Psalms 147:1

PSALM 147

PRAISING GOD FOR ISRAEL'S RETURN TO JERUSALEM

The scholars are somewhat perplexed about the unity of this psalm. The Septuagint (LXX) makes a separate psalm out of Psalms 147:12-20; Yates found, "Three psalms (Psalms 147:1-6; Psalms 147:7-11; and Psalms 147:12-20) compressed into one, "[1] as did also Briggs and Ballard. However, as Allen, a very recent scholar pointed out, "There are patterns running through the psalm which point to its unity."[2] This writer finds no difficulty whatever in receiving the psalm, as it stands, as a perfect unity. Delitzsch pointed out that there is a progression in the psalm throughout, "Both in respect of the building of the walls (Psalms 147:2,13), and in respect of the circumstances of the weather."[3] This falls little short of being a guarantee that the psalm is a unity.

The author, of course, is unknown; but the occasion has been quite reasonably supposed to have been, "The autumn feast of Tabernacles, in view of the reference to the harvest (Psalms 147:14), and to the Law (Psalms 147:19)."[4] Delitzsch also supported this view, accepting the interpretation of Psalms 147:13 as a reference to, "The dedication of the walls in the times of Nehemiah."[5] He also stated, "That the composition of this psalm in the times of Nehemiah is acknowledged by the most diverse parties."[6]

Rawlinson gave the year 445 B.C. as the "time when the walls and gates of Jerusalem were built following the exile."[7] If we are correct in associating this psalm with the time of building the walls and gates, then the date of 397 B.C., as alleged by Ballard,[8] is in error by about half a century.

"The threefold summons to praise or thanksgiving (Psalms 147:1,7 and Psalms 147:12) reveals the structure of the psalm."[9] We shall follow this paragraphing and use the paragraph headings suggested by Briggs.

Psalms 147:1-6

DIVISION I

Briggs' summary: This is a summons to the congregation to praise Yahweh for his goodness and sweetness in rebuilding Jerusalem and restoring her people (Psalms 147:1-3). Though he numbers and names the stars as their sovereign Lord, He interposes on behalf of his afflicted people against their enemies (Psalms 147:4-6).[10]

"Praise ye Jehovah;

For it is good to sing praises unto our God;

For it is pleasant, and praise is comely.

For Jehovah doth build up Jerusalem;

He gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.

He healeth the broken in heart,

And bindeth up their wounds.

He counteth the number of the stars;

And calleth them all by their names.

Great is our Lord, and mighty in power;

His understanding is infinite.

Jehovah upholdeth the meek:

He bringeth the wicked down to the ground."

"Praise ye Jehovah" (Psalms 147:1). Note that a similar invitation to praise God initiates each of the three divisions.

"The Lord doth build up Jerusalem" (Psalms 147:2). Miller made a very important observation regarding the verb tenses in this psalm, pointing out that, with the exceptions of Psalms 147:13, and Psalms 147:20a, "The verbs here should be translated by the English present tense."[11] This means that, "The psalmist is vividly describing actions taking place at the very time he writes."[12]

The chronology of the events described here is as follows:

"The rebuilding of Jerusalem after the captivity required more than ninety years, from B.C. 538 till B.C. 445. First, the temple was built (B.C. 538-515); then the city; and finally the walls and the gates (B.C. 445). The exiles returned gradually - some under Zerubbabel (B.C. 538); some with Ezra (B.C. 457); others, doubtless, with Nehemiah, in B.C. 445; and again in B.C. 434."[13]

"He gathereth together the outcasts of Israel" (Psalms 147:2). How do we know that this language refers to the return of the exiles from Babylon? As Barnes pointed out, "It is in such language that the prophets predicted their return."[14] As Isaiah stated it, "He (God) shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah" (Isaiah 11:12).

"He counteth the stars ... calleth them by names" (Psalms 147:4). "According to ancient ideas, to name a thing was to call it into existence."[15] Therefore, this reveals God as the Creator of the stars, countering the heathen notion that the stars were gods exercising baleful influence upon men. The language here is suggestive of that in Isaiah 40:26.

"His understanding is infinite ... Jehovah upholdeth the meek" (Psalms 147:5-6). The stars, of course, are to men innumerable; and the infinity, omnipotence, and omniscience of God are brought to mind in such a declaration as we have in Psalms 147:4, but the real point of this is that, although God's greatness is so incomprehensibly above mankind, he nevertheless upholds and supports Israel against her enemies, as stated in Briggs' summary, above.