There are three logical breaks in this psalm, with the start of the first section simply declaring “praise ye the Lord” (vs. 1), followed by the second section that we’ll be looking at tonight that starts off with the words “sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving” (vs. 7),  and then 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.

In this study we will look at who God is working with in this age and how thankful we ought to be for this mark of the prize of the high calling we have been called to press toward through Christ.

Php 3:13  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 
Php 3:14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

In order for us to obtain this prize, we must first know that we are in a race and understand the need to run this race patiently and confidently to obtain that prize through Christ.

1Co 9:24  Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. [Luk 8:15, Luk 21:19, Gal 6:9, Joh 8:31-32]

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:

That “So run, that ye may obtain” part of 1 Corinthians 9:24 is the working out of our salvation with fear and trembling to which we were called (Php 2:12, Isa 66:2) because we know it is Christ who is working in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure (Joh 14:20, Mat 6:10) that has us learning obedience by the things which we suffer, just as Christ did himself when he was running the race that God gave him to run “How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Php 2:13, Luk 2:49, Heb 5:7-9, 1Jn 4:17).

Php 2:12  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 

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. [Attitude is everything as we run this race and God’s spirit within us can cause us to have this mind of Christ]

Php 2:2  Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 
Php 2:3  Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 
Php 2:4  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 
Php 2:5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 
Php 2:6  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 
Php 2:7  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 
Php 2:8  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. [Heb 5:8, Luk 9:23, 1Co 2:16]

Php 2:13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. 
Php 2:14  Do all things without murmurings and disputings:[more of the mind of Christ explained Isa 53:7] 

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.

Heb 5:7  Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; 
Heb 5:8  Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 
Heb 5:9  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; 

This part of the Psalm demonstrates the love and care that God has bestowed upon those who are called his sons today (1Jn 3:1) and reveals to us that His faithfulness is indeed great toward His kind of first fruits who are blessed to be the first to trust in Christ, having been given the power through Christ to be able to overcome in this age by putting off our flesh through a lifetime of much tribulation.

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

Act 14:22  Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. 

Psa 147:7  Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:

Why do we “Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving” and “sing praise upon the harp unto our God“?

God is well pleased when we “offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually” or  “Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God” (Heb 13:15) which is saying the same thing, and he will bless us for simply recognizing his goodness and mercy toward us (Psa 107:31). He wants us to be aware of this covenant that we are a part of, and there is no better way to understand that but to give thanks unto God thereby acknowledging who it is that has given us this great honour in this age to know Him and His son (Joh 17:3).

Psa 107:31  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! 

Joh 17:3  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 

We are instruments in the hand of God, so when I have a physical instrument in my hand I’m reminded of how closely God holds His people who are the apple of His eye (Zec 2:8, Heb 13:5-6), whom He has promised he will never leave or forsake in this life (1Ti 6:8) and will never let anything separate us from his love (Rom 8:35-37, Joh 17:26).

Zec 2:8  For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.

Heb 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Heb 13:6  So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.[Any and all fleshly circumstances, nothing can separate us from the love of God because our Lord will never leave us, that is our hope that will take us through this life until our last breath (Rom 8:35-39)]

1Ti 6:8  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 

Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 
Rom 8:36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 

Joh 17:26. And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

Psa 147:8  Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains. 
Psa 147:9  He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry. 

These two verses explain what God does for all men, but it is those who love their enemies and bless them that curse you and do good to them who hate you and pray for those which despitefully use you and persecute you, who will spiritually benefit from the sun of righteousness (Mal 4:2) and the rain that oft comes upon the earth (Heb 6:7, Mat 5:45).

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. 

Heb 6:7  For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: 

Mat 5:44  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 
Mat 5:45  That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

God does cover our heavens with the witness of Jesus Christ in each other (Heb 12:1) as He “prepareth rain for the earth” by preparing our hearts to receive that word and to drink it in (Heb 6:7). 

Our Lord also gives us food that is convenient for us, grass or herbs (Pro 30:8), or the milk of the word that gives us dominion over the sin of pride that is a persistent sin that is likened unto a mountain and so “the rain that cometh oft upon it [the earth], and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed” is the gift that God gives to those beasts for whom it was prepared as they cry out like the “young raven” who initially needs that milk of the word in order to go onto being a mature son who will be matured by the spiritual meat given also in due season (Eph 4:13 , Heb 5:14). 

If we have no trials, specifically the fiery trials (1Pe 4:12), required to overcome the devil (1Jn 2:14, Rev 20:2, Rev 20:7), and no plow to hold onto symbolizing the word of God in our heart (Luk 9:62) to break the earth so the seed and the water can be distributed, then there is no amount of planting or watering that is going to mature us to become kings and priests of our Lord. In order for us to continue to press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, in order to reach it (the first resurrection), where we will witness through that thousand year period that the saints can and do rule with a rod of iron, we must have our earth broken today as we endure until the end of our earthly experience that will benefit all those who we will be used to baptize first with the water of the word (Joh 3:5, Mat 3:11, Heb 6:4-6) and then with the fire of God’s word in the lake of fire (1Co 3:6, Jer 5:14).

In these verses (Jas 5:17-20, 1Pe 1:12), Elias typifies who God’s elect are today and also prophesies unto us: 

Jas 5:17  Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. [Symbol of elect’s time as the two witnesses being a light to the gentiles within and without knowing that only God can give the increase (Rev 11:3)].
Jas 5:18  And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. [Symbol of the time when God gives increase as a result of our fervent prayers that he causes to avail much (Jas 5:16)]
Jas 5:19  Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; 
Jas 5:20  Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. 

1Pe 1:12  Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves [Jas 5:10], but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. 

God gives increase to his first fruits “at this present time”, so it is we, Lord willing, who are called to plow and to plant and to water, in this time of grace and truth, as described typically for us through Elijah and all the prophets of old (“unto us they did minister”)(Joh 1:17).  This work of the Lord today will also be witnessed to in the day of the world’s visitation when mankind will be brought into remembrance of the work of grace that He did through his little remnant (1Pe 2:12, Ecc 11:1, Isa 55:11, Rom 11:5).

1Pe 2:12  Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. 

Ecc 11:1  Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. 

Isa 55:11  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Rom 11:5  Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 

Psa 147:10  He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man. 
Psa 147:11  The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy. 

God not delighting “in the strength of the horse” or taking “pleasure in the legs of a man” are symbols of how we are not to trust in our own strength but rather know that “The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy“. 

We hope in the strength that God alone  can give us to be able to overcome all the powers and principalities that Satan uses to control humanity in the manner that God has ordained, knowing that Christ is far above all those powers (Heb 11:1, Eph 6:12, Eph 1:21)

Heb 11:1  But faith is, of things hoped for, a confidence, of facts, a conviction, when they are not seen; (Rotherham)

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. 
Eph 6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 
Eph 6:14  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Eph 6:15  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 

Eph 1:21  Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 
Eph 1:22  And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 
Eph 1:23  Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. 

Evolution is one example of an idol of the heart of mankind that has kept much of humanity focused on the creation and not the Creator who made all things.

Rom 1:25  Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

1Ti 6:20  O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: 

Jer 12:5  If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?

This idolatry (evolution science falsely so called) that is naturally in the heart of man is another thing that demonstrates how mankind takes pleasure “in the strength of the horse” or “pleasure in the legs of man“. This question posed to Jeremiah “how canst thou contend with horses?” can only be answer if we our blessed to have our attention turned to the Lord through the afflictions and trials that he gives us so that we fear him and not what man can do to our flesh.

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. [stronger than “the strength of the horse” or “the legs of man“(Dan_2:32-35)]

Dan 2:32  This image’s head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, 

Dan 2:33  His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. 
Dan 2:34  Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. 
Dan 2:35  Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. (Several studies on the spiritual significance of metals can be found at iswasandwillbe.com including this link to a study on silver that confirms this principle of idolatry that is naturally in the heart of man:

Metals: Precious Metals, Silver – Negative, Part 4-2)

It will be because of our hope of glory within (Col 1:27) and our Father in heaven who sheds his perfect love abroad in our hearts (Rom 5:5) that we will be able to cast out all those fears of our fleshly minds as we’re given to walk in his perfect love that gives us the power “to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God” (Mic 6:8, Zec 4:6). When we have this treasure in earthen vessels (2Co 4:7) then “The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy” and the spirit bears witness with our spirit that this hope that we have been called unto is real (Rom 8:16). 

2Co 4:6  For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 
2Co 4:7  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 
2Co 4:8  We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 
2Co 4:9  Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 
2Co 4:10  Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

Rom 8:15  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 
Rom 8:16  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 
Rom 8:17  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

God’s faithfulness is great toward that end, and He will finish what He has started in and through the scapegoat that represents God’s elect (Lev 16:21) who will be taken “by the hand of a fit man (Php 2:13) into the wilderness” to accomplish God’s purpose of having us drink the cup of suffering we’ve been called unto (Mat 20:23). That wilderness experience is the world that we are in but not of (Joh 17:15), and it is through this life that we must bear our cross and endure all the things that we must suffer so that we can be made ready to rule and reign under Christ (2Ti 2:12). His strength is made perfect through the weak conditions that He causes and creates in our lives (2Co 12:9).

[Excerpts from Animals: Horse]

Horses, in God’s Word are powerful creatures within us. They are used both to destroy our flesh and to renew and build up our spirit. Like every other word the ‘horse’ has both a positive and a negative application as a type of God’s Work which He is doing within us …

…It is only by stripping us of our strength that we can become strong… 

And so we singH6030 [H8798]

(Qal)  1. to answer, respond to 2. to testify, respond as a witness

Psa 147:7  Sing^H6030 [H8798] unto the LORD with thanksgiving^H8426 (confession, praise, thanksgiving); sing praise^H2167 (a primitive root [perhaps ident. with H2168 (=to trim, prune) through the idea of striking with the fingers (God’s awesome hands in our life)] upon the harp unto our God.

Remember, great is His faithfulness to carry out this work in each of his children (Lam 3:22-24).

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.