Psalm 147

Psalm cxlvii. The great principle in all these psalms is that the one true (.’oil, the ( Ireator, and lie who ministers to every creature, is specially known as the God of His people, and is known by His delivered people to be righteous, full of compassion, and good. His ways and character have become known to the delivered ones; but He is the God of Israel, as we say our Father, or the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. All this is largely brought out in this psalm — the ground for trusting Him in every trial, but for seeking Him and walking in righteousness, for He takes pleasure in those that fear Him. But, besides this, another blessing is spoken of, belonging to His people, and so to us, His word. This is the first of blessings. He gave it to His people. He had not dealt so with any nation. There is a difference between us and Israel here. This in itself is true of both; but the Jew was shut up in his own system. The temple was a place of resort for all nations, but for Jews even there was no access to God Himself, no knowledge of Him by the revelation of Himself. The law told them what man ought to be, God’s dealings taught them many a lesson if they would learn it as they do here: but the way into the holiest was not made manifest, and there was no going out with the testimony that God is love. They learnt from His ways on earth, but did not know Him in heaven and will, not as we do, even in the millennium, though mercy and redemption will be clearer for them. We do; Ave know God as light and love. We shall be in the Father’s house then. Hence, while Ave have the word which rcATcals Him who has sanctified Himself, a man in heaven apart from the world, avc haAre known God’s love issuing and in the power of eternal life. We know the Father in the Son, and then God as loA’e, yea, are in Him and He in us. Hence Ave haA’e a gospel ministry, and every one is a witness of divine 1oatc and heavenly righteousness. We have no priesthood here, save as we all are, hut go with boldness into the holiest, our great Eigh Priest being ever there. The word is in this respect another thing for us, though still God’s word. We have the word for others because it is the true knowledge of God 1 1 imself in grace, a heavenly word. Some other elements of goodness are spoken of in this psalm, though the general tenor of it be the same. He heals the broken in heart, He binds up their wounds. There is not only tender compassion in grace, but remedy, and, more and more, He establishes securely, strengthens the bars of the city of God, and blesses His children in her. Thus we have a richer and fuller unfolding of mercy in this psalm. The general principle is the same. God’s ways revealing what He is in its effects of goodness and righteous government, a knowledge of God by His statutes and judgments; but not the revelation of Himself and introduction into His presence as He is, nor knowledge of Him as Father. It is, indeed, in contrast with it. Sec Ephesians i. 3 — 5, where we have the Christian’s place, as in veraeB 19 — 23 our relationship with Christ, to which” add chapter v. 2.”) — 30.