Pastor Fredo Ramos: Psalm 147. Praise the Lord. How good to sing praises to our God. How delightful and how fitting. The Lord is rebuilding Jerusalem and bringing the exiles back to Israel.
He healed the broken heart ed and bandages their wounds. He counts the stars and calls them all by name. How great is our Lord. His power is absolute. His understanding is beyond comprehension.
The Lord supports the humble, but he brings the wicked down into the dust. Sing out your thanks to the Lord. Sing praises to our God with a heart. He covers the heavens with clouds, provides rain for the earth and makes the grass grow and on mountain pastures. He gives food to the wild animal and feeds the hungry ravens when they cry.
He takes no pleasure in the strength of a horse or in human might know the Lord's delight is in those who fear him. Those who put their hope in his unfailing love. Verse 12, glorify the Lord Jerusalem. Praise your God, O Zion, for he has strengthened the bars of your gates and blessed your children with your walls. He sends peace across your nation and satisfies your hunger with the finest of wheat.
He sends his orders to the world. How swiftly his word flies. He sends the snow like white wool. He scatters frost upon the ground like ashes. He hurls the hail like stones who can stand against his freezing cold.
Then at his command, it all melts. He sends his winds and the ice thaws. He revealed his words to Jacob, his decrees and regulations to Israel. He has not done this for any other nation. They do not know his regulations.
Praise the Lord. Psalm 147 by way of reflection is once again an invitation to praise God specifically for His works through creation. In other words, this is a moment for us as we come to face our days to realize that all of creation today in this moment is singing to God. The way that the trees sway in the wind, the way the sun warms your skin, the way that you see animals moving, the way that you see the created world in function. When you think about it and step back, it's all Creator.
And the invitation for us now is to join in that song and to find our song, the song of creation. The song that all of the world is singing to God, giving Him thanks specifically for the way that He provides. The Psalm is very clear that He changes the seasons. He brings the ice, He melts the ice, He brings the snow, He melts the snow, right? He rises the sun like the Psalmist is inviting you today to open your eyes and to look beyond your own simple life and see the God, the creative power of God working all through the world today in such a way that will lead you to trust and to joy and to praise.
And to be reminded that this God who is awesome and power, look at verse four, he counts the stars and calls them all by name. So his majesty, his vastness does not keep him from being personal and intimate. And if a God can know the names of countless stars, what's keeping you and I from thinking he's not aware of our and the things you need today. And so as Jesus invites us to pray, give us today our daily bread. Would you say those words to knowing that God longs to open his hands and provide.
And Jesus, we hear you now inviting us into that moment where our eyes might be open today to see the song that all of creation is singing to You and that we would join in that tune. Help us as well to be humble and to acknowledge our needs before You knowing that You long to provide for us God. You know the names of every single star. What a gift and what a God we serve. Would you give us now a heart that trusts you?
And as the Psalmist says, puts our hope in your unfailing love today. We pray these things in Jesus name. Amen.