The exile to Babylon in 597 BC and the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC were the lowest points in Israel’s history. But in 538 BC, God began to bring the exiles home again. The city and the land had been devastated, and there was a lot to do to rebuild the city and make the land fruitful. Psalm 147 is a psalm of praise sung by the exiles who have come home and have seen the Lord rebuilding the city and binding up their wounds.

The psalm is in three parts, each one beginning with a call to praise (vv. 1, 7, 12). It interweaves pictures of God’s care for His people with His control of the forces of nature. These works of God in nature are like parables which show us different aspects of His care for us.

After praising God for sustaining His people throughout their difficult years in exile (vv. 1–6), the psalmist praises God for sending the rain that grows the crops, which in turn feed the animals and the birds (vv. 8–9). The same divine power that sustains creation is used by God to care for His people—and not just our physical needs. We don’t need to trust in human strength when this God is on our side.

In the third section, the psalmist praises the power of God’s Word (v. 15). References to God’s Word bracket descriptions of winter weather: snow, frost, hail, and ice. Nothing grows under these icy blasts. But then God speaks, and His Word melts the snow and ice; warm breezes are stirred up and the waters flow. The power of God’s Word changes seasons. This is the same Word that God spoke to Israel’s ancestors when He revealed His laws to them. It’s God’s Word that brings life and new birth to us (see 1 Peter 1:23).

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told His disciples not to be anxious about their future and whether or not God would meet all their needs. He then directed them to the world around them, to the birds of the air and the flowers of the field (Matthew 6:25–34). Both Matthew 6 and Psalm 147 tell us that God’s everyday mighty works in ruling and controlling His creation are like little sermons in which He teaches us about His love and protection. These are sermons worth listening to and reflecting on.

Psalm 147 begins by telling us that praising God is good, pleasant, and fitting. It’s good because it refreshes our souls and, according to some research, benefits our physical and mental well-being. It is pleasant because there is great joy in praise. It’s fitting because God deserves all our praise and glory. These are three wonderful reasons to read and sing the psalms.