Wesley's Notes on the Bible Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.
The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.
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. 147:4 Calleth them - He exactly knows them as we do those whom we can call by name.
Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.
The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.
Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:
Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.
He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry. 147:9 Ravens - Which he mentions because they were most contemptible, especially to the Jews, to whom they were unclean: and because they are not only neglected by men, but also forsaken by their dams as soon as ever they can fly, and so are wholly left to the care of Divine providence.
He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man. 147:10 Delighteth not - As if he needed either the one or the other for the accomplishment of his designs.
The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.
Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion.
For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee. 147:13 Thy gates - Thy strength consists not in thy walls, and gates, and bars, but in his protection.
He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat. 147:14 Borders - In all thy land, even to its utmost borders.
He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly. 147:15 Commandment - Which is sufficient without any instruments to execute whatsoever pleaseth him. Swiftly - The thing is done without delay.
He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes. 147:16 Like wool - Not only in colour and shape, and softness, but also in use, keeping the fruits of the earth warm. Ashes - In colour and smallness of parts, as also in its burning quality.
He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold? 147:17 Ice - Great hail - stones, which are of an icy nature, and are cast forth out of the clouds, like morsels or fragments.
He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow.
He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.
He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD. Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible by John Wesley [1754-65] Bible Hub |
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