Psalm 147:12-20 - Praise the LORD for His Peace

Psalm 147 was most likely written by an unknown psalmist after the remnant returned from captivity in Babylon, and they had rebuilt the temple and rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem. They possibly sang this psalm as they celebrated the greatness and goodness of the LORD who had restored them, healed them, protected them, and provided for them (vv. 1-11). The LORD took pleasure in them and blessed them because they had spiritually returned to Him, both fearing Him and putting their hope in His mercy (v. 11). Literally all this took place because God's prophetic Word given earlier by Isaiah and Jeremiah was fulfilled concerning the rebuilding of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 3:3, 6, 13-15; 7:1-4; Lam. 2:9). Because they returned to the LORD, He returned to them and added His blessing of peace to the city and its people. One of the greatest blessings of the LORD is His peace. In the Hebrew language, "peace" (shalom) is much more than the absence of war. It describes total well-being, including material prosperity and physical and spiritual health. Peace at the borders means peace in the nation, for invaders have to cross the borders before they can attack. Peaceful borders, strong walls, locked gates, which all add up to safety and security. There is a reason America has lost its peace, and is filled with confusion, chaos, and violence in our streets. When we turn all of our burdens, worries and fears over to the LORD we are promised we can experience His peace too. Paul wrote this to the Philippian church in Philippians 4:6-7, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Today, if we will recognize God’s ownership of all our possessions and yield all our rights to Him, we can also experience His peace we will never find in the world without Him. Remember it was Jesus who said in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” Peace like this is a fruit of the Holy Spirit that we can experience and enjoy if only we let Him have full control of our lives (Galatians 5:22). Because of their disobedience, the nation of Israel had forfeited the "finest of the wheat" (Psalm 81:16; Deut. 32:13-14), but now the Lord would give His people the very best. After all, the Lord controls the weather with a word (Psalm 33:9) and He can do as He pleases. Hailstorms and snowstorms are very infrequent in the Holy Land, except in the higher altitudes, but the Word of God accomplishes what He purposes. The Word brings the winter and then it brings the springtime, for all creation obeys the will of the Lord. This truth prepares the way for the final thrust of the psalm: God gave His Word to Israel, and they must obey it even as creation obeys it (vv. 19-20; Deut. 4:7-8, 32-34; Rom. 3:1-2; 9:4). What a privilege it was for the people of Israel to be the bearers of God's Holy Word and to share it with the world! After the fall of Jerusalem, Jeremiah wrote, "The Law is no more" (Lam. 2:9), but God's Word was not destroyed with the city and temple. God's Word endures forever (1 Peter 1:25). The Jewish nation took great care to protect the manuscripts of God's Word and their scholars carefully counted the letters and words, but they did not look beyond the text into the truth being taught (John 5:38-40). When their Messiah came, they did not recognize Him (John 1:26; 1 Cor. 2:6-12). How easy it is for us to respect the Word of God, bind it in expensive leather, and explain it with exhaustive notes, and yet not obey what it tells us to do! Yes, today despite what might be happening around us, we can experience and enjoy His peace if we are filled with His Word and His Spirit and we obey Him! God bless!