Psalm 147 (146/147):4Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In other words, a knower. The individuals referred to were dispersed and nowhere to be found, leading the prophet to aptly illustrate that God has the power to assemble even those who are scattered. He consistently offers solace and encouragement to those who are broken in spirit, and He has complete knowledge of the countless stars; therefore, He will also gather us, for He has promised to increase us like the stars, precisely. "And He shall call them all by name." Another interpretation (unknown, see Orig. Ex.): He names them all (τοι̅ς πᾱσιν). A third interpretation (unknown, see Orig. Ex.): He shall call all of them by name (πάντας αυτοὺςονομασί καλέσει).

We are encouraged to ‘Praise the Lord’ as stated in Psalm 145:1. This call is extended to all nations, not just to us alone. The words spoken by the congregations in various locations resonate with the same Divine Voice urging us to offer our praise. If one questions why we ought to extol the Lord, the answer is simple: praise Him, for the psalm is indeed a good thing. But is this truly the entirety of the reward for those who give thanks? The psalm itself embodies God’s glory. Again, it asserts: Praise the Lord, for it is good to do so. Let us keep in mind the importance of honoring the Lord through our praises. It has been said, and time has passed: we have praised, then paused; we have sung, and then rested. As we embark on various tasks, when life pulls us in different directions, does our praise for God diminish? Not at all: our tongues may pause at times, but our lives should continually sing His praises. Thus, the psalm is indeed good.

A psalm represents a song, specifically one drawn from the psalter. The psalter is akin to a musical instrument, reminiscent of the lyre or harp, created for the purpose of music. Therefore, one who sings psalms doesn’t merely raise their voice; they also accompany it with an instrument known as the psalter, engaging both voice and hands in harmonious praise. If you choose to sing a psalm, allow not only your voice to declare His glory but also let your actions reflect that praise. To delight the ear, sing with your voice; yet do not let your heart remain silent—your life should also echo that praise. Your heart must harbor no deceit; remember, you sing for God. When you dine, celebrate with a psalm—not just sweet sounds meant for the ears, but approach your meals with moderation and restraint, embodying the instruction of the Apostle: ‘Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God’ (1 Corinthians 10:31). Should you indulge in excess, no matter how much your tongue exalts God, your actions may bear false witness against Him. After your meals, as you retire for the night, ensure that your heart remains pure and in accordance with God’s law; let your marital bed be undefiled; if you desire offspring, pursue them without selfish lust. ‘In your bed, honor your wife’ (1 Peter 3:7), for both of you are members of Christ, crafted by Him and redeemed by His blood. Therefore, offer your praise to God and allow it not to be in vain. What occurs when slumber overtakes you? Do not allow a guilty conscience to disturb your rest; let the purity of your sleep sing praises to God.

Let our adoration be pleasing to the Lord. How so? It is when He is glorified by our righteous living. Hence, understand that true praise delights Him. Scriptures also remind us, ‘It is not fitting for the mouth of a sinner to praise’ (Sirach 15:9). If such praise is seen as improper or unenjoyable from a sinner’s lips, then it stands to reason that only what is fitting derives pleasure. Though praise may delight a person when it is articulated with skilled words, beautiful sentiments, and a pleasing voice, let our true aim be to please our God, who listens not for our speaking but rather for our hearts; He observes not the tongue but the very lives of those who offer Him praise.

Who is our God, so worthy of our admiration? He makes Himself sweet to us, reaching out with compassion through His kindness. As it is written, ‘God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us’ (Romans 5:8). Examine whether the praise mentioned by the Apostle corresponds to the praise that Christ rendered for sinners and those who were ungodly. The Lord, who restores Jerusalem and gathers the dispersed of Israel (Psalm 145:2), refers to the people of Jerusalem as God’s chosen. This eternal Jerusalem in heaven comprises both saints and angels, all witnessing the splendor of God. Yet, we are wanderers from that celestial city, cast out by sin, weighed down by mortality, barred from returning there. But God has looked upon our wanderings, and the One who rebuilds Jerusalem has restored what was lost. How did He achieve this restoration? He sent His Son, the Redeemer, into our state of captivity. He instructed, ‘Take a bag with you, and collect the price for those in bondage.’ For He bore our mortal flesh, in which flowed the blood through which we were redeemed. With this blood, He gathered the scattered of Israel. If He accomplished the gathering of those who once strayed, how then should we strive to gather those who are now lost? As the formerly scattered are united, now in the hands of the Builder, transformed into a glorious structure, should we not aim to gather those who, due to their restlessness, have fallen from this divine unity? This is the One we praise; this is the One to whom we are eternally bound to give thanks.

How does He gather? What actions does He take to restore? He is the healer of broken hearts (Psalm 145:3). Observe how the strayed of Israel are united through the mending of the wounded heart. Those who lack a contrite heart receive no healing. What constitutes a wounded heart? Understand this, beloved, so that healing may come. Scripture reminds us, ‘The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart God will not despise.’ He draws near to heal the wounded heart, as elsewhere stated, ‘The Lord is near to the brokenhearted.’ Who are they whose hearts are wounded? They are the humble. And who possesses an unbroken heart? The proud. The afflicted heart shall be mended, while the proud spirit shall face destruction, for the Lord seeks to uplift the humble from their lowly state, bringing healing where brokenness is acknowledged. Therefore, dear friends, let us not strive to lift our hearts before they are prepared to be healed. It would be folly to seek to exalt that which has not yet been made straight in God’s sight.

By what means does He bind up those who are bruised? Just like physicians apply bandages to mend fractures. Sometimes (this is known to those who have observed or heard from physicians), even when certain body parts are healthy but misaligned, practitioners may break them deliberately to realign them, creating a new wound to correct the prior distortion.

What mechanisms does He employ to bind up our wounds? Through the sacraments of this present life, providing comfort, alongside all the words delivered to you by the Church, which serve as means by which He tends to our injuries. Just as a physician removes the dressing when healing has fully occurred, so will it be in our celestial Jerusalem; when we are united with the Angels, will we still require reading from the Gospel for the fortification of our faith? Or the laying of hands by a bishop? These are merely instruments for healing; yet, once we achieve complete wholeness, such practices will no longer be necessary, but we would never have attained this state without their administration.

He who counts the number of the stars, calling each one by name (Psalm 146:4). What a remarkable feat for God to determine the stars’ count! Many have even endeavored to do so, and whether they have succeeded is their own matter, although their attempt shows they believed it possible. It is not essential for God to number the stars. Perhaps He does so to remember them? Is it any great endeavor for God to tally the stars, by whom even the hairs on your head are numbered (Matthew 10:30)? The stars symbolize the leaders in the Church, providing solace in our darkness. As the Apostle states, ‘In the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life’ (Philippians 2:15). These stars are counted by God; those who will reign with Him, all who are to be incorporated into the Body of His only begotten Son, are numbered and continually counted. Those deemed unworthy are not counted at all. Many may have joined His people, under the guise of faith, but He knows those He counts and those He separates. Such is the majesty of the Gospel that it fulfills the words spoken: ‘I declared and said, they have multiplied beyond number;’ thus referring to those deemed as mere additions within the faithful. Reflect for a moment on whether you shine in the darkness, whether you resist the allure of the world’s sin; should you do so and not succumb, you will be like a star already counted by God. And calls them all by name, this reveals our ultimate reward. It is right for us to desire that God know our names; let our actions reflect this, rather than rejoicing in trivial things, even in particular spiritual gifts. Upon the return of the disciples from their mission, rejoicing in their authority over demons in His name (Luke 10:17), Jesus cautioned that while it is indeed joyful, we should rather rejoice that our names are recorded in heaven (Luke 10:20).

Great is our Lord (Psalm 146:5). The psalmist expresses profound joy, engaging words in a remarkable outpouring, yet he finds himself at a loss for sufficient articulation. How can one fully comprehend or adequately convey what it means when it is declared, ‘Great is our Lord, and His power is vast, and His understanding is beyond measure’? He who knows the number of stars is Himself immeasurable. Who can comprehend? Who can even begin to fathom the vastness of His understanding? Whatever may be infinite to us, such limitations do not apply to God; the universe seems small to Him, in fact. Its complexity surpasses all who reckon it; who can truly quantify it? What else is within God’s dominion, who fashioned all things, in alignment with the words, ‘You have arranged all things in measure, number, and weight’ (Wisdom 11:20)? Who can measure the depth of His understanding? Allow the voices of men to quiet; let them not presume to grasp what is beyond comprehension, but rather, let us partake through faith in what is revealed by Him. We shall be participants in His divine nature; let there be no doubt of this, as Scripture affirms. What shall we partake in, if not the essence of our oneness with God, acknowledging that He is undivided? Who can truly articulate how multitudes can share in one substance? Do not fret over what cannot be articulated accurately; rather, seek healing from the Saviour, and allow your heart to be restored. He will guide it and bring healing to where there is brokenness, making it whole; then we shall experience what now seems unattainable. It is indeed beneficial to confess our frailties before Him, who desires that we attain to His divine nature.

The Lord speaks gently (Psalm 145:6). Understand that you may not yet comprehend; do not rush to judge the Scriptures as unclear or contradictory. There is no contradiction within them; rather, some aspects are veiled—not to withhold from you, but to test those who will receive them later. And during such trials of obscurity, the Lord invites you to seek. He desires you to practice this pursuit; He seeks to reveal truths once you earnestly knock. Through persistence in seeking, you will grow; through growth, you will embrace what is bestowed upon you. Do not resent the closed door; approach it with humility and gentleness. Do not strike out in anger at what seems dark, nor lament, ‘It would have been better expressed differently.’ For how can you claim to know how best to articulate it? It has been declared in a way deemed expedient. Let not those in distress attempt to alter their medication; the Physician knows how to administer treatment. Trust in Him who tends to your needs.

What is the true meaning behind the phrase, ‘And He who binds up their brokenness, numbering the multitude of stars’? Since He mends the hearts of the wounded and restores their brokenness, He will transform those who have been shattered in the past and those now healed into stars. He counts the vast array of stars. ‘Multitude.’ There were many sinners, and many were restored. He who knows the number of stars. He does not tally the sick but those who have already become stars. God acknowledges only those deemed worthy of His grace. ‘And He who calls them all by their names.’ This refers to constellations like Orion and Dennis, as well as those we behold in the heavens, illustrating the grandeur of God who fashioned the heavens and the earth and all that exists within them.

The Prophet proclaims God's omnipotence in every aspect. When he speaks of "calculate," he refers to the understanding of knowledge, while the names of the stars represent their distinctions, relative positions, and connections to one another. The Creator of all does not need to name them, as the stars themselves lack life and reason; yet humans, influenced by their corrupt morals and drawing from their own invented myths, have assigned names to the stars.

Consider the vast number of stars. God, as stated, is fully aware of the exact count. Thinkers like Gregory of Nyssa and Theodoret interpret "calculation" as knowledge, and when referring to "names," they mean the classification, placement, relationships, and order of the stars. Thus, the phrase "He who knows the multitude of stars" implies understanding their positions, sequences, appearances, sizes, interrelations, and their foundational purposes, causes, and ends. Gregory of Nyssa explains that just as we have a precise grasp of quantity numerically, so too do we comprehend God's omniscience, which embodies His wisdom and supervises everything without fail. This portrayal suggests that God assesses the stars.

The divine Word, identified as the living Word, prompts us to reflect deeply on names, particularly those that should be regarded as infused with life. Is it necessary to highlight human wisdom, which has emerged from the Creator's hands, and humanity's dominion over other earthly beings? The divine Word assigns to humanity the responsibility of naming, granting those names an enduring significance. "Whatever Adam calls each living creature, that is its name" (Gen. 2:19). Shall we not extol the supreme wisdom and might of God? He is recognized for naming the celestial bodies: "He counts the number of the stars and calls them all by name" (Psalms 146:4).

Because it appeared unbelievable to many that God, having dispersed such vast multitudes throughout the universe, could reunite them, He proclaims here the wisdom and might of the Almighty, encouraging the skeptical Jews to place their faith in Him. Furthermore, He reflects on the wondrous order of the heavens, where God's unfathomable wisdom is visibly displayed, governing the intricate movements of the celestial bodies and the paths of the stars, ensuring that none deviate even slightly from their designated courses. Each luminary and star has been assigned a specific order, resulting in perfect harmony among their great number. Thus, He concludes that it is just as easy for God to gather the dispersed peoples as it is to count the stars above and name each one. Consequently, He proclaims: Great is our Lord, and mighty is His power; His understanding is beyond measure! This teaches us that it is utterly foolish to attempt to comprehend with our senses things that reflect immense wisdom and strength.

This psalm was composed following the Babylonian Exile, likely during the latter part of Nehemiah's tenure, when he was particularly focused on rebuilding and strengthening Jerusalem. At the time this psalm was penned, Jerusalem appeared to have been revitalized; the people, who had been dispersed among the nations, were returning to their homeland, and their wounds were being healed. In light of this, Israel is called to express gratitude to the Lord, who is all-knowing and all-powerful, attributes that enable Him to graciously condescend to those who are humble while also bringing judgment upon the oppressors. Therefore, Israel is encouraged to honor the Lord appropriately.