.svg)
Psalm 147 begins with a weighty command: “Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God.” As far as scriptural commands go, this one is not too bad. And most of us enjoy the opportunity to obey it. But have you ever wondered what might motivate a person to write a Psalm like this or how this Psalm fits into the Psalter?
While most of the books of the Bible were written by a single author at a particular time, the Psalms were written over a span of about 600 hundred years by an unknown number of authors. What unites this book is that each of the Psalms reflects the work of God in the people of God during a specific time in the history of Israel.
In this case, Psalm 147 is a “Post-Exilic Psalm,” which means it was written when the Jewish people returned to the land of Israel following the Babylonian Captivity. It was quite possibly sung at the dedication of the Second Temple. Reflecting on his own experiences as well as the experiences of all of God’s people, the Psalmist commands the reader three times to “Praise the Lord” and follows each command with a list of reasons to do so, each section built around a theme: he restores his people, he provides for his people, and he guards his people.
Praise God Because He Restores His People (v. 1-6)
Remember, this Psalm recalls the time when the exiles were returning to Jerusalem and rebuilding the temple—during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah. The first reason the Psalmist gives us to praise God is that he has brought his sinful people back home—gathered them up and healed them. The word used for healing here is “Rapha,” a word used as one of God’s names during the time of the Exodus—Jehovah Rapha, the LORD our Healer. The Israelites then, and we today, are being reminded that even when we stray from God, he is willing to bring us healing, and to bring us home.
Possibly, I am reading too much into this, but I love that the Psalmist next says, “He determines the number of the stars,” because that is how many descendants the LORD promised Abraham. He will not forget to bring any of his own home—no one will be left behind.
Next, We Can Praise God Because He Provides for those in Need (v. 7-11)
This celebration for those in need may sound odd to us with our climate-controlled lives, but in a desert land, covering people with clouds is a rich gift. As an American living in India, I was surprised that love songs are different—often the refrain is something like, “My life was all sunshine and light until you came to bring me clouds and rain.” Because clouds and rain are what make life bearable in the desert.
Notice that as the Psalmist continues to describe God’s provision, he says that it does not depend on us, the strength of our resources, or even the strength we have in ourselves. I am sure his original audience would have considered how their military failed to keep them out of captivity. What pleases God is when we walk with him in holiness as his kingdom of priests, his holy nation, when we trust in him and walk in his ways and not when we lean on our own strength.
Third, We Can Praise God Because He Protects His People (v. 12-20)
How does God protect his people? By giving them his word—his creative word that controls the universe, his written word that guides his people, and ultimately himself as the Word, Jesus Christ. I think the Psalmist is giving the people a subtle reminder as they are returning from Exile. The God who created you and made you his treasure called you to be a holy nation and a kingdom of priests. You know what no one else knows. Live according to that revelation and share it with others.
Perhaps you are now sitting there thinking to yourself, “Well, that was an interesting little history lesson—or worse, an uninteresting one—but what does it have to do with me?
We often talk about how the story of the Exodus and entry into the Promised Land is an allegory for the beginning of the Christian life. We were in slavery to sin and God came to deliver us and to bring us into a new place—His Church—where we can grow and prosper in his ways. Through baptism we cross the Jordan River and enter into the Promised Land.
Similarly, I think the story of the Exile and Return is an allegory of the continued Christian life. When we walk in disobedience, God may send us into exile—not to destroy us, but to wake us up and draw us back into right relationship with him. To live as a holy people inviting others to come into his kingdom.
Was there a time when you were closer to God than you are now? How would you return? How would you rededicate the Temple? Renew your covenant?
Each week, we have a built-in rededication ceremony in our Eucharistic celebration. We begin with a time of confession, allowing us to acknowledge our sin and to be reminded that God is ready to forgive. And then, we move to the Lord’s table, where we receive life, hope, and a renewed commission to do the work He has given us to do.
Rev Dr Brad Roderick
Trinity Anglican Seminary
