Psalms 147:7

DIVISION II

Briggs' summary: The congregation is summoned to sing and play to Him who sends the rain upon the earth for the service of man (Psalms 147:7-8), who provideth for the animals, but especially delights in those that fear Him (Psalms 147:9-11).[16]

"Sing unto Jehovah with thanksgiving;

Sing praises upon the harp unto our God,

Who covereth the heavens with clouds,

Who prepareth rain for the earth,

Who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains,

Who giveth to the beast his food,

And to the young ravens which cry.

He delighteth not in the strength of the horse:

He taketh no pleasure in the legs of man.

Jehovah taketh pleasure in them that fear him,

In those that hope in his lovingkindness."

"Sing unto Jehovah, etc." (Psalms 147:7). This, as in all three divisions is the introduction.

"Clouds ... rain ... grass to grow upon the mountains" (Psalms 147:8). The picture here is that of the beginning of the rainy season. In the long hot periods of Palestine, all of the vegetation tends to dry up and become brown; and nothing could be more welcome to people suffering from such arid heat than the appearance of clouds and the prospect of rain, after which the grass will flourish even on the high hills.

"He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens that cry" (Psalms 147:9). In Psalms 145, we commented on the wonder of God's feeding his entire creation for countless centuries, maintaining them perpetually upon the earth. See comment there.

"He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh no pleasure in the legs of a man" (Psalms 147:10). These clauses are parallel, presenting the same thought in different words. The question that Leupold raised regarding this is, "How could God be impressed with the strength of a horse? God created him!"[17]

Furthermore, for the same reason, God is not impressed either with the strong leg of a man nor the beautiful leg of a woman. He made both! The big lesson here concerns men and their abilities.

"Not only hath the Lord no pleasure in any man's legs, but not in any man's brains, nor in any man's wit, nor in any man's tongue, regardless of how eloquent, nor in any man's wealth, no matter how great; but, "The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him."[18]

Rhodes' comment on this is also true: "God does not delight in the physical strength of either animal or man; he takes pleasure in those who respond to him in reverence and hope."[19]

Briggs applied this verse as a reference to, "The chief means of gaining victory"[20] over enemies, which in those times was usually won by strong horses and strong men. Delitzsch gave the meaning here as, "The strength of the horse and muscular power are of no avail when God wills to destroy a man."[21]