Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Psalms
Book: Psalms
Chapter: 147
Overview:
The creatures placed in the upper world called
On to praise
the
Lord.
(1-6) Also the creatures of this lower world,
especially his own people.
(7-14)
1-6 We, in this dark and sinful world, know little of the
heavenly world of
Light. But we know that there is above us a
world of blessed angels. They are always praising
God, therefore
the psalmist shows his desire that
God may be praised in the
best manner; also we show that we have
Communion with spirits
above, who are still praising him. The heavens, with all
contained in them, declare the
Glory of
God. They
Call On us,
that both
By Word and deed, we
Glorify with them the Creator and
Redeemer of the universe.
7-14 Even in this world, dark and bad as it is,
God is praised.
The powers of nature, be they ever
So strong,
So stormy, do what
God appoints them, and
No more. Those that rebel against
God's
Word, show themselves to be more violent than even the stormy
Winds, yet they fulfil it. View the surface of the
Earth,
mountains and all hills; from the
Barren tops of some, and the
fruitful tops of others, we may fetch matter for praise. And
assuredly creatures which have the powers of reason, ought to
employ themselves in praising
God. Let all manner of persons
praise
God. Those of every rank, high and low. Let us show that
we are his saints
By praising his name continually. He is not
only our Creator, but our
Redeemer; who made us a people near
unto him. We may
By "the
Horn of his people" understand
Christ,
whom
God has exalted to be a
Prince and a
Saviour, who is indeed
the defence and the praise of all his saints, and will be
So for
ever. In
Redemption, that unspeakable
Glory is displayed, which
forms the source of all our hopes and joys. May the
Lord Pardon
us, and teach our hearts to
Love him more and praise him better.