“He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names.” Psalm 147:4
April 28, 2023
“Much of what we call worship today is not worship at all but rather a glorification of ourselves”(James Boice). There is good reason to believe that Psalm 147 was composed and sung at the dedication of the walls and gates of Jerusalem at the time of Nehemiah (Neh. 12:27,43). God has given us some very hard questions in the Scriptures: “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth! Tell me if you have understanding” (Job 38:4)? “Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand….and calculated the dust of the earth by measure, and weighed the mountains in a balance” (Isa. 40:12)? The psalmist turns such questions into declarations of praise to God. “Praise the Lord!….He heals the broken hearted, and binds up their wounds” (Psa. 147:1, 3). How great is God? “Adam was able to name the animals in part of a day, but how long would it take to name all the stars? If there are 10 to the 25th power stars and if one could name them at the rate of 3 per second, then it would take ten billion years (10 to the 19th power) to “call them by their names” (Henry M. Morris). Now think of it and praise Him. God also concerns Himself for us, who are insignificant and weak by comparison. As Israel was called to praise God for rebuilding up Jerusalem after the exile, so should we as He cares for us day by day.
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“Praise is a soul in flower.” Thomas Watson