The Reason of Our Praise

Temple Baptist Church - 7-5-2026

Psalm 147

 

Introduction:

A. Psalm 147 is the second of the “Hallelujah Psalms”, which begin and end with the phrase “Praise ye the Lord.” That phrase comes from the under lying Greek words:

 

1. הָלַל hâlal haw-lal' A primitive root; to be clear (originally of sound, but usually of color); to shine; hence to make a show; to boast to make a show or to shine.

 

2. יָהּ yâhh yaw Jah, the sacred name of God: - Jah, the Lord, most vehement

 

B. “Praise ye the LORD” is to be done vocally! “Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God”

 

1. The praise in this Psalm is not meant to be a part of your private adoration of the Lord God, though it can be, but a visible, audible display of worship.

 

2. It is not to bring praise to the one who is praising, but to the Lord, our God! “Unto out God!”

 

C. Why such emphasis upon a public demonstration of praise? Because the world will “knock the praise” right out of you if you allow it to do so!

 

1. I have noticed over these past couple of decades that “popcorn” testimonies of praise have fallen off to virtually nothing. People used to stand up and say, “I just want to praise the Lord tonight” and tell what God had done for them.

 

2. You can praise God for His goodness, mercy, and grace all you want here at Temple. I normally say, “I didn’t turn it on and am not going to turn it off!”

 

 

John 4:23-24  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.  (24)  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

 

3. That word “spirit” that the Lord said means: πνεῦμα pneuma pnyoo'-mah a current of air, that is, breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively a spirit, that is, (human) the rational soul, (by implication) vital principle, mental disposition,

 

D. This is the reason that these 5 Psalms ended the Jewish Psalter! God does not want His people to slack off or stop showing a public praise out of a thankful heart! If God’s been good to you, you need to make it public in church and also out in the world.

 

E. Let’s take a short look at the Psalm.

 

1. Verse 1. Praise is:

 

a. Good! “Good to sing praises unto OUR God!” Beautiful, useful, profitable, beneficent or of great value. “I am His … and He is mine!” It is neither a bad thing nor should it be a rare thing. It should be a good thing and a frequent one.

 

b. Pleasant! To the godly soul praising God is a delightful thing; a thing affording purest satisfaction, and real joy to the heart.

 

c. Comely! It looks on us. To praise God is a most seemly thing. Nothing can be more appropriate than that man, who owes to God so much, and is to some extent capable of appreciating the perfections and glories of His character, should pay to Him humble and hearty worship.

 

2. Verses 2-6. Because of His knowledge What God does for us. God specializes in restoring lives. He created the universe, numbered the stars, called each individual star by name, and is infinite in understanding! He is God and He is Lord!

 

a. Verse 2. His compassion. He gathers those who have wandered. When we fall, He picks us up!

 

b. Verse 3-5. His knowledge. He created the universe, numbered the stars, calls the stars by name, and He knows your name, and He cares.

 

1) He knows when your heart is broken. He heals broken hearts.

 

2) He know when you have been hurt and are hurting. He binds emotional and spiritual wounds.

 

c. Verse 6. He lifts up the humble. God knows when you bear burdens that weigh you down and are ready to break your spiritual back, Godis there for you and sharing your burden. He careth for you.

 

3. Verses 7-12. He sustains His creation and creatures.

 

a. He supplies rain upon the earth and grass upon the mountains.

 

b. He supplies provision for His animals and feeds the ravens. He feeds the sparrow, and we are worth many sparrows.

 

c. Verse 10. God needs no help though I enjoy thinking that I help Him when I feed the beasts and the birds!

 

4. Verses 12-14. God protects His people. Never forget that He holds us in His omnipotent hands.

 

a. He protects their dwellings. “strengthens the bars of thy gates”

 

b. He protects their persons. “blessed thy children within thee”

 

c. He protects their borders. “peace in thy borders”

 

5. Verses 15-20. Because of His power. Omnipotent means all powerful: all power in heaven and earth belong to Him.

 

a. He commands His creation. Nahum 1:3

 

b. He sends the snow in winter and, in some places, in summer.

 

c. He forms the frost and melts the ice.

 

d. He commands the winds and waves just as He did when He walked on the sea.

 

6. Praise is due to His name and His alone! I am so glad that I can praise Him for His goodness and mercy to me. How about you?

 

Conclusion: "Praise ye the LORD."