Studies in Psalms – Psa 147:1-6, Part 1 (“Great is Thy Faithfulness” – Lam 3:23)

[Study Aired March 12, 2020]

Psa 147:1  Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.
Psa 147:2  The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.
Psa 147:3  He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
Psa 147:4  He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.
Psa 147:5  Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.
Psa 147:6  The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.

There are three logical breaks in this psalm, with the start of the first section simply declaring “praise ye the Lord” (vs 1), the second section starting off with “sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving” (vs 7), and the third section declaring who it is that should “praise the Lord” (vs 12).

In every case, after each of these verses, the answer is then given as to why we praise/sing unto the Lord, as we come to recognize His grandeur and greatness more and more in all that he does, has done, and will do, throughout all the ages.

God’s elect praise Him for the mercy which He will extend to all of the world in due time, being the ones to whom He is showing mercy first in this age of grace and faith that leads to our salvation, in a day of salvation as it is called (Rom 11:32, 2Co 6:2).

Rom 11:32  For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

2Co 6:2  (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

2Co 6:2 For He is saying, “In a season acceptable I reply to you, And in a day of salvation I help you. Lo! Now is a most acceptable era! Lo! Now is a day of salvation!” [CLV]

Here are some of the reasons, taken from the verses of our study, why we “praise ye the Lord”, “sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving” and “praise the Lord”:

• The LORD doth build up Jerusalem
• He healeth the broken in heart
• He telleth the number of the stars
• The LORD lifteth up the meek
• Who covereth the heaven with clouds
• He giveth to the beast his food
• He delighteth not in the strength of the horse
• The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him
• For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates
• He maketh peace in thy borders
• He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth
• He giveth snow like wool
• He casteth forth his ice like morsels
• He sendeth out his word
• He sheweth his word unto Jacob
• He hath not dealt so with any nation

Below are the four ways in which the word “praise” is used in this Psalm 147, and I want to focus in on the first word that brings out the point that this praise is to be continual, as opposed to the other definitions that describe how we make that continual praise unto God.

Praise^H1984 [1Th 5:18, Eph 5:20, Mat 5:14-16]
Praises^H2167
Praise^H8416
Praise^H7623

H1984 haw-lal’

A primitive root; to be clear (originally of sound, but usually of color); to shine; hence to make a show; to boast; and thus to be (clamorously) foolish; to rave; causatively to celebrate; also to stultify: – (make) boast (self), celebrate, commend, (deal, make), fool (-ish, -ly), glory, give [light], be (make, feign self) mad (against), give in marriage, [sing, be worthy of] praise, rage, renowned, shine.

PraiseH1984  from BTSCTVM+

1. to shine 
2. (Qal) to shine (fig. of God’s favour) 
3. (Hiphil) to flash forth light 
4. to praise, boast, be boastful 
5. (Qal) 
6. to be boastful 
7. boastful ones, boasters (participle) 
8. (Piel) H1984 [H8761] (“Praise” of verse 1)

Stem -Piel  See [H8840] usually expresses an “intensive” or “intentional” action

Mood -Imperative  See [H8810] This verb class indicates an order or a command

1. to praise [1Pe_2:9 , Mat_5:14 , Joh_9:5 , Joh_11:9]

My comments: [knowing the true gospel prevents us from spiritually stumbling and that is only possible by walking or having the true light of the world within us Jesus Christ – 2Co 4:4 , Rom 8:9]

2. to boast, make a boast [Psa_44:8 , Joh_11:9]

My comments: [all the day long we praise God, we glorify God continually with Christ in us: Psa 44:8  In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah.  Joh 11:9  Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.] 

1. (Pual) 
2. to be praised, be made praiseworthy, be commended, be worthy of praise 
3. (Hithpael) to boast, glory, make one’s boast 
4. (Poel) to make a fool of, make into a fool 
5. (Hithpoel) to act madly, act like a madman 

The first time the word praise^H1984 is used in this psalm is in verse one, and this word can have a negative or positive connotation as we can either boast^H1984 in the Lord or we can be boasting in our flesh, which is what we do when we’re not given the power to overcome our naturally boastful flesh described in verse 1 (Psa 97:7, 1Co 4:7).

Psa 97:7  Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast^H1984 themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods.

1Co 4:7  For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?

The same idea is expressed in (Rom 3:27) where the word boasting^G2746 can also have a negative or positive sense to it. While we are operating under the law of sin, we are by nature boasting in our flesh (Rom 7:23-25). These verses in Romans explain why we naturally make our boast in our flesh, but thanks be to God, praise God, make your boast in God, for we can through Christ “delight in the law of God after the inward man” (Rom 7:22, Rom 8:9). That law in which we are delighting “after the inward man” is “the law of Christ” that puts an end to the law for the lawless “for righteousness to every one that believeth” as Christ the “inward man” our hope of glory within (Col 1:27) gives us dominion over our sinful flesh that is exposed by the law for the lawless  (Gal 6:2, 1Ti 1:9, Rom 10:4, Rom 7:13).

G2746 kow’-khay-sis

From G2744; boasting (properly the act; by implication the objective), in a good or a bad sense: – boasting, whereof I may glory, glorifying, rejoicing.

Rom 3:27  Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 

Gal 6:2  Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

1Ti 1:9  Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,

Rom 10:4  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. [Joh 6:28-29]

Rom 7:13  Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

God has called the elect “the outcasts of Israel” to make our boast in the Lord who “healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds“.  God’s elect boast, or give thanks and praise, that God has called us unto the marriage supper of the lamb as Christ’s bride is made ready through judgment. 

Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 
Rev 19:8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 

Act 5:41  And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. 

Rom 5:3  And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 
Rom 5:4  And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 
Rom 5:5  And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

2Co 12:10  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Col 1:11  Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; 

Col 1:24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: 

In Psalm 78:63 we learn the positive sense of being given in marriage as opposed to Matthew 24:38, and this ties into why we boast in the Lord and do all that we do to the glory of God giving honour to him (Rev 19:7), with the end goal in mind that we have been called to this blessing (1Pe 3:9) to be in this blessed and holy first resurrection as the bride of Christ (Rev 19:9).

Psa 78:63  The fire consumed their young men; and their maidens were not given to marriage. 

Mat 24:38  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 

Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

1Pe 3:9  Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. 
1Pe 3:10  For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: 
1Pe 3:11  Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. 
1Pe 3:12  For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. [“great is thy faithfulness“]

Rev 19:9  And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. 

As we go through this life, as we go through this study, let’s ask God to help us keep this verse in our hearts: “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready“, giving glory unto God as we continue to offer up the sacrifice of thanksgiving to our Father whose faithfulness is great toward each of us.

Heb 13:15  By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. 

Lam 3:23  They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. 
Lam 3:24  The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. [Col 1:27]

Php 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: 

Psa 147:1 Praise^H1984 ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises^H2167 unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise^H8416 is comely. 

Christ tells us it is good to shine [“to shine; hence to make a show; to boast“], to let our light [Christ (Joh 8:12)] shine as we “Praise ye the LORD” throughout this life (Mat 5:16). That first use of the word praise^H1984 as we have seen means to shine. It is Christ that is working in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure which is to glorify our Father in heaven, shining as the light of this world that we are (Php 2:13 , Mat 5:14-15). 

When we “sing praises^H2167 unto our God”, “it is pleasant^H5273 and praise^H8416 is comely^H5000 (Psa 33:1, Jer 6:2).”

Another way of saying this is when we present our bodies as living sacrifices (Rom 12:1) or instruments to be used to His glory, it is like a sweet savour (2Co 2:15) unto the Lord as we offer up the sacrifice of thanksgiving which before God is the fruit of our lips that we offer up to Him through Christ.

Heb 13:15  By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. 

“Praises” – H2167 zaw-mar’

A primitive root (perhaps identical with H2168 through the idea of striking with the fingers); properly to touch the strings or parts of a musical instrument, that is, play upon it; to make music, accompanied by the voice; hence to celebrate in song and music: – give praise, sing forth praises, psalms. 

[touch the strings – make music – celebrate in song – remind us of these scriptures: Rom 2:13, 1Jn 3:18, Tit 3:8]

“Pleasant”^H5273 naw-eem’

From H5276; delightful (objectively or subjectively, literally or figuratively): – pleasant (-ure), sweet. 

“Praise” – H8416 teh-hil-law’

From H1984; laudation; specifically (concretely) a hymn: – praise.

[The object is to be believing by the faith of Christ, and it is by those works of faith that we are justified. Even when we can’t physically move we can still be doing a great work of service via the faith of Christ (Gal 2:20) as we praise our Father through those actions of faith that are either “objectively or subjectively, literally (concretely) or figuratively” unfolding in our lives (Heb 11:19).  We believe we are being received, or accepted in the beloved, being raised in heavenly places together Eph 1:6, Eph 2:6 and as such are emboldened to choose rather “to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season” (Heb 11:25)].

Now that we’ve look at the meaning of the words PraiseH1984, PraisesH2167, and PraiseH8416, in this first verse of our study and what it means for us as God’s elect today, it will help us better understand the next series of verses that describe how God uses our life of shining or praising Him to build up the body of Christ. We are not shining to draw attention to ourselves (1Co 4:7) as the Pharisees did in Christ’s day (Mat 6:2), but rather shining or praising God through Christ, boasting in that positive sense, to bring glory to the One who is worthy of all our praise and thanksgiving in every age, the One who is building the church (Psa 127:1, Mat 16:18).

Psa 147:2  The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel. 

Our Father’s modus operandi, and Christ’s, is to build up the church “build up Jerusalem” Jerusalem above (Joh 5:17, Mat 16:18) and he is doing this vis-a-vis “the outcasts of Israel“, the Israel of God who we are (Gal 6:16), the weak of the world, the not many noble brethren (1Co 1:26).

Joh 5:17  But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.

Mat 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 

Gal 6:16  And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

1Co 1:26  For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 

It is this work of building up the church, in particular, that is the work that glorifies God on the earth today. As we are about our Father’s business, as Christ was (1Jn 4:17), we are learning to be fishers of men who will, in time, save the rest of God’s creation that our Father has devised a means to redeem through the church, the body of Christ (2Sa 14:14, Oba 1:21).

1Jn 4:17  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 

2Sa 14:14  For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him. 

Oba 1:21  And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S. 

Psa 147:3  He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.

Christ builds the church up by tearing down all the old false doctrines that leave us feeling broken and unfulfilled (Luk 15:17), and it is through that process that He shows us what we are and how great our need is for a Saviour to deliver us from ourselves (Pro 14:12).

We need to go through this breaking process, the much tribulation of (Act 14:22), the judgment upon us of (1Pe 4:17), the many afflictions of (Psa 34:19), the chastening and scourging of (Heb 12:6), all in order to learn of His great power that is able to destroy the marred clay vessel and make something new (Jer 18:4). That newness in Christ (Rom 6:4) is the “binding up their wounds” that we all need, and is that “poor and of a contrite spirit” we read of in (Isa 66:2).

Isa 66:2  For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. 

God’s faithfulness is great in regard to this process of breaking and healing, of wounding and binding, and he tells us as much with the following verses that we’re given for our comfort and admonition at this time: (Eze 34:16, 2Co 1:4, 2Ti 3:15, 2Pe 1:4).

Eze 34:16  I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment. 

It is His faithfulness that should be the object of our praise (our boasting) as we come to see more clearly and rejoice more and more for the witness of his power working in our heavens to deliver us from the adversary who, if it were possible, would deceive the very elect; but we know it is impossible for God to lie, and he has told us that nothing shall separate us from his love. Here are some more confirming verses that reveal this very truth!

Psa 118:27  God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar. 

Mat 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 

Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 
Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Mat 24:24  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Php 1:6  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: 

Php 2:13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. 

Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

Eph 1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Rom 8:29  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 

Rev 13:8  And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. 

Psa 147:4  He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names. 
Psa 147:5  Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite. 

Great is his faithfulness, shown to us in the details that describe what our Father is doing right now, how he is wakeful over his word to carry it out continually (Jer 1:12). “He telleth the number of the stars” means that as we go through this life, God can and does by his great power, control and run the whole creation, within and without (Eph 1:11). 

He numbers all our days, as His stars, and has them written in a book that declares the end from the beginning (Psa 139:16, Isa 46:10). “He calleth them all by their names“, meaning that we are all, in our appointed time, called what we are, whether we see ourselves as such or not. Christ knew the Pharisees of his age were of their father the devil, but also knew that they considered themselves to be accepted with God because of the patriarchal relationship with Abraham (Mat 3:9). That of course is a shadow of how we were confident in our own unbelief while we were steeped in  the Babylonian traditions of this world.

God’s “understanding is infinite” and His ways past finding out does not mean that we should not put forth every effort to know Christ and the power of His resurrection (Php 3:10) as we die daily (1Co 15:31). No, God wants us to acknowledge (boast/shine/praise) that His words of eternal life that He is wakeful over, are being understood by those who are given to heed the admonition to seek him out with all their heart, mind and strength in this life (Jer 29:13, Mar 12:30). 

It is what we pursue that matters as well as how much we pursue it, because we know that God requires that we fight a good fight of faith and labour to enter into the rest that we are called unto (1Ti 6:12, Heb 4:11). There are those that God has caused to be blinded by the god of this world (2Co 4:4) who still ‘labour’, but because the Lord is not building their house in this age (Psa 127:1), they are ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth (2Ti 3:7), by God’s design.

God is so great that he can blind or open the eyes of anyone of us in an instant, but there is an order to how we come to know our Father and Jesus Christ, and God has orchestrated that order in such a manner as seems wise to Him (Mat 11:25-27). It is in that order that all flesh will be humbled, starting with the first fruits who are the first to be judged and purified by His word and built into a holy temple that glorifies our Father and serves his purpose of one day bringing in the rest of his creation (Rom 11:30-31). When we contemplate the grandeur of it all it truly is unsearchable, especially in regard to the incredible mercy that He is showing to all of his creation at every moment. For those things God’s elect are caused to say “Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite” expressed this way in the same chapter of Romans (Rom 11:33-34).

Mat 11:25  At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. 
Mat 11:26  Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. 
Mat 11:27  All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. 

Rom 11:30  For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: 
Rom 11:31  Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. 

Rom 11:33  O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! 
Rom 11:34  For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? 
Rom 11:35  Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? [1Ch 29:14]
Rom 11:36  For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. 

Psa 147:6  The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground. 

This verse tells us why we ought to take pleasure in “infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” (2Co 12:10).

We were made marred in the hand of Potter for that very reason, to raise up Pharaoh in our hearts and have him destroyed “he casteth the wicked down to the ground” (Rom 9:17).

We will be humbled by his mighty hand in this age if we are his (Mat 23:12), and we will be received through those evil experiences we must endure through this life, and then “The LORD [will] lifteth up the meek” because of those  plagues that He will pour out, resulting in our being that blessed watchman who keeps his garments, and does not walk about spiritually naked so others can see our shame, because great is his faithfulness that has made the bride ready (Rev 16:1-15, Rev 19:7).

Mat 23:12  And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

Rev 16:15  Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. 

Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.