Taking Notes

Yesterday we heard Part 3 of the sermon series An Invitation to Hope in the Face of a Time of Despair. Pastor Sam noted that in moments of despair, our strategy is not to look at our circumstances; instead, we look to Jesus.

An interesting phenomenon in Scripture is that, for those who look to the Lord in times of crisis, a song often emerges. We see this pattern in several of the psalms: the writer begins with expressions of lament or hardship, but then reminds himself of God's greatness.

Today, let us read Psalm 147. This particular psalm, like Isaiah 40, focuses on the greatness of God as revealed in His creative power. As the focus was shifted from life's crises to God's creativity, the exiles were called to hope in this great God. In moments where personal issues threatened to derail them, these exiles could simply look at nature and be encouraged.

The God of the exiles, the same God who made this whole world, is our God-- and He has not lost His ability to create. The same God who created order in the universe can create order in our hearts and lives, often through means we can't even imagine.

I will focus on God's greatness today. Will you?


PSALM 147 (NIV)

Praise the Lord.

How good it is to sing praises to our God,
    how pleasant and fitting to praise him!

The Lord builds up Jerusalem;
    he gathers the exiles of Israel.
He heals the brokenhearted
    and binds up their wounds.
He determines the number of the stars
    and calls them each by name.
Great is our Lord and mighty in power;
    his understanding has no limit.
The Lord sustains the humble
    but casts the wicked to the ground.

Sing to the Lord with grateful praise;
    make music to our God on the harp.

He covers the sky with clouds;
    he supplies the earth with rain
    and makes grass grow on the hills.

He provides food for the cattle
    and for the young ravens when they call.

His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse,
    nor his delight in the legs of the warrior;
the Lord delights in those who fear him,
    who put their hope in his unfailing love.

Extol the Lord, Jerusalem;
    praise your God, Zion.

He strengthens the bars of your gates
    and blesses your people within you.
He grants peace to your borders
    and satisfies you with the finest of wheat.

He sends his command to the earth;
    his word runs swiftly.
He spreads the snow like wool
    and scatters the frost like ashes.
He hurls down his hail like pebbles.
    Who can withstand his icy blast?

He sends his word and melts them;
    he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow.

He has revealed his word to Jacob,
    his laws and decrees to Israel.
He has done this for no other nation;
    they do not know his laws.

Praise the Lord.