Psa 147:12-20, Part 3 “Great is Thy Faithfulness” (Lam 3:23)

[Study Aired March 26, 2020]

Psa 147:12  Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion. 
Psa 147:13  For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee. 
Psa 147:14  He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat.
Psa 147:15  He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly. 
Psa 147:16  He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes.
Psa 147:17  He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold? 
Psa 147:18  He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow.
Psa 147:19  He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. 
Psa 147:20  He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD.

As mentioned at the start of all three studies with Psalm 147, there are three logical breaks that divide the Psalm into three sections, with the start of the first section simply declaring “praise ye the Lord” (vs 1), the second section declaring we should “sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving” (vs 7),  and then the third section showing us who it is that should “praise the Lord” (vs 12).

We are praising God for the judgment that is in our lives today, not just a baptism of water judgment, typified by John the baptist who pointed us to Christ typifying that time when we stumbled unto Christ, but rather a fiery baptism that comes after we receive the word of God so true spiritual healing can come to us as a result of the unquenchable fire Christ brings into the lives of those who are being crushed in this age (Luk 12:49-50), so that we can bring forth fruit meet for repentance by being blessed to zealously continue in the truth.

Luk 12:49  I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?
Luk 12:50  But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!

Mat 3:11  I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
Mat 3:12  Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

Joh 3:5  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Mat 21:44  And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. [through the fiery trials, the unquenchable fire of 1 Peter 4:12 that forms fine flour from the “finest of the wheat” of vs 14, explained later in study].

Mat 3:8  Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

Tit 2:14  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. [“fruits meet for repentance”]

Joh 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Once again this section of the Psalm also reminds us of God’s great faithfulness toward the Israel of God through typical language that speaks of the ancient nation of Israel which we know represents both our stage in Babylon in the churches of this world as well as our ‘coming out of her my people’ as we die daily (2Co 6:17, 1Co 15:31).

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

2Co 6:17  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

We praise God continually and rejoice in the Lord always because we know that he who has begun a good work in us will finish it, as He has promised.

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:

Eph 1:12  That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

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.

Mat 25:34  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

Joh 14:1  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Joh 14:2  In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

It is his good pleasure to give us the kingdom and to show the world through that process how great his faithfulness is toward those things that He declares He will do from the foundation of the world (Jas 1:12, Php 4:13, Rom 8:29, Eph 1:5).

Jas 1:12  Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. [“according to the good pleasure of his will“]

This last section of Psalm  147 should really encourage us to see how great God’s faithfulness is to His first fruit remnant that he is going to save through the fiery trials and the much tribulation of this life (1Pe 4:12, Act 14:22). Clearly God has not spoken something He can’t and won’t accomplish (Luk 12:32), and He has declared we are a holy nation, a peculiar people, the bride of Christ, whom He is going to use to save the rest of humanity through a process of judgment that causes the seed to die (Joh 12:24), the one seed (Gal 3:16), as Christ sets us free from sin (1Pe 2:9, Oba 1:21, 1Co 6:3, 1Pe 4:17, Joh 8:36).

Luk 12:32  Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

1Pe 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

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.

1Co 6:3  Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

Psa 147:12  Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion. 

The following verses that will conclude our three part study of Psalm 147 demonstrate why we ought to “Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion“.

The first thing to notice is that it is speaking of God’s people, Jerusalem and Zion who typify the elect, who are praising God because he has chosen us from the foundation of the world to give witness to His great faithfulness toward those things which he has declared would be accomplished “according to the good pleasure of his will” (Rom 8:29, Mat 20:22-23, Php 1:6).

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:
Eph 1:5  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

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:

The verses that follow verse 12 of this psalm will go into detail as to what things God is doing specifically in the lives of those with whom he is working in this age, and why those things should give us continual reason to praise the Lord for His faithfulness toward His people within whom he has given this hope of glory “which is Christ in you”.

Col 1:27  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Psa 147:13  For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee. 

The gates of hell spoken of in Matthew 16:18 represent the powers and principalities against which we wrestle (Eph 6:12), and “the bars of thy gates“, on the other hand, represent the positive mind of Christ within us that declares nothing shall separate us from the love of God even as sin lies at the door or the gates of our hearts (Gen 4:7). We are promised that through Christ we will continue to be able to die daily and keep under ourselves if He has called us to endure until the end (1Co 9:27, Mat 24:12-13, Php 4:13).

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.

Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Gen 4:7  If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

1Co 9:27  But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

We are not able to be separated from God’s love (Rom 8:35-37) because “he hath strengthened^H2388 the bars of thy gates” and “blessed thy children within thee”, which represent correct doctrine or the words of eternal life abiding in us (Deu 12:28, Isa 54:13, 2Jn 1:2-4). That strengthening is what God’s faithful gift of continuing in His word (Joh 8:31) is speaking of in this verse, as we continue to overcome through God’s gift of grace and faith that make that process of overcoming possible (Eph 2:8-9).

Deu 11:8  Therefore shall ye keep all the commandments which I command you this day, that ye may be strongH2388, and go in and possess the land, whither ye go to possess it;

Deu 12:28  Observe and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee for ever, when thou doest that which is good and right in the sight of the LORD thy God.

Isa 54:13  And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.

2Jn 1:2  For the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.
2Jn 1:3  Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
2Jn 1:4  I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.

Psa 147:14  He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat.

Our borders also represent our mind that now have a peace that surpasses all understanding (Php 4:7). It is only our Father in heaven who can give us this highly cherished gift of peace as we are dragged to Christ (Joh 6:44) and raised in heavenly places where we are filled “with the finest of wheat” (Eph 2:6).

Php 4:7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Joh 6:44  No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Eph 2:6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

The “finest of wheat” represents Christ and the word of God that sanctify us, and this process of sanctification is made known to us in the wave sheaf offerings discussed in Leviticus, knowing now that this was written for God’s elect, the kind of first fruits (Jas 1:18, Eph 1:5) who we are (Lev 23:10-18).

Jas 1:18  Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Eph 1:5  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

Leviticus describes Christ and His Christ as fine flour:

Christ

Lev 23:10  Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you [Joh 14:20], and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:
Lev 23:11  And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you [Eph 1:6]: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.
Lev 23:12  And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering unto the LORD.
Lev 23:13  And the meat offering thereof shall be two tenth deals of fine flour mingled with oil [Joh 3:34], an offering made by fire unto the LORD for a sweet savour [Rom 12:1, Isa 52:14]: and the drink offering thereof shall be of wine, the fourth part of an hin (Isa 53:12). Both the “fat”^H2459 of Lev 17:6 and “finest”^H2459 of wheat of Psa 147:14 are speaking of this “sweet savour” we are unto the LORD through Christ.]

Lev 17:6  And the priest shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar of the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and burn the fat^H2459 for a sweet savour unto the LORD.

Lev 23:14  And ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn, nor green ears, until the selfsame day that ye have brought an offering unto your God: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
Lev 23:15  And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: [Heb 4:15, Rev 15:8, Heb 5:8-9]
Lev 23:16  Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD [2Co 5:17].

His Christ

Lev 23:17  Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves [Rev 11:3, Psa 104:15, Pro 24:10] of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven [Lev 5:6]; they are the firstfruits unto the LORD.

[God’s first fruits – His Christ filling up what is behind of Christ’s afflictions as the trespass offering]

Lev 23:18  And ye shall offer with the bread seven lambs without blemish of the first year [Rev 15:8], and one young bullock, and two rams: they shall be for a burnt offering unto the LORD, with their meat offering, and their drink offerings, even an offering made by fire [Mar 9:49], of sweet savour unto the LORD [Col 1:24, Col 1:27].

Psa 147:15  He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly. 

This section of the Psalm tells us again what God is doing in the hearts and minds of the elect whom he is sending “forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly“(Joh 6:63, Heb 4:12, Joh 16:13).

Joh 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Heb 4:12  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Joh 16:13  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

Christ is the bridegroom who is running this race in our heavens, and like a “bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race“ so we are encouraged with these following verses of the certainty of his finishing this work of faith within his little flock, a short work (Rom 9:28) that will convert the soul (Psa 19:5-11).

Rom 9:28  For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.

Psa 19:5  Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.
Psa 19:6  His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. [Heb 4:12]
Psa 19:7  The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
Psa 19:8  The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
Psa 19:9  The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
Psa 19:10  More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Psa 19:11  Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. [Joh 8:31-32]

Psa 147:16  He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes.
Psa 147:17  He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold? 
Psa 147:18  He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow. 
Psa 147:19  He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. 

These four verses are speaking in typical language of the judgement that is first upon the house of God today (1Pe 4:17). It is He who delivers all these things into our heavens that represent the judgment that must come upon our old man, and it is that judgment that will quicken us in His service. It is the cleansing of the temple that we are to rejoice and give thanks to God for as He faithfully carries out all of these very precise custom made trials in each of our lives that are the wonderful works unto the children of men (Psa 107:24-30), that are all working together for the good of the body of Christ who love God and have been called according to his purpose (Rom 8:28).

Notice the language surrounding those things that God gives, how it is connected to mourning and death because that is indeed what his judgements are going to produce for our old man of sin within.

In vs 16 he gives “the snow like wool” (Rev 7:1-15, Heb 9:14, Isa 1:18)

Rev 7:9  After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; …Rev 7:14  And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Heb 9:14  How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Isa 1:18  Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

In verses 16-17 “He is dispersing hoarfrost like ashes, He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold?“, which is another way of expressing judgment that will go forth and no one will be able to withstand His strong arm of judgment. Every knee shall bow in that day of judgment (Rom 14:11), our old man shall not stand, but our new man in Christ having done all will stand (Rev 6:17, Rom 8:35-37, Eph 6:13).

Job 37:9  Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north.
Job 37:10  By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened.

Mat 24:12  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

In verse 18 the imagery now changes to describe God’s word as “wind that blows” and “water that flows” and is able to “melteth them” (Eze 21:7, Psa 68:2). We are both washed with the word (Eph 5:26) and the spirit of God is also likened unto wind making the connection for us in this verse of Psalm what His fiery judgements do for us within (Joh 3:8, Joh 7:38).

Psa 68:2  As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.
Psa 68:3  But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.

Joh 7:38  He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

In vs 19 we are simply being told once again that it has been given to God’s elect to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven (Mat 13:11). In order for us to have eyes that see and ears that hear, those things that we just read in  verses 16, 17 and 18 must unfold in our heavens (1Pe 4:17).

Psa 147:20  He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD. 

No, God “hath not dealt so with any nation“, meaning He has dealt so with this nation of Israel which typifies the holy nation, the peculiar people we are who are zealous of good works (1Pe 2:9) because of His judgments or pruning in our lives which promise we will bring forth much fruit (Joh 15:2-4).

1Pe 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Joh 15:2  Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
Joh 15:3  Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
Joh 15:4  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

The rest of the world has not “known them“, His judgments that are upon the elect specifically. It is given unto us “that fear my name” that can grow and mature as “calves of the stall” (Mal 4:2). We fear His name (Luk 12:5) because we experience His judgments in this age and are not given, Lord willing, to be hardened as Israel of old in the wilderness, that, because of a spirit of unbelief were held back from inheriting the promises (Heb 3:8, Pro 3:11).

Mal 4:2  But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

Luk 12:5  But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

Heb 3:8  Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:

Pro 3:11  My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:

The main message of this Psalm is that God’s faithfulness is great toward those with whom He is working first, and what he has started and determined from the foundation of the world He will finish because “great is thy faithfulness“. They are truly “new every morning”.

Lam 3:22  It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
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.