The song of thanksgiving comes not only from the heart of one particular Psalmist; it reflects the feelings of the whole people and expresses...
The song of thanksgiving comes not only from the heart of one particular Psalmist; it reflects the feelings of the whole people and expresses their gratitude to the Creator for everything He has done for the people He chose. But He also sends wind and snow, the possibility of peaceful life, abundant harvests, and many other gifts to other peoples. These gifts cannot be called small; often they are more abundant than those given to Abraham's descendants.
But to the children of Abraham He gave His word and His statutes. Someone accustomed to measuring everything by the standards of material well-being may not immediately recognize the value of this gift, yet it is precisely this gift, unobtrusive against the background of evident gifts of nature, that proves to be the most important.
The one specially favored by God is not the person who makes extensive use of the fruits He created, but the one with whom He remains in communion.
147 The psalmist praises God for his care over the church, Psa 147:1-14. His government over all, Psa 147:15-18. His giving his word to Israel, Psa 147:19-20.
147:4 Calleth them - He exactly knows them as we do those whom we can call by name.
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.
147:10 Delighteth not - As if he needed either the one or the other for the accomplishment of his designs.