SPIRITUAL DIARY
FOR 12/10/2012 8:38:33 AM
My Worship Time Focus: Psalm 147
PT-1
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Psalm 147:1-6
Message of
the verses: We will begin looking at Psalm 147 in the way
that we have been looking at most of the psalms by first looking at several
introductory comments from several different Bible Commentators in order to
better understand what this psalm is all about, in order to be able to put into
practice the teachings of it.
“This is another psalm of praise.
Some think it was penned after the return of the Jews from their captivity; but
it is so much of a piece with Psalm 145 that I rather think it was penned by
David, and what is said #Ps 147:2,13 may well enough be applied to the first
building and fortifying of Jerusalem in his time, and the gathering in of those
that had been out-casts in Saul’s time. The Septuagint divides it into two; and
we may divide it into the first and second part, but both of the same import.
I. We are called upon to praise God, #Ps
147:1,7,12.
II. We are furnished with matter for praise,
for God is to be glorified,
1. As the God of
nature, and so he is very great, #Ps 147:4-5,8-9,15-18.
2. As the God of
grace, comforting his people, #Ps 147:3,6,10,11.
3. As the God of
Israel, Jerusalem, and Zion, settling their civil state #Ps 147:2,13,14, and
especially settling religion among them, #Ps 147:19,20.
It is easy, in singing this psalm, to apply
it to ourselves, both as to personal and national mercies, were it but as easy
to do so with suitable affections.”
(Matthew Henry)
“Subject: This is a specially
remarkable song. In it the greatness and the condescending goodness of the Lord
are celebrated The God of Israel is set forth in his peculiarity of glory as
caring for the sorrowing, the insignificant, and forgotten. The poet finds a
singular joy in extolling one who is so singularly gracious. It is a Psalm of
the city and of the field, of the first and the second creations, of the common
wealth and of the church. It is good and pleasant throughout.
“Division:
The, song appears to divide itself into three portions. From #Ps 147:1-6,
Jehovah is extolled for building up Zion, and blessing his mourners; from #Ps
147:7-11, the like praise is given because of his provision for the lowly, and
his pleasure in them; and then, from #Ps 147:12-20, he is magnified for his
work on behalf of his people, and the power of his word in nature and in grace.
Let it be studied with joyful gratitude.”
(Charles H. Spurgeon)
“When
Nehemiah and his people finished rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, restoring
the gates, and resettling the people, they called a great assembly for
celebration and dedication, and it is likely that this psalm was written for
that occasion (vv. 2, 12-114; Neh. 12:27-43).
The verb ‘gather together’ in verse 2 is used in Ezekiel 39:28 for the
return of the captives to Judah, and the word ‘outcast’ in verse 2 is used for
these exiles (Neh. 1:9). One of the
unique characteristics of this psalm is the large number of present participles
in it—‘building, healing, binding, counting, lifting up,’ and so on—all of
which speak of the constant and dynamic working of the Lord for His people. The psalm presents three reasons why the
people should praise the Lord, and each section is marked off by the command to
praise God (vv. 1, 7 and 12).” (Warren
Wiersbe)
Praise the
Lord—His People Have Been Restored (vv 1-6):
“1 Praise the LORD! For it is good to
sing praises to our God; For 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 wounds. 4 He counts the number of the stars;
He gives names to all of them. 5 Great is our Lord and abundant in strength;
His understanding is infinite. 6 The LORD supports the afflicted; He brings
down the wicked to the ground.”
As
we looked at the introductions from different commentators and even several
that I did not include we saw a difference of opinion as to when and even who
penned this psalm. Some thought that it
was David and the time was when the first temple was being built. Others though that it was during the time
when the captives from Israel returned their land which was decreed by Cyrus in
537 B.C., and Isaiah the prophet
prophesied of this event by even giving the name of Cyrus in chapters 44-45 of
his book. Jeremiah also spoke of this
return and even gives the length of stay in chapters 25 and 29 of his
book. After my brief look at this psalm
and the different commentators that I have read I have come to the conclusion
that the psalm was written after the Jews returned to Jerusalem from their
captivity in Babylon.
As
we look at the event of the Jews returning to Israel we know that this event
was a very emotional event for them, and the psalmist captures the emotion of
those who had returned. Some of those
who returned were old enough to remember being captured by the Babylonians and
the cruel treatment that they received both in Jerusalem and then in
Babylon. They had all lost friends and
family members too during this time. We
see that the psalmist shows the tenderness of God in dealing with these people,
“He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds.”
We
also see the greatness of our God in this section of Psalm 147: “4 He counts the number of the stars; He
gives names to all of them. 5 Great is our Lord and abundant in strength; His
understanding is infinite.” We see here
not only the power, but also the understanding of our God and for that we
surely can praise Him.
Spiritual meaning for my life
today: Every morning
before I begin to write to my Spiritual Diary I try to have a prayer time with
the Lord, and in this time of prayer I first ask the Lord to search my heart
for any hidden sins and also confess sins that I know that I have
committed. I feel that this is necessary
in order to have a sweet fellowship with the Lord. Next I praise the Lord for His attributes,
including His holiness, goodness, compassion, His being all powerful, all wise,
all knowing, and the fact that He is everywhere. Love and justice are the last two attributes
that I praise the Lord for. I also pray
for other matters like praying that the Lord will open my heart and mind to
understand from His Word, and pray that the Lord will use my Spiritual Diary as
it goes onto my blog to bring honor and glory to the Lord. As we look at this portion of this psalm we
see different attributes of our Lord, as we see His power and also His
compassion two aspects of His character that are worthy of our praise.
My Steps of Faith for Today: Praise the
Lord for who He is, continue to learn contentment, and continue to study the
Word of God in order to have my mind transformed by His Word so that I am more
and more conformed to the image of my Lord.
Memory verses for the
week: Psalm 130:1-8
1 Out of the depths I have cried to
You, O LORD. 2 Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive To the voice of
my supplications. 3 If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could
stand? 4 But there is forgiveness with
You, That You may be feared.
5 I wait for the LORD, my soul does wait,
And in His word do I hope. 6 My soul waits for the Lord More than the watchmen
for the morning; Indeed, more than the watchmen for the morning. 7 O Israel,
hope in the LORD; For with the LORD there is lovingkindness, And with Him is
abundant redemption. 8 And He will redeem Israel From all his iniquities. 12/10/2012 9:27:03 AM
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