Psalm 147 – Fitting
Psalm 147 – fitting, begins by saying it is fitting to praise God. What does it mean to say something is fitting? What is fitting praise?
Psalm 147
Psalm 147, the second of the Hallelujah psalms that end the book of Psalms, begins with words of praise of our creator who restored Israel.
“Hallelujah! It is good to sing praise to our God, and it is fitting to sing glorious praise.
The LORD rebuilds Jerusalem; he gathers together the outcasts of Israel.
He heals the brokenhearted, binding up their injuries.
He keeps track of the number of stars, assigning names to all of them.
Our Lord is great, and rich in power; his understanding has no limitation.
The LORD supports the afflicted while he casts the wicked to the ground.” (1-6)
Why utter words of praise? Because it is pleasant and beautiful. It is a bit of heaven.
“There is no heaven, either in this world, or the world to come, for people who do not praise God. If you do not enter into the spirit and worship of heaven, how should the spirit and joy of heaven enter into you?” (Pulsford, cited in Spurgeon) Psalm 147 Commentary: Praising the God of Care and Creation
“Praise is pleasant and beautiful for humanity. “It is decent, befitting, and proper that every intelligent creature should acknowledge the Supreme Being: and as he does nothing but good to the children of men, so they should speak good of his name.” (Clarke) Psalm 147 Commentary: Praising the God of Care and Creation
Reasons for Praise in Psalm 147 – Fitting
The writer encourages all to sing to the Lord who provides food for all.
“Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving, and compose music to our God with the lyre.
He shields the heavens with clouds, preparing rain for the earth and making grass grow on the hills.
He gives wild animals their food, including the young ravens when they cry.“ (7-9)
The psalmist then tells what delights God. Not the strength of horses but those who acknowledge their dependence on God.
“He takes no delight in the strength of a horse, and gains no pleasure in the runner’s swiftness.
But the LORD is pleased with those who fear him, with those who depend on his gracious love.” (10-11)
God’s Care and Power
The psalmist returns to praising the Lord for his care and power. “The exhortation to praise comes again, with another hallelujah. The more we understand and explain the power and care of God, the more we should praise Him.” Psalm 147 Commentary: Praising the God of Care and Creation
He exhorts Jerusalem to recognize that it has been recreated.
“Glorify the LORD, Jerusalem! Praise your God, Zion!
For he has strengthened the bars of your gates, blessing your children within you.
He grants peace within your borders, satisfying you with the finest of wheat.
He sends out his command to the earth, making his word go forth quickly.
The Lord supplies snow like wool, scattering frost like ashes.
He casts down his ice crystals like bread fragments. Who can endure his freezing cold?
He sends out his word and melts them. He makes his wind blow and the water flows.” (12-18)
God gives security, peace, and provisions. God’s word is powerful, melting snow, making the wind blow and the water to flow, speaking through the thunder of nature and God’s revealed law.
God’s Word to Israel
The psalm ends with the declaration of God’s word to Israel. “As the Apostle Paul would later write, one of the chief advantages God gave to Israel is that He committed to them the oracles of God (Romans 3:2). Israel received this responsibility seriously, and took great care to copy, learn, and preserve the Hebrew Scriptures.” Psalm 147 Commentary: Praising the God of Care and Creation
“He declares his words to Jacob, his statutes and decrees to Israel.
He has not dealt with any other nation like this; they never knew his decrees.
Hallelujah!” (19-20)
Then a final Hallelujah. “Understanding the greatness of God, His care for humanity and all of nature, and the remarkable power and nature of His word, should move us to praise Him all the more. Hallelujah!” Psalm 147 Commentary: Praising the God of Care and Creation
How blessed is Israel to have God’s word!
Fitting Praise
Fitting, according to Webster, is an action or act of one that fits, such as trying on of clothes which are in the process of being made or altered. It is also appropriate to the situation, or suitable.
The New American Bible translates the first verse of Psalm 147 as: “Hallelujah! How good to sing praise to our God; how pleasant to give fitting praise!” It is both fitting to praise our God and we need to offer fitting praise.
“The concept of “fitting” in the Bible often relates to what is appropriate, proper, or suitable in the sight of God. It encompasses behavior, speech, and actions that align with God’s will and the teachings of Scripture.” Topical Bible: Fitting And so, fitting praise is praise suitable for God.
What is fitting praise of God? We hear beautiful words of praise throughout Psalm 147 – fitting. We also hear what is not pleasing to God in verse 10. It is fitting to praise God but perhaps the greatest, most fitting, praise is to live lives worthy of God, lives that depend on God’s gracious love. That’s praise that’s fits, like tailored clothes.
Psalm 147 – Fitting
In Psalm 147 – fitting, we learn what is fitting praise of our God. At the end of this psalm, we hear how God has given his word to Israel. It then becomes their responsibility to protect and spread God’s word.
“The descendants of Jacob, grandson of Abraham, received this word from God … They reveal YHWH’s nature through statutes, laws, and rules, particularly in how we relate to one another. We are to treat one another as image bearers of God, full of value and dignity. This is the foundation of the moral law, whether written on clay tablets or on human hearts. Israel has been privileged above all nations to receive this law in written form in the Hebrew language and they have been entrusted with it, to copy it and disseminate it as widely as possible.” Psalm 147 Commentary — Psalms in Life
That is the most fitting, suitable praise to offer God – a life aligned with God’s will.
Do you offer fitting praise to God through how you live your life?
(For another take on this psalm, see Psalm 147: Twelve Reasons to Praise God – Patricia M Robertson)
This post is part of a series of blog posts on the Psalms. Sign up to follow this blog and receive a free copy of Still Dancing, the second book in my Dancing through Life Series. click here to sign up
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