Psalm 147

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 147:7

Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving ,.... These are the words of the psalmist unto the Israelites, according to Aben Ezra and Kimchi; but may be an exhortation to all men, especially good men; who are capable of observing the following things concerning providential goodness and special grace, on account of which they are called upon to "sing unto the Lord": or to "answer" F17 ענו "respondete", Montanus, Cocceius; "alternis canite", Tigurine version, Piscator, Michaelis. ; to sing... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 147:8

Who covereth the heaven with clouds ,.... Which are exhalations of vapours out of the earth, and of waters out of the sea, by the sun, and formed into clouds; which are carried about in the air, and let down in showers of rain upon the earth, in proper places, for the good of the inhabitants; and sometimes, when necessary, the heavens are covered and become black with them, as in the times of Ahab, 2 Kings 18:35 ; and though they look dark, dull, and melancholy, yet are for great... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 147:9

He giveth to the beast his food ,.... Through the plenty of grass growing upon the mountains, by the rain falling from the clouds of heaven upon them: these cannot provide for themselves, but the Lord feeds them; and they wait upon him for their food, and receive it of him, Psalm 104:27 . How much more will he feed his own people, both with temporal and spiritual food; though in their fallen state they are become like the beasts, of which they are sensible when called by grace, and own and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 147:10

He delighteth not in the strength of the horse ,.... It has been his will and pleasure to give the horse strength for the use and service of men, both for labour and war; and as this is a creature of his, and the work of his hands, it must be agreeable to him, Job 39:19 yet a horse, though prepared for the battle, is a vain thing for safety, which is only of the Lord; neither can it deliver any by its great strength; nor are a king and his country saved by the multitude of an host, or by a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 147:11

The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him ,.... With a filial and godly fear; that serve and worship him, privately and publicly, with reverence and love: as, appears by the goodness he lays up for them; the good things he communicates to them; the discoveries of his love, covenant, and grace, they have from him; the guard he sets about them; his eye of providence and grace over them; and his heart full of love, pity, and compassion to them; see Psalm 33:18 ; in those that hope in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 147:12

Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem ,.... The inhabitants of it, as Kimchi; not Jerusalem in a literal sense, for this respects future time, as Aben Ezra; the world to come, the times of the Messiah: and intends the spiritual Jerusalem, as Arama; that which is free, the mother of us all; the Gospel church, and the members of it; which have great reason to praise the Lord, for their special blessings and peculiar privileges; see Galatians 4:26 ; praise thy God, O Zion ; not the house and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 147:13

For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates ,.... Of Jerusalem, of Zion the church of God. Gates are for the letting in of persons into the city of our God; which are Christ, faith in him, and a profession of it; see Isaiah 26:1 , "bars" are for the security of those that, are in it, and to keep out the enemy: and these, "strengthened", denote the utmost safety of the true members of Christ and his church; who have nothing to fear from their spiritual enemies, sin, law, Satan, the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 147:14

He maketh peace in thy borders ,.... Which are usually most infested by enemies, It may denote the universality of peace throughout the land, in all the parts and borders of it; and be understood of the outward peace of the church with her enemies, and of the abundance and continuance of it in the latter day; and of that concord and harmony that shall be among the members of it; and also of that inward spiritual conscience peace each enjoy through believing; and which is in and from... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 147:15

He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth ,.... Which Kimchi interprets of rain, which causes the wheat to grow; since afterwards mention is made of snow, and of hoar frost and ice. Aben Ezra understands it of the decree of God, which he executes on earth. The Targum, of the "Memra", or Word of the Lord; the essential Word, the Messiah; whom the Lord sent on earth to perform the great work of redemption and salvation; and who came speedily, and tarried not when the fulness of time was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 147:16

He giveth snow like wool ,.... For colour as white as wool; so the Targum and Kimchi: and for the manner of its falling, lightly and gently as a lock of wool; which for its thinness and fineness it also resembles. Hence the ancients used to call snow εριωδες υδωρ , "woolly water" F20 Eustathius in Dionys. Perieget. p. 91. ; and Martial F21 Epigram. l. 4. Ep. 3. gives it the name of "densum veilus aquarum", "a thick fleece of waters": so another poet F23 Aristoph. Nubes, p.... read more

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