Psalm 147:8 Study Bible: who covers the sky with clouds, who prepares rain for the earth, who makes grass grow on the mountains.

◄ Psalm 147:8 ►

who covers the sky with clouds, who prepares rain for the earth, who makes grass to grow on the hills.

He covers the sky with clouds
The Hebrew word for "covers" is "kasah," which conveys the idea of a protective or concealing action. In the ancient Near Eastern context, clouds were often seen as a divine veil, symbolizing God's presence and majesty. The act of covering the sky with clouds demonstrates God's sovereignty over creation, as He orchestrates the natural elements. This imagery reminds us of God's intimate involvement in the world, providing shade and protection, much like a shepherd caring for his flock.

He prepares rain for the earth
The word "prepares" comes from the Hebrew "kun," meaning to establish or make ready. This preparation signifies intentionality and care, highlighting God's providence. Rain, in biblical times, was a crucial blessing, essential for agriculture and survival. In a historical context, rain was often seen as a direct blessing from God, contrasting with the arid conditions of the surrounding regions. This phrase underscores God's role as the sustainer of life, providing what is necessary for the earth to flourish.

He makes grass grow on the hills
The Hebrew verb "tsamach" for "makes grow" indicates a process of sprouting or flourishing. Grass, a symbol of sustenance and provision, represents God's nurturing power. The mention of "hills" is significant, as these elevated areas were often less fertile and more challenging for agriculture. By causing grass to grow even on the hills, the verse emphasizes God's ability to bring life and abundance to the most unlikely places. This serves as a metaphor for spiritual growth and renewal, illustrating that God's grace can reach and transform even the most barren aspects of our lives.

Persons / Places / Events

1. God (He)
The central figure in this verse, God is depicted as the Creator and Sustainer of the natural world.

2. Sky/Heavens
The expanse above the earth, which God covers with clouds, demonstrating His control over the weather.

3. Earth
The recipient of God's provision through rain, symbolizing His care for creation.

4. Hills
Elevated areas of land where God causes grass to grow, illustrating His nurturing power.

5. Rain
A vital element for life, prepared by God to sustain the earth and its inhabitants.

Teaching Points

God's Sovereignty Over Nature
God is in control of the natural world, orchestrating the weather and seasons according to His will.

God's Provision and Care
The rain and growth of grass are tangible expressions of God's provision, reminding us of His care for all creation.

Dependence on God
Just as the earth relies on rain, we are dependent on God for our spiritual and physical sustenance.

God's Faithfulness
The regularity of rain and growth reflects God's faithfulness in providing for His creation, encouraging us to trust in His promises.

Stewardship of Creation
Recognizing God's role in sustaining the earth calls us to be responsible stewards of the environment He has entrusted to us.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does Psalm 147:8 illustrate God's sovereignty over creation, and how can this understanding impact our daily lives?

2. In what ways does the imagery of rain and grass in this verse remind us of God's provision in our own lives?

3. How can we apply the concept of dependence on God, as seen in this verse, to our spiritual walk and daily decisions?

4. What are some practical ways we can demonstrate stewardship of the environment, acknowledging God's role as Creator and Sustainer?

5. How do the additional scriptures connected to Psalm 147:8 deepen our understanding of God's character and His relationship with creation?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Genesis 1:11-12
This passage describes God's creation of vegetation, including grass, on the third day, highlighting His role as the originator of life.

Job 5:10
This verse speaks of God sending rain on the earth, reinforcing His sovereignty over nature.

Matthew 5:45
Jesus teaches that God sends rain on both the just and the unjust, emphasizing His impartial provision and grace.

Acts 14:17
Paul speaks of God providing rain and fruitful seasons, pointing to His goodness and witness to all nations.

Sermons

God's Care of the Mountain Grasses	R. Tuck	Psalm 147:8
Grass	John Ruskin.	Psalm 147:8
The Grass	J. M. Whiten, Ph. D.	Psalm 147:8
The Sky	John Ruskin.	Psalm 147:8
A Praiseful Spirit		Psalm 147:1-11
Genuine Worship	David Thomas, D. D.	Psalm 147:1-11
Master Motives to Praise	W. T. Fullerton.	Psalm 147:1-11
Praise	Henry Ward Beecher.	Psalm 147:1-11
God Worthy of Praise	C. Short	Psalm 147:7-11

People

Jacob, Psalmist

Places

Jerusalem

Topics

Causing, Clouds, Covered, Covereth, Covering, Covers, Grass, Grow, Heaven, Heavens, Hills, Makes, Maketh, Mountains, Prepares, Prepareth, Preparing, Provides, Rain, Sky, Spring, Stored, Supplies, Tall

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Psalm 147:8

     4203   earth, the
     4272   sky
     4406   agriculture
     4460   grass
     4805   clouds
     4816   drought, physical
     4844   rain
     4854   weather, God's sovereignty

Psalm 147:1-17

4060 nature

Psalm 147:7-9

8352 thankfulness

Psalm 147:8-9

     1305   God, activity of
     1330   God, the provider
     1355   providence
     4017   life, animal and plant

Library

Healing for the Wounded
We will not delay you by a preface, but will come at once to the two thoughts: first, here is a great ill--a broken heart; and secondly, a great mercy--"he healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds." Man is a double being: he is composed of body and soul, and each of the portions of man may receive injury and hurt. The wounds of the body are extremely painful, and if they amount to a breaking of the frame the torture is singularly exquisite. Yet God has in his mercy provided means …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 1: 1855

Christ's Hospital
"He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds."--Psalm 147:3. Often as we have read this Psalm, we can never fail to be struck with the connection in which this verse stands, especially its connection with the verse that follows. Read the two together: "He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names." What condescension and grandeur! What pity and omnipotence! He who leads out yonder ponderous orbs …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 38: 1892

The Acceptable Sacrifice;
OR, THE EXCELLENCY OF A BROKEN HEART: SHOWING THE NATURE, SIGNS, AND PROPER EFFECTS OF A CONTRITE SPIRIT. BEING THE LAST WORKS OF THAT EMINENT PREACHER AND FAITHFUL MINISTER OF JESUS CHRIST, MR. JOHN BUNYAN, OF BEDFORD. WITH A PREFACE PREFIXED THEREUNTO BY AN EMINENT MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL IN LONDON. London: Sold by George Larkin, at the Two Swans without Bishopgates, 1692. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. The very excellent preface to this treatise, written by George Cokayn, will inform the reader of …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Anxious About Earth, or Earnest About the Kingdom
'And He said unto His disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. 23. The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. 24. Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? 25. And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? 26. If ye then be not able to do that thing …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

The Chorus of Angels
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour and glory, and blessing! I t was a good report which the queen of Sheba heard, in her own land, of the wisdom and glory of Solomon. It lessened her attachment to home, and prompted her to undertake a long journey to visit this greater King, of whom she had heard so much. She went, and she was not disappointed. Great as the expectations were, which she had formed from the relation made her by others, …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

The Sermon of the Seasons
"Oh, the long and dreary Winter! Oh, the cold and cruel Winter!" We say to ourselves, Will spring-time never come? In addition to this, trade and commerce continue in a state of stagnation; crowds are out of employment, and where business is carried on, it yields little profit. Our watchmen are asked if they discern any signs of returning day, and they answer, "No." Thus we bow our heads in a common affliction, and ask each man comfort of his fellow; for as yet we see not our signs, neither does …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 32: 1886

The Room was Like and Oven
Sunday, 8.--We were at the minster [21] in the morning and at our parish church in the afternoon. The same gentleman preached at both; but though I saw him at the church, I did not know I had ever seen him before. In the morning he was all life and motion; in the afternoon he was as quiet as a post. At five in the evening, the rain constrained me to preach in the oven again. The patience of the congregation surprised me. They seemed not to feel the extreme heat or to be offended at the close application …
John Wesley—The Journal of John Wesley

What God Is
John iv. 24.--"God is a Spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." We have here something of the nature of God pointed out to us, and something of our duty towards him. "God is a Spirit," that is his nature, and "man must worship him," that is his duty, and that "in spirit and in truth," that is the right manner of the duty. If these three were well pondered till they did sink into the bottom of our spirits, they would make us indeed Christians, not in the letter, …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Peace
Grace unto you and peace be multiplied. I Pet 1:1. Having spoken of the first fruit of sanctification, assurance, I proceed to the second, viz., Peace, Peace be multiplied:' What are the several species or kinds of Peace? Peace, in Scripture, is compared to a river which parts itself into two silver streams. Isa 66:12. I. There is an external peace, and that is, (1.) (Economical, or peace in a family. (2.) Political, or peace in the state. Peace is the nurse of plenty. He maketh peace in thy borders, …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

That it is Profitable to Communicate Often
The Voice of the Disciple Behold I come unto Thee, O Lord, that I may be blessed through Thy gift, and be made joyful in Thy holy feast which Thou, O God, of Thy goodness hast prepared for the poor.(1) Behold in Thee is all that I can and ought to desire, Thou art my salvation and redemption, my hope and strength, my honour and glory. Therefore rejoice the soul of Thy servant this day, for unto Thee, O Lord Jesus, do I lift up my soul.(2) I long now to receive Thee devoutly and reverently, I desire …
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ

Prayer.
CHARACTERISTICS OF PRAYER. WHAT is prayer? A sincere, sensible, affectionate pouring out of the soul to God, through Christ, in the strength and assistance of the Spirit, for such things as God hath promised. The best prayers have often more groans than words. Alas, how few there be in the world whose heart and mouth in prayer shall go together. Dost thou, when thou askest for the Spirit, or faith, or love to God, to holiness, to saints, to the word, and the like, ask for them with love to them, …
John Bunyan—The Riches of Bunyan

Concerning Peaceableness
Blessed are the peacemakers. Matthew 5:9 This is the seventh step of the golden ladder which leads to blessedness. The name of peace is sweet, and the work of peace is a blessed work. Blessed are the peacemakers'. Observe the connection. The Scripture links these two together, pureness of heart and peaceableness of spirit. The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable' (James 3:17). Follow peace and holiness' (Hebrews 12:14). And here Christ joins them together pure in heart, and peacemakers', …
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

Letter xvi to Rainald, Abbot of Foigny
To Rainald, Abbot of Foigny Bernard declares to him how little he loves praise; that the yoke of Christ is light; that he declines the name of father, and is content with that of brother. 1. In the first place, do not wonder if titles of honour affright me, when I feel myself so unworthy of the honours themselves; and if it is fitting that you should give them to me, it is not expedient for me to accept them. For if you think that you ought to observe that saying, In honour preferring one another …
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

The Preface to the Commandments
And God spake all these words, saying, I am the LORD thy God,' &c. Exod 20: 1, 2. What is the preface to the Ten Commandments? The preface to the Ten Commandments is, I am the Lord thy God.' The preface to the preface is, God spake all these words, saying,' &c. This is like the sounding of a trumpet before a solemn proclamation. Other parts of the Bible are said to be uttered by the mouth of the holy prophets (Luke 1: 70), but here God spake in his own person. How are we to understand that, God spake, …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

A Treatise on Good Works
I. We ought first to know that there are no good works except those which God has commanded, even as there is no sin except that which God has forbidden. Therefore whoever wishes to know and to do good works needs nothing else than to know God's commandments. Thus Christ says, Matthew xix, "If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." And when the young man asks Him, Matthew xix, what he shall do that he may inherit eternal life, Christ sets before him naught else but the Ten Commandments. …
Dr. Martin Luther—A Treatise on Good Works

The Providence of God
Q-11: WHAT ARE GOD'S WORKS OF PROVIDENCE? A: God's works of providence are the acts of his most holy, wise, and powerful government of his creatures, and of their actions. Of the work of God's providence Christ says, My Father worketh hitherto and I work.' John 5:17. God has rested from the works of creation, he does not create any new species of things. He rested from all his works;' Gen 2:2; and therefore it must needs be meant of his works of providence: My Father worketh and I work.' His kingdom …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

John Bunyan on the Terms of Communion and Fellowship of Christians at the Table of the Lord;
COMPRISING I. HIS CONFESSION OF FAITH, AND REASON OF HIS PRACTICE; II. DIFFERENCES ABOUT WATER BAPTISM NO BAR TO COMMUNION; AND III. PEACEABLE PRINCIPLES AND TRUE[1] ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. Reader, these are extraordinary productions that will well repay an attentive perusal. It is the confession of faith of a Christian who had suffered nearly twelve years' imprisonment, under persecution for conscience sake. Shut up with his Bible, you have here the result of a prayerful study of those holy …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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