I LOVE reading our Psalm for today, from our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan! Let's look at a portion of it! Psalm 147:7-15:
7 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praises with the harp or the lyre to our God!— 8 Who covers the heavens with clouds, Who prepares rain for the earth, Who makes grass to grow on the mountains. 9 He gives to the beast his food, and to the young ravens that for which they cry. 10 He delights not in the strength of the horse, nor does He take pleasure in the legs of a man. 11 The Lord takes pleasure in those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy and loving-kindness. 12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion! 13 For He has strengthened and made hard the bars of your gates, and He has blessed your children within you. 14 He makes peace in your borders; He fills you with the finest of the wheat. 15 He sends forth His commandment to the earth; His word runs very swiftly.
Let's just begin with the words of verse 7! "Sing" is the Hebrew word "`anah", which means: to eye, to heed, to pay attention to, to respond, to speak, especially to sing, shout, testify and announce! It makes perfect sense that if we are going to respond, speak, testify, announce and shout about our God, we first must give attention TO HIM! Who He is, what He has and what He can do! In general, toward everyone, and specifically toward us who are His own! (There IS a definite difference!) "To the Lord" here is to "Jehovah", which is the Covenant Name of our God. The Eternal, Self-existing One! The GOD of our Salvation! We are to do so "with thanksgiving", which is the Hebrew word "towdah", and means: adoration, usually involving songs of thanksgiving! More SINGING to HIM! Then we have "sing praises" which is the Hebrew word "zamar", which means: to play upon a musical instrument, to make music, accompanied by the voice, to celebrate in song and music. We are even told in the rest of that verse to use a harp or lyre! There are any number of beautiful musical instruments that are available to us in this day to do the same, with a greater variety of sounds of praise, thanksgiving and worship! In fact, there was a song we used to sing a lot in our worship services that had this line in it: join with angels singing! There have been many times when I have heard way more voices singing with us than there were people in the room! Many others have heard the very same thing! How wonderful! How powerful!
Then this Psalm goes on to speak of some of the wonderful things that our GREAT GOD does! He has provided for the sustenance of the earth, for plentiful vegetation for us, and for food for animals and birds! Then comes my very favorite parts! Though He provides for them, our God does NOT take pleasure in any of creation, including mankind! He takes PLEASURE in those of mankind who belong to HIM! Those who hold HIM in reverence and awe, and who hope and trust in HIM for His great mercy and loving-kindness! AND, He speaks His Word of Promise again over Israel and her eternal capital of Jerusalem! He will protect them, provide for them, give them peace and bless them tremendously! ALSO AND, He sends His LIVING WORD out over all the earth, and His Word travels swiftly, bringing wisdom, knowledge, understanding, LIFE, HEALTH, PROSPERITY, FAVOR, ANOINTING and guidance to ALL who will BELIEVE and RECEIVE! AMEN! Will YOU be one of THOSE? I pray you will! Here is Hillsong with "New Wine":
Shalom in Him!
