Psalm 147 Devotional

Stars Named and Wounds Bound

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”Psalm 147:3 (BSB)

Two verses here seem to belong to different worlds. The LORD heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds (147:3). He also determines the number of the stars and calls each one by name (147:4). The hand that numbers the stars stoops to bandage a wound. His understanding has no limit (147:5), which is good news for anyone hurting, because no sorrow is too tangled for him.

The psalm keeps holding his power and his care together. He covers the sky with clouds, prepares rain, makes grass grow on the hills, and feeds the young ravens when they call (147:8-9). He sends snow, frost, and hail, then speaks and they melt (147:16-18). Yet what pleases him is not the strength of a horse or the legs of a runner. He takes pleasure in those who fear him and hope in his loving devotion (147:10-11). God is not waiting to be impressed by your strength. He is pleased when you hope in his love, and he knows how to heal what is broken.

To think about: What wound or sorrow could you bring today to the God who names the stars and binds up the brokenhearted?