Psalm 147 (146/147):3Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Another translator, whose name remains unknown, reflects on their wounds. Since he was unable to speak of his own life with confidence, he once more highlights the trials he faces along with God’s unique actions. It is a hallmark of God to provide solace to the downtrodden; this is rightly seen as His mission. Just as Paul declares, ‘Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered’ (Rom. 4:7), which emphasizes God’s own handiwork, so the prophet here proclaims, ‘and healeth the brokenhearted,’ indicating that although we may not deserve it, God, as our Creator, will not abandon His creations nor stray from His divine purpose. Paul also reassures, ‘as He began, so also He has finished with you this good work’ (2 Cor.

We are encouraged to ‘Praise the Lord’ (Psalm 145:1). This call resonates with all nations, not just with us. These words, uttered in various locations, are echoed by each congregation separately; yet, the unified Voice of God urges all to offer Him praise. And if one were to question why we should exalt the Lord, the answer He provides is: Praise the Lord, for the psalm itself is good. But is this the entirety of the reward for those who worship? Indeed, the psalm is a manifestation of God's glory. Thus, it is stated: Praise the Lord, for it is good to give Him praise. We must remain diligent in our worship. It has been said, and then it has faded away: we have sung, and then been still; we have offered praise, and then paused. When we undertake our daily tasks, does our worship cease? Certainly not: your tongue sings praises for a season, but allow your life to perpetually honor Him. For indeed, the psalm is good.

A psalm is not merely any song, but a sacred serenade set to the psalter. The psalter functions as a musical instrument, akin to the lyre and harp, designed specifically for melodic worship. Thus, one who sings psalms does not only employ their voice, but also utilizes an accompanying instrument, showcasing their skill. When you sing a psalm, ensure that your voice praises God, and let your actions resonate in harmony with your words. To delight the ear, sing vocally; however, with your heart and your life, ensure continued reverence. Do not entertain deceit within your heart, for your song is directed to God. When you dine and drink, let your song persist: not merely enveloped in pleasant melodies, but with moderation in your eating and drinking; for as the apostle instructs, “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). If due to excessive indulgence you exceed the natural order and indulge in excess, your tongue may proclaim praise, yet your actions defame Him. After dining, when you retire to bed, maintain purity; in your resting place, adhere to God's commandments. Your marital bed should be sacred and respectful, and should you desire to have children, allow neither unrestrained lust nor excess to cloud your intent. “Honor your wife,” as written (1 Peter 3:7). Both of you are united in Christ, created by Him and redeemed by His blood; therefore, offer praise to God and let your thanksgiving never fall silent.

When dreams invade your slumber, let not a guilty conscience disturb your peace; let the purity of your rest glorify God. May our praise be pleasing to Him, and how so? When we honor Him through virtuous living. Thus, understand that praise delights Him. As stated elsewhere, “It is not fitting for the mouth of a sinner to praise” (Sirach 15:9). Therefore, if praise is not fitting for a sinner's lips, only what is appropriate is truly pleasing. Praise may please a human listener, who delights in eloquent speech or a sweet-sounding voice; but let our praise be acceptable to God, who listens not to our lips but to our hearts; not merely to our words, but to the entirety of our lives.

Who is this God that our praise should bring Him joy? He is tender with us, making Himself accessible; through His mercy, He demonstrates His love. “For while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Consider whether the praise to which the apostle refers is related to Christ’s offering for sinners and the ungodly: “The Lord builds up Jerusalem; He gathers the outcasts of Israel” (Psalm 145:2). The inhabitants of Jerusalem represent the people of Israel, including the heavenly Jerusalem, where angels reside. Thus, all the citizens of that blessed city rejoice, for they behold God Himself. Yet we find ourselves exiles from that city, cast aside by sin, unable to dwell there; burdened by mortality, we cannot return. God observed our wandering, and He, who rebuilds Jerusalem, has restored what was lost. How did He achieve this restoration? He sent His Son as our Redeemer into our state of captivity. “Take with you a bag,” He instructed, “and carry the ransom for the captives.” For He embraced our mortal nature, shedding His blood for our redemption. Through this sacrifice, He gathered the scattered people of Israel. If He gathered the dispersed, how shall we endeavor to unite those presently divided? If those once scattered were assembled to become a holy structure in the Builder’s hands, how might we also guide those who, in their unrest, have strayed from divine unity? This is whom we laud; this is whom we must extol throughout our lives.

How does He gather? What action does He take to draw them to Him? “He heals the brokenhearted” (Psalm 145:3). Observe how the scattered are united through the mending of wounded hearts. Only those with broken hearts can be healed. What constitutes a wounded heart? Let us discern together, brethren, for through Scripture we see that “A broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.” He binds up the brokenhearted, drawing near to them to restore them; as expressed in another verse, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted.” Who are the brokenhearted? The humble. Who are the unbrokenhearted? The proud. The broken heart will find healing, while the proud heart will be shattered. For in their transgression, they must be healed. Therefore, brethren, let us not aspire to be erect before we have been made straight. It is harmful to elevate that which is not first aligned.

By what means does He bind the wounds? Just as physicians dress fractures. Often, when a limb is not aligned but twisted, physicians will fracture it anew to bring about healing, creating a new wound to resolve a previous misalignment.

What methods does He employ to bind? The sacraments of our faith, through which we find comfort; all the teachings shared with you, the words spoken and actions taken within the Church, serve as the means of His healing. Just as a physician may remove a bandage once healing is complete, so will our ultimate perfection in the heavenly Jerusalem cause us to relinquish these earthly measures. Do you think we will need the Gospel read to us in that perfect city to affirm our faith? Will it be necessary for a bishop to lay his hands upon us? These act as medicinal means to bind our brokenness; without them, we would never achieve wholeness.

He who knows the number of the stars and calls each by name (Psalm 146:4). What an astounding thing for God to be aware of the count of the stars! Humans have attempted to do so, but their capacity is of no concern to us; we ponder what is beyond our comprehension. Does God enumerate the stars to prevent forgetfulness? This pales in significance compared to the detail with which He counts the hairs on your head (Matthew 10:30). The stars serve as beacons in the Church, bringing light to our darkened world. As the Apostle remarks, “Among a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life” (Philippians 2:15). These stars are noted by God; all who shall reign with Him, those who are redeemed into the Body of His only begotten Son, He has accounted. Those unworthy remain uncounted. Many have professed faith, or perhaps associated with the Church under a façade of belief; yet God knows whom He counts and whom He discards. The grandeur of the Gospel is realized as stated, “I have proclaimed and said, they are more numerous than can be counted,” with others merely being supernumerary. These are the overflowing numbers among the assembly who will not attain the heavenly kingdom.

Contemplate whether you stand as a light amidst darkness and refuse to be led astray by the iniquity surrounding you; if steadfast, you will shine as a star that God acknowledges. And He names each one, providing us with eternal significance. This constitutes our reward. May we aspire to have our names known by God, to earnestly pursue it, and practice it as best we can; do not take joy in external matters, even in certain spiritual gifts. When the disciples returned rejoicing, declaring, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your Name” (Luke 10:17), He, knowing many would boast about their power over demons, reminded them to rejoice instead that their names are written in heaven (Luke 10:20).

Great is our Lord (Psalm 146:5). The psalmist expresses joy, struggling yet marveling in his own expression. How does one convey the greatness of His power and the endless depth of His understanding? He who counts the stars cannot Himself be numbered. Who can truly understand? Who can articulate or even grasp what His infinite comprehensions entail? Though we live in a world filled with the infinite, it remains insignificant in God’s eyes. He arranges all things according to His will, measured not by our standards but by divine precision. Therefore, let human voices fall silent, and let our thoughts refrain from contemplating what is incomprehensible, as if we could fully grasp it; instead, let us participate in the mystery we are called to encounter through faith.

As communicants, let no one doubt this truth. What shall we become partakers of? Can we sever God into parts so that many partake? Consider the nature of what it means for many to become one in essence. Do not inquire about what is discernibly unutterable, but return to the healing provided by the Savior. He will guide your heart, mend it where it is broken, and restore it to wholeness; in this way, we shall attain what is now beyond our reach. It is good to humbly acknowledge our frailty before the One who desires to elevate us.

The Lord speaks tenderly (Psalm 145:6). A warm invitation follows, even amidst our struggles to comprehend, respect the Word of God and await understanding without haste. Do not hastily accuse Scripture of containing contradictions; rather, perceive obscurity as a divine test placed upon you. When encountering perplexing moments, God prompts you to knock, desiring you to practice engagement with His truth. As you knock, you will grow in understanding and capacity to hold what is imparted. Embrace the closed doors with gentleness; yield not to bitterness or frustration over perceived contradictions, for the wisdom of God surpasses human comprehension. Let not the sick reconfigure their remedies without trust in the Divine Physician.

The Lord tends to the humble and lowers the prideful, seeking to understand those sinners who embody meekness. He lowers the prideful to the ground, for they are too focused on worldly matters.

Commence your journey by confessing to the Lord (Psalm 145:7). Begin there, for it will illuminate your path to truth. In moving from belief to reality, initiate your confession. First acknowledge your faults, then extol God. What follows confession? Let your good deeds proceed forth. Sing to our God with the harp. What does singing “on the harp” signify? Just as the psalm is sung on the psalter, the harp becomes a vehicle for both voice and action.

Who covers the heavens with clouds and orchestrates rain for the earth (Psalm 146:8)? You may feel troubled when the sky seems unclear; however, when the rain falls, harvests will abound, revealing the shining sky. This, too, may be God’s work; for the obscurity of Scripture leads us to deeper insights. It is said that God cloaks the truths of Scripture with veils of imagery, making the Prophets’ words enigmatic, so that His servants may extract deeper meanings that resonate in hearts and minds.

Observe how Jerusalem is being restored: those who are sorrowful find healing. A contrite and submissive heart He will not reject (Psalm 51:17). ‘And He who heals their wounds.’ When you are heartbroken, the Lord will mend your shattered spirit. Like the Samaritan journeying from Jerusalem to Jericho, who, upon encountering a man injured and left on the path, tended to his wounds. This is the one of whom it is said, ‘And He who heals their wounds.’ Such is the promise for those who repent. Yet for those who remain obstinate, it is declared, ‘No ointment, no balm, no wrap shall be applied’ (Isaiah 1:6).

The Prophet united the material with the spiritual, demonstrating that God offers liberation not just to the imprisoned, but also extends healing to those afflicted by the wounds of sin.

He who mends the hearts of the shattered and heals their wounds. Paul echoed this sentiment regarding God: He who provides solace to the troubled has granted us comfort (2 Cor. 7:6). Thus, God, acting as a healer of souls rather than merely of the physical body, deems it His mission to console and uplift those who are lowly and contrite in spirit due to trials and tribulations. If God offers His comfort to those who are involuntarily brought low by temptations, how much more will He extend His grace to those who willingly embrace humility? The burdens of heartbreak reveal the joy and reassurance found in deeds and words. David speaks of the Lord's goodness, and then he speaks of His might and wisdom. Hence, as the Goldsmith advises, if you seek comfort, lower yourself and refine your thoughts.

When a borrower is graced with mercy from the creditor and has their obligation erased, they rejoice. Likewise, the sinner, having experienced the utmost mercy and forgiveness of transgressions from God, finds alive consolation in their heart and delights in His mercy bestowed upon sinners. A heart that genuinely repents and turns towards God, while humble and broken, finds comfort from its Merciful Creator, for God, in His humanity and compassion, regards with kindness and mercy the heart that approaches Him, contrite and surrendering. As it is written, “the heart of the broken and humble God will not abase” (Ps. 50:19), thus upon such hearts He pours the balm of His mercy. This healing salve revives the wounded spirit akin to life-giving plaster that restores vitality. “The Lord ...

The message begins with the extraordinary grace that God previously bestowed upon the community of Judah, favoring the Israelites over all other nations and designating a specific location for the calling upon His name. When the Prophet designates God as the architect of Jerusalem, he is not primarily addressing its physical structure or organization, but rather its spiritual reverence. The term zizhdai, often employed by the Prophets in reference to the church, emphasizes that the Jewish community was not established by human means, but rather originated from above through God’s divine power.

This psalm was composed following the Babylonian exile, likely during the later period of Nehemiah’s leadership, when he was diligently engaged in the reconstruction and fortification of Jerusalem. At the time this psalm was written, Jerusalem appeared to have been restored, with the people, who had been dispersed among the nations, returning to their homeland, and their afflictions being healed. For all these reasons, Israel ought to express gratitude to the Lord, who is all-knowing and all-powerful, as it is His nature to show mercy to the humble while bringing judgment upon the oppressors. Therefore, Israel must honor the Lord appropriately.