmist reminds us in the second passage that God controls the clouds and rain; He causes grass to grow and food to be provided for the very beasts and birds. He does all of this without the great strength of horses or chariots, and without massive displays of power–though thunderstorms are pretty amazing to behold.
Rather, Israel returned home because God gave them favor with the king (Ezra 1). He not only told them they could go home, but instructed their neighbors to send gifts and supplies with them! It was not commanded, just requested, and they found favor with their neighbors and they gave them gold and other precious things for the temple and rebuilding of Jerusalem.
God doesn’t always work like we think He should, but remember, His understanding is infinite. He can see the end before you’ve even begun. Earlier in Israel’s history, He told Samuel, “man looks on the outward appearance, but I know the heart.” God knows everything, both what we can see, and what we cannot.
Best of all, He goes with you along your journey of life. Let God guide you and He will give you what you need all along the way, without fail, and often without a lot of fanfare. You may not even notice, but look for His hand at work, and give Him thanks and praise for everything everyday.