January 27
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PSALM 147 GOD CARES FOR THE OUTCASTS AND BROKENHEARTED PEOPLE
Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.2 The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel. 3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.4 He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names.5 Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.6 The LORD lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground.7 Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre! 8 He covers the heavens with clouds; he prepares rain for the earth; he makes grass grow on the hills.9 He gives to the beasts their food, and to the young ravens that cry.
10 His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,
11 but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love. – Psalm 147:1-11
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This psalm is an invitation for all of God’s people to worship God. It is only fitting since He has created and provided all things for us. He is the only one worthy and deserving of such adoration. In verse 2, the writer begins to enumerate the things that God has been doing for his people: he rebuilds Jerusalem and gathers the outcasts of Israel. In a sermon titled Good Cheer for Outcasts, Spurgeon considered the many kinds of outcasts that Jesus gathers and blesses today. They may be the very poorest and most despised among men; or those who have done wicked things, or those who judge themselves to be outcasts; they may be backsliders from the church; or those who have fallen into great depression of spirit. They may be those who suffer for righteousness’ sake. Whatever category an outcast may fall into, it is reassuring to know that God hasn’t forgotten them.
In verse 3, he also didn’t forget those who are broken-hearted. Psalm 34:18 repeats this verse because it says there that The Lord is near to them and those who are crushed in spirit. What a compassionate and loving God we serve! He heals them and binds up their wounds. This verse is especially heart-warming for me because I am one of these broken-hearted people. It is amazing that I do not have to fix myself to be deserving of God’s love. He loves me especially when I am broken. That’s why he sent His Son Jesus, to save people like me. There are no other gods who would take the outcasts and the broken people, but the one true God who made heaven and earth.
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REFLECTION
• How does Satan twist God’s love through religion and works of the flesh?