# 37 2022 Dev. Psalm 147:11. God’s Love! Read all of Psalm 147 first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. How will it affect yours? All passages are taken from the NIV.
Psalm 147:11 “the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.”
Ps.146-150 is the final series of hymns of the Psalter that are a medley of praise. All are framed with: “Praise the Lord.”
Psalm 147 also begins and ends with “Praise the Lord.” This Psalm was possibly composed for the dedication of the wall and the revival of Jerusalem, in the time of Nehemiah, Ch.12:27- 43 (NIV). The center of the Psalm are verses 10-11.
V.1 “Praise the Lord.” What a privilege and blessing it is to praise God! Our spirits’ are revived and our faith is strengthened as we worship together in our churches today but also in our daily living, all of living is worship for the followers of Jesus.
Vs.2-6 praises God for the care of His people, physically and spiritedly, God is praised for the glory of His creation, for His mighty power, for “his understanding”, for His love for the humble and for His distain for the wicked.The Psalmist equates God’s care with His glory, if God created the universe, placing and naming the stars, would He not also take care of His people?
V.7 “Sing to the Lord…” verse seven stands alone, urging us to be thankful with “grateful praise; make music to our God…”
Vs.8-9 Praise God for the care of our natural world, God provides for His animals and He gives us the responsibility to care for His sanctuary, the world and place we live in.
Vs.10-11 God’s pleasure is not in human endeavor, nor the accomplishments of man, as amazing as they are. No, “The Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.” This is the center of the Psalm and should be the center of our lives, Amen.
V.12 “extol the Lord…” verse twelve stands alone, urging us, people of God, followers of Jesus, to praise God for His unfailing love.
Vs.13-14 “He strengthens … and blesses… grants peace… and satisfies you with the finest wheat.” The Psalmist here speaks to Israel but God speaks to us today, the church, the followers of Jesus is Israel today, wherever they are in this world. Our Land, the US, is particularly blessed with the blessings of verses 13 and 14. We ask ourselves, for how long? And we pray fervently for change and may God continue to bless us.
Vs.15-18 “He sends his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly.” These verses remind us of: “as the rain and snow comes down from heaven…so is my word that goes out of my mouth: it it will not return to me empty” Isa. 55 Read the whole chapter.
Vs.19-20 “He has revealed his word to Jacob, his laws and decrees to Israel. He has done this for no other nation…” But that was the role for Israel, to be the example, the standard for praise and worship, and that is the role for the church and followers of Jesus today. The true marks of the church, true preaching of the Word, the proper administration of the sacrament, the proper application of discipline, and the Word of God adds what I call a fourth mark; the fervent and continuous proclamation of the Good News. Yes, that is the true preaching of the Word, but to those who have not heard, or have not had an opportunity to respond. Our actions and words in our daily lives are included, they are all equally important. Amen. “Praise the Lord.”
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