Psalm 147 is another praise psalm. Read this psalm 2 times. 

The first time, look for how powerful God is. What amazing things can he do? The second time, look for how God cares for those who are more insignificant.

Psalm 147

1 Praise the Lord!

How good to sing praises to our God!
     How delightful and how fitting!
2 The Lord is rebuilding Jerusalem
     and bringing the exiles back to Israel.
3 He heals the brokenhearted
     and bandages their wounds.
4 He counts the stars
     and calls them all by name.
5 How great is our Lord! His power is absolute!
     His understanding is beyond comprehension!
6 The Lord supports the humble,
     but he brings the wicked down into the dust.

7 Sing out your thanks to the Lord;
     sing praises to our God with a harp.
8 He covers the heavens with clouds,
     provides rain for the earth,
     and makes the grass grow in mountain pastures.
9 He gives food to the wild animals
     and feeds the young ravens when they cry.
10 He takes no pleasure in the strength of a horse
     or in human might.
11 No, the Lord’s delight is in those who fear him,
     those who put their hope in his unfailing love.

12 Glorify the Lord, O Jerusalem!
     Praise your God, O Zion!
13 For he has strengthened the bars of your gates
     and blessed your children within your walls.
14 He sends peace across your nation
     and satisfies your hunger with the finest wheat.
15 He sends his orders to the world—
     how swiftly his word flies!
16 He sends the snow like white wool;
     he scatters frost upon the ground like ashes.
17 He hurls the hail like stones. 
     Who can stand against his freezing cold?
18 Then, at his command, it all melts.
     He sends his winds, and the ice thaws.
19 He has revealed his words to Jacob,
     his decrees and regulations to Israel.
20 He has not done this for any other nation;
     they do not know his regulations.

Praise the Lord!

There are two verses that made me stop and think:

5 How great is our Lord! His power is absolute!
     His understanding is beyond comprehension!

As a human being, I don't really comprehend that verse. How can someone have absolute power? How can someone be able to completely understand everything? 

I am aware there are very smart people in our world. Since I'm a senior citizen, I can look in wonder at the people who created computers. When I was at university in my early twenties, computers were just getting started. At Western University, there was a huge room that housed the computer. To enter data in that computer, you punched information on cards that ran through that immense computer and "spit out" a paper with all the information on it. Computers are small now - even as small as a watch. And now, we're hearing about AI - a new source of intelligence. I wonder what God is thinking as he watches all these new inventions. I suspect he's like us as parents when we see our little children figure things out. Is God thinking we're doing well, but maybe also thinking we should be stopped because we're likely going to mess things up more?

Sometimes when we pray, we hope God will help us but there's that underlying doubt. We need to pray for God to help us grow in our faith in him. To truly understand "How great is our Lord! His power is absolute! His understanding is beyond comprehension!"

Then there is this verse:

11 No, the Lord’s delight is in those who fear him,
     those who put their hope in his unfailing love.

Yes! God is delighted that I fear and love him - that I put my hope in him. I like that word "hope". It's kind of a trembling word. You can't say you know for sure - you hope. That's every one of us. We haven't been able to actually see God or touch him. Yet our belief and hope is in him. Do you remember the verses in this psalm where God is taking care of the most insignificant things/creatures? And he is delighted with those who fear him, those who begin to comprehend who he really is.

No, the Lord’s delight is in those who fear him,
     those who put their hope in his unfailing love.

That's you!

Our song for today is You Are Worthy of It All by David Brymer