Today I read Psalm 147 for my Quiet Time (personal
devotion). I’ve been going through the Psalms using The Message to gain new understanding of the familiar passages. Many
of the Psalms recap the great things God has done for David and the other
writers of the Psalms. Then those Psalms call for the people to celebrate with
thanksgiving and praise. Psalm 147 does that. It talks about rebuilding the
wall and protecting His people. This could have been Nehemiah’s prayer:
“Hallelujah!!
It’s a good thing to
sing praise to our God;
Praise is beautiful,
praise is fitting.
God’s the one who
rebuilds Jerusalem,
Who regathers
Israel’s scattered exiles.
He heals the
heartbroken
And bandages their
wounds.
He counts the start
And assigns each a
name.
Our Lord is great,
with limitless strength;
We’ll never
comprehend what he knows and does.
God puts the fallen
on their feet again
And pushes the wicked
into the ditch.
Sing to God a
thanksgiving hymn
Play music on your
instruments to God.
Who fills the sky
with clouds,
Preparing rain for
the earth.
Then turning the
mountains green with grass,
Feeding both cattle
and crows.
He’s not impressed
with horsepower;
The size of our
muscles means little to him.
Those who fear God
get God’s attention
They can depend on
his strength.
Jerusalem, worship
God!
Zion, praise your
God!
He made your city
secure,
He blessed your
children among you.
He keeps the peace at
your borders,
He puts the best
bread on your tables.
He launches his
promises earthward –
How swift and sure
they come!
He spreads snow like
a white fleece,
He scatters frost
like ashes,
He broadcasts hail
like birdseed –
Who can survive his
winter?
Then he gives the
command and it all melts;
He breaths on winter
– suddenly it’s spring!
He speaks the same
way to Jacob,
Speaks words that
work to Israel.
He never did this to
the other nations,
They never heard such
commands.
Hallelujah!”
Today, on Thanksgiving Day (and every day), I join this
Psalmist, the other writers of the Psalms, Nehemiah, and all God’s people in
thanking and praising God for the miracles He’s orchestrated in my life. What
has He done in your life for which you need to give thanks? Take a few moments
to do it today.
