Psalms 147 · ESV Study Bible

He Heals the Brokenhearted

PSALM 147 [†] i Praise the LORD!

For j it is good to sing praises to our God;

for k it is pleasant, [1] and l a song of praise is fitting.

2[†] The LORD m builds up Jerusalem;

he n gathers the outcasts of Israel.

3 He heals o the brokenhearted

and p binds up their wounds.

4[†] He q determines the number of the stars;

he r gives to all of them their names.

5[^] s Great is our Lord, and t abundant in power;

u his understanding is beyond measure.

6 The LORD v lifts up the humble; [2]

he casts the wicked to the ground.

7[†] w Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving;

make melody to our God on x the lyre!

8 He covers the heavens with clouds;

he prepares y rain for the earth;

he makes z grass grow on the hills.

9 He a gives to the beasts their food,

and to b the young ravens that cry.

10[†] His delight is not in c the strength of the horse,

nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,

11 but the LORD d takes pleasure in those who fear him,

in those who e hope in his steadfast love.

12[†] Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem!

Praise your God, O Zion!

13 For he strengthens f the bars of your gates;

he blesses your children within you.

14 He g makes peace in your borders;

he h fills you with the i finest of the wheat.

15 He j sends out his command to the earth;

his word runs swiftly.

16 He gives k snow like wool;

he scatters l frost like ashes.

17 He hurls down his crystals of m ice like crumbs;

who can stand before his n cold?

18 He o sends out his word, and melts them;

he makes his wind blow and the waters flow.

19 He declares his word to Jacob,

his p statutes and rules [3] to Israel.

20 He q has not dealt thus with any other nation;

they do not know his rules. [4]

r Praise the LORD!

PSALM—NOTE ON 147:4–5 Isaiah 40:25–29 uses the same idea to encourage the faithful never to lose heart: God has the wisdom and the power to carry through his purposes, with such care that “not one is missing.”

PSALM—NOTE ON 147:1–6 Praise the Lord Who Sustains the Humble. It is a good and fitting thing to sing in praise of the God who rules the universe, who determines the number of the stars, and who at the same time builds up Jerusalem, gathers the outcasts of Israel (perhaps after the exile, see note on v. 2), heals the brokenhearted, lifts up the humble, and casts the wicked to the ground. In this psalm, the “brokenhearted” and “humble” are members of his own people who look to him in faith. The God whose understanding is beyond measure is well able to carry out his great plan for Jerusalem. His greatness never implies remoteness from his faithful, nor does it mean indifference to the unfaithful (“the wicked,” v. 6; cf. 146:9).

PSALM—NOTE ON Psalm 147. Like Psalm 146, this hymn of praise begins and ends with “Praise the LORD!” Here the praise is focused on gratitude for some great work of “building up Jerusalem” (or rebuilding it after the exile), and for the Creator who sustains his creation, especially his chosen people as they depend on him. The psalm alternates between universality (God rules over and cares for all) and particularity (he has set his own people apart and cares for them). Each new section begins with an imperative: “praise” (147:1), “sing” (v. 7), and “praise” (v. 12).

PSALM—NOTE ON 147:2 The terms builds up and outcasts (cf. Deut. 30:4; Neh. 1:9) may well suggest that the rebuilding of Jerusalem by the returned exiles is in view.

PSALM—NOTE ON 147:10 strength of the horse. Though it is easy to think of the horse here as an animal used for pulling loads, the image is most likely that of a war horse (cf. 20:7; Job 39:19); likewise, the legs of a man are swift for battle (cf. Ps. 18:33; Amos 2:14–15).