Psalm 147 (146/147):17Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In light of His intensity, who can withstand His heat? He didn’t merely state that He ‘overthrows ice,’ but emphasized ‘like pieces of bread.’ This suggests the simplicity and effortless nature of God's fulfillment. The pro-formative sense is illustrated in Psalms 147:5.

Praise the Lord together, O Jerusalem, your God. Psalm 146:12. Even while in exile, they behold the gathered flock, a unified assembly of citizens around that city; they witness the joy of the collective, now resting after work, without fear or hardship. Amidst their trials, they send forth joyful anticipation, uniting their spirits with the angels of God and the community destined for eternal joy. What will you do, Jerusalem? Surely, labor and lamentation shall cease. What will occupy your time? Will you still plow, sow, plant vineyards, travel, or trade? Will your present duties continue, however noble and borne of compassion? Reflect on your community; see if there is anyone hungry to whom you might offer bread, anyone thirsty to whom you might give a cup of water, any stranger to welcome, any sick person to visit, any dispute to settle, any dying soul to bury. What then will your response be? Sing praises in harmony, O Jerusalem; this is your calling. As the saying goes, Use and be joyful.

Be Jerusalem; remember that it is said, “Lord, in thy city their image thou shalt destroy.” They are the ones now reveling in their splendor, including those who did not arrive today due to the spectacle. To whom is this a blessing? To whom is it a burden? Why is it a blessing, and why is it a burden? For those who present these shows suffer loss, but an even greater loss afflicts those who merely observe. The former lose their wealth; the latter are robbed of righteousness. Many who display wonders must mourn their property; should not sinners grieve the loss of their souls? Was it not for this reason the Lord proclaimed on the Lord's Day, “Watch, that men may watch so today”? I implore you, citizens of Jerusalem, by the peace of your city, by the Redeemer, the Builder, the Lord of Jerusalem, turn your prayers to God for their sake. May they realize their trivial pursuits; and may their eyes be opened, leading to dissatisfaction with their current state. We rejoice in what has been accomplished; once, we too were wandering in folly. Many assume we still dwell in that madness, yet we are called not only to be Christians but bishops! From our past, we predict the future; from what is completed, we anticipate what God will do. Let your prayers be vigilant; your groans will not be in vain. Surely, those delivered pray for those still in peril, having shared in that peril; God will rescue His people from Babylon's captivity; indeed, He will redeem and liberate them, and the number of the saints reflecting His image will grow.

Praise in unity, for you are many; praise, for you are one. As the Apostle states, “We, being many, are one in Christ.” 1 Corinthians 10:17. Although diverse, we unite in praise because we are one in Him, who is perpetually One. Therefore, says this Jerusalem, with one heart do I praise the Lord, and as Zion, I extol my God. Jerusalem and Zion refer to the same entity but bear different significances. Jerusalem signifies visions of peace; Zion represents observation. Examine how these expressions are akin to spectacles; lest the Gentiles assume they possess spectacles, while we do not. After the dissolution of the theatre or amphitheatre, as the throngs of the misled disperse, their minds are filled with hollow entertainments, delighting in trivialities that are dangerous yet seem sweet. They sometimes recognize the servants of God, ascertaining their identities by attire or appearance, and comment, “Poor souls, how much they miss!" Brothers, let us respond to their goodwill—good intentions indeed—with our prayers to the Lord. They mean well; however, one who embraces iniquity despises their own spirit. If they disregard their own souls, how can they truly cherish mine? Yet, through misguided and superficial goodwill, they grieve our loss while longing for what they cherish; let us pray that they do not forfeit what we treasure.

Consider what Jerusalem ought to be, which is called to bless; or rather, anticipates the day of praising. The city's praises, when we behold, adore, and acclaim it, will not require prophetic encouragement; yet, the prophets now proclaim this to allow us to immerse ourselves, as much as we can while encased in the flesh, in the future joy of the blessed, prompting a heartfelt love for that city. Burn with desire; do not grow weary in spirit. Praise your God, Zion.

He declared, “He hath strengthened the bolts of thy gates.” Psalm 146:13. The bolts serve not for entry, but for closure, reinforcing that which is shut; indeed, most manuscripts state, “He strengthened the bolts of thy gates.” Observe this, beloved. He instructs Jerusalem, even when confined, to extol the Lord. Praise now in harmony; praise amidst adversity. Many enter where we wish they would not, and many leave against our desires; thus, offenses abound. Because of the increase of iniquity, as has been said, “the love of many shall wax cold.” Matthew 24:12. For many come who elude our discernment, while others depart who we cannot retain. Why is this so? Because we have yet to reach perfection; we are not yet in bliss. Why is this? Because we remain in a threshing floor and have not yet entered the barn. What else should we fear if such a situation were to manifest? He proclaimed, not just “He hath set up,” but, “He hath strengthened the shutters of thy gates.” Let no one leave, let no one enter. Let no one depart—we rejoice; let no one arrive—we fear. Yet, do not fear this: when you arrive, it will be said unto you, “Only thou shalt be among the virgins that bore their oil with them.”

He has blessed your children within you. Who? He Who has established peace within your borders. How you all rejoice! Cherish peace, brethren. Exult greatly whenever the shouts of peace echo from your hearts. What jubilance it brings! I have said nothing; I have explained nothing; I merely recited the verse, and your voices rose in unison. What stirs in you? The love for peace...children of the kingdom, citizens of Jerusalem, there exists a vision of peace in Jerusalem; blessed are all who cherish peace therein and who enter when the doors are closed and the gates are secure. This love, which you hold dearly, extends into every aspect of your lives, your homes, your work, your spouses, your children, your servants, your friends, and even your adversaries.

What joy did you express at the mere mention of peace? Your outcry was fueled by longing; your pleas were for thirst and not for excess, for perfect truth accompanies perfect peace. We are currently hungry and thirsty for righteousness, and “they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6. How will they be filled? When we come to peace. Thus, when he speaks, “He that hath established peace within thy bounds,” for there exists an abundance, and no lack, he immediately adds, “And with the fat of wheat he shall fill thee.” Psalm 146:14.

“Who sends His Word upon the earth.” Psalm 146:15. Look, we toil on this earth, weary, faltering, sluggish, cold. When we should ascend to the abundance that nourishes us, did He not send His Word into the world, that which we are encumbered by, making it difficult for us to return? He sent His Word; He did not abandon us, even in desolation, for He showered down manna from heaven. Who sends His Word forth; and His Word came to the earth. How, or in what manner is His Word? It moves with great swiftness. He did not merely say, “His Word is swift,” but “His Word runs even unto swiftness.” Let us comprehend this, dear brethren; a better expression could not have been chosen. The hot becomes hot from heat; the cold becomes cold from cold; the swift becomes swift from swiftness.

To what extent, then, does His Word run? Up to swiftness itself. No matter how much we amplify the swiftness of the Word and liken it to this or that—birds, winds, angels—can any of these rival swiftness itself? Swiftness is everywhere; it does not exist partially. It belongs to the very essence of the Word of God, pervasive and complete, the means through which He embodies Power and Wisdom, as stated in 1 Corinthians 1:24, existing before He took on a physical form. When we contemplate God in His divine form, the Word equal to the Father, this is the Wisdom of God of which it is remarked, “It stretches mightily from one end to the other.” Wisdom 8:1. What incredible speed! It reaches from one end to the other with might!

Hence, we are weighed down by the imperfections of this frail body and the shackles of this earthly and corrupt existence; do we have no hope of receiving the swiftly approaching Word? Or has He abandoned us, despite our suffocation from this earthly condition? Did He not predestine us before we were born into this wretched and feeble body? Therefore, He who Predestined us imparted snow to the earth, as well as to ourselves. Now, let us delve into these somewhat obscure verses of the Psalm and begin to untangle these complexities. Here, on this earth, we find ourselves slow and seemingly frozen. Just as snowflakes freeze on their surface before cascading down, so too does human nature, ensnared in a sluggish body, become akin to snow, as love grows cold. But within this snow, the sons of God are predestined. For He gives "snow" as wool. Psalm 146:16. What does wool signify? It denotes that from this snow He has imparted, from those who are still slow of spirit and cold, whom He has chosen, He intends to create something. Wool serves as raw material for clothing; when we see wool, we regard it as something to be fashioned into garments. Thus, since He has predestined those who are presently cold and crawling along the earth, not yet ablaze with love's fervor—since the theme remains predestination—God gives them as a form of wool: He is about to weave them into garments.

In truth, Christ's garments radiated on the mountain like snow. Matthew 17:2. The garments of Christ glistened with a snowy brilliance, as if garments were already fashioned from that snow, woven from the wool He provides, now hinting at predestination. But wait to see what follows. Because He gifted them as wool, clothing arises from them. As the Church is considered the body of Christ, so too is the Church regarded as His garment. Thus, the Apostle's declaration asserts He shall present to Himself a glorious Church, without spot or blemish. Ephesians 5:27. Let Him therefore offer to Himself a glorious Church, devoid of stain or defect; let Him craft from that wool, which He predestined from the snow. While humans remain in disbelief, cold, and lethargic, let Him form garments from that wool. To cleanse from iniquity, let them be purified through faith; that no blemish may touch him, let him be bowed down on the cross.

He "scatters the mist like ashes." The psalmist proclaims, “He scatters the mist like ashes.” WHO? He who grants snow like wool. Those whom He predestined, He calls to repentance; those He has chosen, He beckons. But ashes carry a connection to repentance. Hear His call for repentance when He chastised certain cities, saying, “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe unto you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles performed in you had occurred in Tyre and Sidon, their responders would have long since repented in dust and ashes.” Matthew 11:21. Hence, He scatters the mist like ashes. What can this mean, that He tosses away the fog like ashes? When a person is summoned to know God and is told, “Embrace the Truth”; they begin to yearn for the Truth, yet are hindered by a veil of darkness previously unrecognized.

"He breaks His ice into fragments." Just as His loaves are divided, so too is His ice shattered. Ice, inherently, is simply frozen water, which we refer to as frost. The relationship between ice and water is akin to that between water and frost: water disperses broadly, while ice appears to be condensed and retains a singular form. When water undergoes freezing, it transforms into ice. Thus, since we are unable to fully comprehend the entirety of the incarnation of the Word, it is fragmented for us to accept in pieces. In shadowy places, we are cautioned not to delve too deeply into the complexities of translation. "In the presence of His chill, who can withstand?" This poses the question of whom it refers to: some believe it speaks of ice, others of God.

He who dispels His hunger like bread. See v. 5 Who can withstand the intensity of His darkness? He alters the atmosphere effortlessly, bringing a sudden coldness. Shedding His vulnerability like bread. See v. 5 Who can withstand the intensity of His darkness? He alters the atmosphere effortlessly, bringing a sudden coldness.

Who is capable of confronting the heaviness of His shadow? God, it is said, sends down snowflakes so large that they can resemble bite-sized pieces of bread or even whole loaves. Others interpret this as the phenomenon of great hail that occasionally descends. Indeed, this situation is remarkable, revealing the tremendous power that can produce an intense and overwhelming cold from frozen snow and hail, unbearable to all flesh. St. Basil explains that snow, in its fundamental nature, is water that becomes white through the influence of air. The moisture present in the clouds, when forcefully separated from them by wind, breaks into droplets, foams, and ultimately freezes in the atmosphere, accumulating density and, according to its natural tendency, falls to the ground.

Once again, he lists various divine works that are evident throughout the natural order. However, because many in the world attribute the visible changes in the air and on the earth to mere chance, he first discusses the earth, highlighting that it is under the sovereign control and creative power of God. The act of sending forth His words indicates the unseen influence through which God directs and animates all creation. Without His command, the elements would remain at rest, moving nowhere on their own; rather, they act only under the hidden authority of God. The subsequent phrase, "His word flows with speed," conveys that at the moment God decrees something to exist, all of creation yearns to comply and stands ready to fulfill His desires.

This psalm is believed to belong to the post-exilic period and may have been composed during Nehemiah's time, who is notable for reconstructing the walls and gates of Jerusalem. The psalmist calls upon the renewed Jerusalem, now fortified and filled with inhabitants, to celebrate and exalt the Lord for the peace and prosperity it enjoys. The powerful word of the Lord has transformed the harshness of Israel's past, symbolized by winter, into a season of blessing and renewal, reflecting a profound salvation. It is imperative that Israel, entrusted with divine Revelation, recognizes its unique standing among the nations as God's chosen people.