Canon Rob's Reflections

Today’s psalm is appropriate on this Feast of St Luke, partly because it is a poem praising God for his goodness and partly because verse 3 speaks of healing. St Luke, the author of the Gospel which bears his name and also the Acts of the Apostles, was a doctor. St Paul, a close friend, described Luke as “the beloved physician.” [See Colossians 4.14.] So, as you reflect on the verses of today’s psalm, give thanks for St Luke and the wonderful legacy he has left. His Gospel contains much hope and joy, especially at the beginning, and shows Jesus as being primarily concerned with the poor and others who were in any kind of need. Verse 3 of Psalm 147 sums this up very well: “He [the Lord] heals the broken hearted and binds up all their wounds.” On this special day then, it is appropriate to join the psalmist in rejoicing in all that God has done, and continues to do. “Alleluia. How good it is to make music for our God, how joyful to honour him with praise.” [Verse 1.] George Appleton, in his commentary, ‘Understanding the Psalms,’ says that the author of today’s psalm gives four reasons why we should make music in praise of God. Firstly, he brought back the exiles from Babylon to Jerusalem: secondly, He has ordered the universe and nature with ‘infinite wisdom and power;’ thirdly, He protects Jerusalem so that the people can live in peace and, lastly; that Israel is favoured above other nations. Whatever we may think of the right wing government in Israel today, it is no wonder that, writing at the time that he did, the author of Psalm 147 called upon all those in the newly restored Jerusalem to join him in giving thanks to God for His goodness and mercy! Verse 2 alone is enough to encourage its readers to join in the celebrations! “The Lord builds up Jerusalem and gathers together the outcasts of Israel.” Recall the pictures from the news at the end of the Second Word War, of crowds of women, men and children who were gathered outside Buckingham Palace singing and dancing for joy! Similarly, the crowds of people in Jerusalem were those who hearts had been broken and who were now being healed.

The greatness of God’s power isn’t restricted to what He does for His people though. “He counts the number of the stars and calls them all by their names.” Even today with the wonder of modern astronomy and sending people into space, we cannot count the stars. Here is a lesson in humility and we can echo the psalmist’s words in verse 5: “Great is the Lord and mighty in power; his wisdom is beyond telling.” As with being unable to count the stars, we cannot begin to know everything about God. If we did He would cease to be God! However, for those who believe in Jesus, we know that God loves us so intimately that we can call Him “Our Father in heaven…”


Spend a few minutes reflecting on verse 6 of today’s psalm and you may be reminded of another song of praise in the New Testament. “The Lord lifts up the poor, but casts down the wicked to the ground.” Near the beginning of St Luke’s Gospel, Mary rejoices that she is pregnant and sings a hymn of praise and thanksgiving which those who attend Evensong know as the Magnificat. In the Good News Bible, it begins, “My heart praises the Lord, my soul is glad because of God my Saviour,..” Then, a few verses later, Mary continues, “He has brought down mighty kings from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away with empty hands.” For the author of Psalm 147, the people of Israel who shared in the singing of the psalm, and for all who believe today, salvation leads to a new way of life in the presence of the God. No wonder then, that in verse 7 the psalmist invites the people to: “Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;” and to “make music to our God upon the lyre.” Since the early days of the Church, authors have written hymns in praise of God: hymns which we sing in our worship today like the one printed here: