Psalms 147:19–20

In verses 15-18 we see His power in His dealings with the seasons. In verses 19 and 20 we see Him showing His word and judgments to Jacob, as He had not done to any nation. Other nations might have seen the power of Jacob's God in creation and in His care of the world, but His mind and His laws belonged to His people.

But God declares the truth of His Word to Jacob — a weak, undeserving creature of dust. He declares His statutes and judgments to the same nation, but now grace calls them Israel, "a prince with God." Clearly they are in a most favoured position, for God has not dealt with any other nation as He has with them.

He takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy — not in their own righteousness. They also have His word, God's own spoken words. He had not dealt so with any nation.

What pleases Him is not raw physical strength but the right moral condition, as verses 10 and 11 show. That is why He has shown His word to Jacob in verse 19.

God had not dealt so with any other nation. But to Jacob He had shown His word — His statutes and His judgments to Israel (verses 19, 20). If the other nations wanted to know Jehovah, they had to receive that knowledge from this wise and understanding people. God had clothed them with everlasting favour as His chosen priests: the keepers of His truth and the ones who pass it on.

Notice that God has "broken down" the wall that He Himself put up long ago. It would have been sin for anyone else to do it. The godly gloried in that separation, and could say, "He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and rules to Israel" (Ps. 147:19)… But such distinctions belong to the past. God's present work is the forming of the one body.

So there was a hint of what was in God's mind — to have a redeemed people for Himself, a people to whom He could communicate by His word what was of Himself. (Psalm 147:19-20.) In this way He would have formed them for Himself to show His praise, if only they had the kind of heart that would fear Him and keep His commandments. It will be so when He puts His law inside them and writes it on their hearts.

The possession of His word, His statutes and His judgments was one of the great privileges given to Israel. Romans 3:2 tells us that one of their chief advantages was that "they were entrusted with the oracles of God." He had not dealt in this way with any other nation. At last His word will have its proper effect on them. It will produce the meek and broken heart He desires, and they will be blessed and burst out in a heartfelt Hallelujah. Through God's goodness His word is available for us today. If it humbles us as it should, we too shall be blessed and able to take Hallelujah on our lips.

God's dealings with Israel and Jerusalem are what especially call out the Hallelujahs of Psalm 147. The psalm does look at His glory and might shown in creation. Yet all of that seems to be only a background. Against it, the kindness of His dealings with His people shines all the more brightly.

In verses 19, 20, He shows His word and judgments to Jacob as He had not done to any nation. They might have seen the creative and providential power of Jacob's God, but His mind and laws were His people's.

The law itself was not given until Sinai, and to one particular people. Some say it was given to the whole world. But how could it have been given to the Egyptians? It opens by addressing Israel: "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt." And in Psalm 147:20 we read that He has not dealt this way with any nation, and they do not know His rules. Cain was not under it, yet sin was there (Gen. 4:7). Nor do we read of it during the whole book of Genesis. Yet responsibility was there, and sin, and God's judgment.

Having His word and statutes and judgments was one of the great privileges given to Israel. Romans 3:2 tells us that one of their chief advantages was this: God entrusted them with His own words. He had not dealt in this way with any other nation. One day His word will have its proper effect on them. It will produce the meekness and brokenness of heart that He desires, and they will be blessed and break out in a heartfelt Hallelujah. Through God's goodness His word is available to us today. If it humbles us as it should, we too shall be blessed and able to take Hallelujah on our lips.

In verse 18 God sends out His word and melts the snow and ice. In verse 19 He shows His word to Jacob, so that Jacob might feel that same melting power. Jacob was his name according to nature. Israel was his name according to the grace God gave him.

No other nation had been dealt with so. But to Jacob He had shown His word — His statutes and His judgments to Israel (verses 19, 20). If the Gentiles wanted to learn the knowledge of Jehovah, they had to receive it from this wise and understanding people. God had adorned them with everlasting favour as His chosen priests, the keepers and dispensers of His truth (Zech. 8:23; Isa. 61:6).

Notice that God has "broken down" the wall which He Himself put up long ago. It would have been sin for anyone else to do so. The godly gloried in this. … But such distinctions belong to the past. God's present work is the forming of the one body. Christ has abolished the enmity in His flesh (Ephesians 2:15). Peace is now proclaimed to those far off and to those near, and both draw near to the Father.