Psalms 147:1

Psalms 147:1 says, Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.  David said that it is good to sing praises to God.  Sometimes, as Christians, we seem to be more inclined to complain to God than to sing praises to Him, especially if things are going the least bit wrong.  Verse two adds, The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.  David said God was responsible for Jerusalem being strong and that He gathered the outcasts of Israel.  Matthew Henry said this could refer to the outcasts of Israel during Saul's reign after David had been chosen king.  Verse three continues, He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.  God still heals those who are broken hearted and binds their spiritual wounds if they put their faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse four states, He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.  David said that God not only knows the number of the stars, but He calls them by name.  Scientists continue to discover new stars today, but they have never been unknown to God.  Verse five adds, Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.  We need to always remember the greatness of God's power and understanding.  We do serve the all powerful God as followers of Christ, so we should never have a reason to live in fear.  Verse six continues, The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.  If you are feeling weak as a Christian, remember that God will lift you up if you continue to put your faith in Him.  Verse seven declares, Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:  David did not say to occasionally sing praises to God if things were going well, but to always sing praises to Him.  Verse eight adds, Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.  David said that the people of Israel were to sing praises to God because He is the Creator and Sustainer of the world.  Verse nine continues, He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.  As David said, God provides for the animals of the world.  Verse ten says, He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.   David said God is impressed by the armies of man, either by the strength of their calvary  or their infantry.  We may have much stronger weapons today, but God is still not impressed.  Verse eleven adds, The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.  God's pleasure is in those that put their faith in Him and their hope in His mercy.  This is what we should do as followers of Christ today.