Leaning on His Love
Opening Prayer
Father, help me to see myself as You see me, clothed in the righteousness of Christ.
Read PSALM 147:1-20
[1] Praise the LORD. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him! [2] The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the exiles of Israel. [3] He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. [4] He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. [5] Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit. [6] The LORD sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground. [7] Sing to the LORD with grateful praise; make music to our God on the harp. [8] He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills. [9] He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call. [10] His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of the warrior; [11] the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love. [12] Extol the LORD, Jerusalem; praise your God, Zion. [13] He strengthens the bars of your gates and blesses your people within you. [14] He grants peace to your borders and satisfies you with the finest of wheat. [15] He sends his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly. [16] He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes. [17] He hurls down his hail like pebbles. Who can withstand his icy blast? [18] He sends his word and melts them; he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow. [19] He has revealed his word to Jacob, his laws and decrees to Israel. [20] He has done this for no other nation; they do not know his laws. Praise the LORD. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What reasons do you have for praising God today?In the first verse, the psalmist tells us that it is “fitting” to praise God. He then pens a beautiful song to make his point. It makes perfect sense to praise God! He is worthy of praise because of his might and power (4,5,8,16-18), and because of his love and compassion (3,6,9,13,14).It is when we recognize God’s might and our own weakness that we learn to lean on him. And it is this attitude of humble dependence on him which delights our God. In verses 10 and 11 the psalmist contrasts the apparent strength of horses and men with the weakness of those whose only hope is the Lord’s love. God is not delighted by our attempts at self-sufficiency and independence, but rather by our confession that he alone is our hope. Speaking out and singing our praise to God reminds us of who he is. As we declare his characteristics, we begin to wonder why we ever doubt his ability or willingness to come to our aid. He is the one who protects us, blesses us and provides for us (13,14). And we realize how foolish we are when we try to do things in our own strength.
Apply
Journal about the characteristics of God revealed in this psalm. Which are of greatest comfort to you?
Closing prayer
Lord of my life, give me clear vision and purity of heart so that I might see You and walk in Your ways.
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