To discover:
As you read note why God is
to be praised.
To ponder:
Psalm 147 declares
how good, pleasing and right it is to praise God. Hopefully that has been our
experience as we’ve praised him in response to what’s we’ve learnt. The praise
here is for bringing the exiles back to Jerusalem
from exile, building up the city, and so, by his action, healing those whose
hearts were broken at its destruction (147v1-3). This is seen as a reflection
of God’s wider action: He is the creator who decided the number of stars and
named them, demonstrating both his mighty power and limitless understanding.
And he is the one who uses those attributes in justice, sustaining the humble
who look to him, and bringing down the wicked (147v4-6). So he is to be thanked
for sending rain to grow grass as food for cattle, and providing food for
ravens when they call to him. The sense is that in doing this for these
creatures, how much more will he for humans to whom he has made promises. So we
hear God doesn’t delight in the power of a horse or man, but in those who fear
him and so hope in his unfailing love (147v7-11). He is therefore to be praised
by Jerusalem , for granting it
security (strengthening its gates), granting it peace, and providing quality
harvests (147v12-14). This is a picture of him doing as he promised he would
for those who repent when in exile (Deut 30v1-10). It therefore looks to the
completion of his promises to Israel
under the Davidic king.
The power and speedy action of God’s
word is displayed in his control of water in creation, causing fruitfulness on
the earth (147v15-18). So, he is able to quickly bring these things about. By
ending with an affirmation that he has revealed his word uniquely to Israel
(147v19-20), the psalm seems to end with a reminder of Israel’s privilege, but
also the importance of delighting in it in order to receive these blessings
(see Psalm 1). As those rescued from our exile from Eden ,
yet looking to its completion, the psalm urges us to praise God with confidence
in his readiness to do as he has said. But it also encourages us to continue to
fear and obey him.
Psalm 148 calls the entire creation
to praise God. First, the skies (heavens), angels and astronomical bodies
(148v1-6). The “waters above” the sky are an ancient way of referring to the
source of rain. The reason for the praise is simply that these things have been
created by a decree (command) of God that will keep them in place forever. This
reminds us that God is worthy of honour from everything simply because he made
it and it is dependent on him. Next comes the earth (148v7-14), with its
creatures, weather, geography, vegetation, animals, kings, nations, men, women
and children. They are to praise God as the only exalted one, seen in the
display of his splendour in the creation above. This probably refers to the
night sky reflecting his power and wisdom (as 147v4-5). Yet all creatures are
also to praise God for raising up a horn (the symbol of power) for Israel
out of care for them. This must refer to Israel ’s
Davidic king, through whom God promised to establish a secure, righteous,
flourishing and everlasting kingdom throughout the earth (Lk 2v69). In other
words, all creation is to praise God for his saving work through Christ –
symbolised by the living creatures as well as elders of Revelation bowing in
worship (Rev 5v8-10). Perhaps animals already do this in some way.
Psalm 149 develops this final idea,
calling the worshipping assembly of Israel in Jerusalem to praise and rejoice
in God as their Maker and King for delighting in them and saving them, raising
them from a humble position to one in which they are crowned with the honour of
being a royal nation (149v1-5, see 1 Pet 2v9). Their regal role is then seen in
praising God whilst executing justice on the evil of the nations, imprisoning
their rulers (149v6-9). This is said to be “the glory” of God’s saints, no
doubt because it is an honourable role (149v5) showing the high regard God has
for his people. Indeed, it is to do nothing less than straighten the moral
crookedness of the universe in suppressing evil and so enabling God’s kingdom
to be established in all perfection and peace. Israel
executed such judgement very literally in entering their land (see Joshua). Now
the church does so by preaching the word, so judging the thoughts of people’s
hearts, and bringing many into submission to Christ (2 Cor 10v3-6, Heb
4v12-13). Yet, at the final judgement too, it seems we will be included in
assessing, judging and sentencing both the world and angels in some sense (1
Cor 6v1-4, Rev 2v26-27). This must be a great comfort to the oppressed
Christian (as in Dan 7v25-27), and displays how completely God will reverse the
authority structures of this present order, exalting the humble and humbling
the exalted. The psalm is therefore a fitting conclusion to the psalter.
As is Psalm 150. Summing the note of
praise throughout the psalms, it calls God to be praised in his sanctuary –
here probably heaven, which is regarded as being high in the sky (the mighty
heavens). The psalm therefore calls us to perhaps the key activity of heaven
and the creation to come (see Rev 5-7). The praise is to be for God’s power and
greatness which we have seen detailed throughout in his works of creation and
salvation in particular. If we find ourselves lacking heartfelt praise, it is
these things we need to reflect on. As elsewhere, this praise involves song,
instruments and dancing. The latter is of course frequently ignored today,
often from an excessive caution that can stifle true joy. The point is that
everything that has breath should praise God with its whole being, for this is
the most fitting disposition of the creature to the Creator. Is your love of
God marked in this way?
Praying it
home:
Praise God for the
things you have been most struck by in the psalms. Pray that your prayer and
praise life would be shaped by what you have learnt from them.
Thinking
further:
Well done
for completing the psalms. Our reflections have been necessarily longer in
dealing with each psalm rather than just pulling out themes. My prayer is that
they have fuelled and shaped your prayer life as they have started to mine.
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