Second Sunday after Christmas Psalm 147:12-20

Introduction

Psalm 147 is a hymn celebrating God’s work of creation and providence. It is a kindred psalm to 146, both celebrating this charming portrait of God. The fact that the lectionary reading includes only verses 12-20 may have been affected by the fact that in the Greek Bible (Septuagint) these verses are numbered as Psalm 147, while the first part of the psalm (vv. 1-11) is numbered as Psalm 146. Quite strikingly but not surprisingly, Psalms 146 and 147 share vocabulary [1], [2].

Ancient Lens

What can we learn from the historical context?

God the Creator and Sustainer

While there is good…

1. What does Psalm 147 reveal about God as Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer? (Discuss how the psalm’s portrayal of God challenges or deepens our understanding of these three aspects of God’s identity.)

2. Psalm 147 balances praise between heaven and earth. How does this interplay of heaven and earth in worship impact our own perspective on where and how God dwells? What can it teach us about the universality of worship?

3. In what ways does the psalmist convey the unity of God, as emphasized in Deuteronomy 6:4, “The LORD our God, the LORD is one”? (Reflect on how this concept of divine “oneness” influences the psalmist’s approach to worship and praise.)

4. How do the themes of power and grace come together in Psalm 147? Consider how these…