18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
and your wounds I will heal, declares the Lord, because they have called you an outcast: ‘It is Zion, for whom no one cares!’
“Thus says the Lord:
30:18
Behold, I will restore the fortunes of the tents of Jacob and have compassion on his dwellings; the city shall be rebuilt on its mound, and the palace shall stand where it used to be. 19 19 Out of them shall come songs of thanksgiving, and the voices of those who celebrate. I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will make them honored, and they shall not be small.
20 Their children shall be as they were of old, and their congregation shall be established before me, and I will punish all who oppress them. 21 Their prince shall be one of themselves; their ruler shall come out from their midst; I will make him draw near, and he shall approach me, for who would dare of himself to approach me? declares the Lord. 22 22 And you shall be my people, and I will be your God.”
(Mark 7) He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak!
31Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. 32And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him.
33And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. 34And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.”35And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly.
36And Jesush charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. 37And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,and to still another the interpretation of tongues.11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. Unity and Diversity in the Body
12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment.
But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.
29 Are all apostles?
Are all prophets?
Are all teachers?
Do all work miracles?
30 Do all have gifts of healing?
Do all speak in tongues?
Do all interpret?
31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. Love Is Indispensable
I suddenly noticed, as I was preparing and assembling this week’s material that the picture,
we have in Mark is similar to that of Acts.
As we saw last week Mark is eager to show us Jesus in action and after his brief
introductions with truncated accounts of some events, after the Baptism of Jesus and his
anointing with the Spirit, we see Jesus starts to preach Kingdom and repentance, calls his
disciples and then we have signs of the presence of the kingdom.
Acts 1 is Luke's link from his gospel to the current book and fills in a few details between
Jesus' Ascension and Pentecost.
At Pentecost we see the outpouring of the Spirit on those first followers, the Kingdom,
death and resurrection of Jesus being proclaimed, people repenting and being baptised.
What follows? Signs of the presence of the Kingdom!
How wonderful it would be if in our worship we listened to God, engaged with him, sought
his presence and the filling of the Spirit and then went out and showed signs of the
presence of the Kingdom!
I am not saying we don't but I think it is fair to say we are not showing the presence of the
Kingdom with the power we could or should. I am making a generalisation and issuing us
with a challenge.
Given where we are at and where the world is - back to the start - something needs to
happen! To that end we need real repentance and seeking God whole heartedly.
We are doing that today but what about in the 24 hours from midnight tonight in the
chaplaincy prayer vigil? I suggest we use that hour to look to the sovereign power of the
Lord to fall in an old but new way - here and elsewhere!
1. Calling the task force, part 1
- vv 16-19
[16] As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew
casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. [17] “Come, follow me,” Jesus said,
“and I will send you out to fish for people.” [18] At once they left their nets and followed
him.
[19] When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John
in a boat, preparing their nets. [20] Without delay he called them, and they left their
father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
This passage has to be read in conjunction with John 1:35ff where we see the first
encounters Jesus has with some of the disciples, he calls formally now to follow him.
Interestingly as well, two of them, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, are described as having
been John's disciples!
So as Jesus calls them, these guys are already fired up at some level by the preaching of
John and have spent some time themselves with Jesus.
This then is not what we call 'cold calling' but something of an informed call to be disciples
of Jesus. They will discover they have a lot to change over the next three years
regarding their thinking and understanding of the mission of the Kingdom - shocks await
them.
There is also an immediate 'cost' in that they leave their employment in the hands of others
although I hastily add we see them fishing on later occasions and the last being in John 21
post resurrection.
So, as so often, we don't have a full picture - but then, it's not really
relevant, only interesting.
The reality then is that they have embarked on a three-year discipleship course which
maybe they part funded by doing some fishing now and again and, as it was a business,
hired men are mentioned in v 20, perhaps they had something from any profits the business
made!
Clearly there are changes; of a break from work and to some degree or other within family
life but the extent of it is never clear possibly because, again, it isn't that significant to the
message.
The message, for them, at this point is that they are going to have a change of
occupation - v 17.
What is your cost in following Jesus and what changes has it made to the way you shape, or
have shaped, your life, family, finances and career?
If little or nothing then what do we
mean by discipleship?
We note that later on Jesus is going to say that to follow him involves
taking up your cross to follow - that means sacrificial service!
2. Challenging the expected and confronting evil spirits - vv 21-28
[21] They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the
synagogue and began to teach. [22] The people were amazed at his teaching, because he
taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. [23] Just then a
man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, [24] “What do
you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—
the Holy One of God!”
[25] “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” [26] The impure spirit shook the
man violently and came out of him with a shriek.
[27] The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new
teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.”
[28] News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.
It's Saturday - the Sabbath, they are in Capernaum, they go to the synagogue and Jesus, an
untrained teacher, begins to teach. I say that because as far as we see Jesus has had no
formal training but given who he is establishes himself not just as a teacher but an
outstanding teacher!
He has a natural and apparent authority, v 22, and I suspect the folk actually understood
him not like the normal teachers of the law.
He was a breath of fresh air.
But then, what preachers and congregations dread, is an uninvited interruption.
On this
occasion it's not a little heckling or someone putting in their two penneth, this is rather
dramatic as a man enters and cries out . . .
We are told he has in impure spirit, the word also means, 'unclean'. There are three things
to note:
1. At that moment it has control of him
2. Jesus' presence is something of a threat to either the man or the spirit or both -
v 24a - have you come to destroy us?
3. The unclean spirit tells the truth - v 24b - I know who you are - the holy one of
God.
Without us going off on a tangent regarding demonisation I think what we need to see is
that this is disruptive and destructive. It stops Jesus teaching as he wishes and announces
truth in a way that is unhelpful.
Jesus, as we shall see a little later and in other passages, does not want his full identity
revealed yet - he has too much teaching to give to explain who he is before it is made more
public.
The latter actually only happens as the cross draws closer.
Jesus, v 25, rebukes the spirit and, with quite a do and a lot of noise, the spirit leaves him.
The result is amazement and explanation from all present - not criticism for healing on the
Sabbath, that's just around the corner!
What is significant is the question - v 27: what is this?
People are reacting and responding to
Jesus.
As Jesus had power and authority so does his name and preaching, praying and sharing in
his name. Beware and don't be shocked!
As we pray tomorrow in our prayer vigil let's pray for the power and authority of Jesus to be
manifest among us and through us - and more widely!
3. Caring and receiving care - vv 29-34
After Saturday worship and teaching off go the small group, more are yet to be called, to the
home of Simon and Andrew.
From drama in the synagogue we move to a domestic and homely setting but all is not well,
well, at least Simon's mother in law isn't - she has a fever and it's reported to Jesus who
heals her and before long lunch is on the table - so to speak!
Saved to serve - and the care Jesus showed enabled her to care for Jesus, her sons and
James and John.
This is a rare window of life amongst the disciples - Peter had a mother in law - I am told Les
Dawson used some of Peter's jokes - which means he was married and probably had
children.
This is an indicator of real life and what Peter was going to have to work and live
with as time goes on and he becomes a key leader.
This is true for others as probably all or most of the twelve would be married and families
and responsibilities. Jesus too, although single, had family responsibilities along with his
brothers and sisters for Mum Mary after Dad Joseph died.
Let's remember as we read this is
a real world with real people in everyday life with all its joys and complexities - just like you
and me!
When Sabbath ended, sunset, many in the village turn out to seek more of the healing care
of Jesus in all its ways for wholeness of life.
Perhaps the 'after sunset' reveals an unspoken fear the people held for those in authority
about work on the Sabbath an attitude Jesus will challenge in due course.
Jesus needs time to reflect and so . . . .
4. Communicating with 'base' and then further afield - vv 35-38
4. Communicating with 'base' and then further afield - vv 35-38
[35] Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and
went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. [36] Simon and his companions went to look
for him, [37] and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”
[38] Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach
there also. That is why I have come.” [39] So he travelled throughout Galilee, preaching in
their synagogues and driving out demons.
Jesus isn't a super hero or lone ranger. He is the son of God and works in conjunction with
his Father in the power of the Spirit so, prayer and reflection were vital. Hence, a very early
start, still dark, and off he goes for solitude, refreshment and communication with Father
God.
What happens, his newly called disciples seek him out with a message, 'everyone is looking
for you'.
You're a hit and we can gain ground.
But no, no, no, his time of prayer has left him focused - we have to move on and keep on
doing so. I have to take the good news far and wide not just here and so the mission moved
out from Capernaum all round Galilee.
Two observations:
1. If the eternal son need time for prayer, refreshment in the spirit, to be kept
focused in Kingdom priorities, then so do we!
2. If our desire is to see people, communities and the world changed through
prayer then first and foremost we have to be changed through prayer and
respond accordingly.
God works as he pleases and it pleases him to work
through his children who act in faith. I add, sometimes he works without them
or despite them!
I will not tire of saying it 'your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven'.
That's what Jesus was probably praying that morning and maybe every morning. God gives
good things to those who ask but we are here for his glory, his kingdom and the honour of
his holy name.
5. Cleansing and containing
- vv 40-45
[40] A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you
can make me clean.”
[41] Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he
said. “Be clean!” [42] Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.
[43] Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: [44] “See that you don't tell this
to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses
commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” [45] Instead he went out and
began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town
openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from
everywhere.
It's lovely, to see how this man comes and addresses Jesus in v 40. He is humble and certain
in his request to Jesus. There are no doubts in his mind - if you are willing, you can. Plain and
simple and bristling with faith.
Jesus' response is equally lovely and loving too and, equally brief - I am, be clean - and he is.
Like met with like.
No drama and no fuss but then it all goes pear shaped because this man does the opposite
of what Jesus asked - vv 43-44.
A sign of his delight and joy which is
understandable. From being outcast he was now able to be included in life but Jesus was
keen for it to be official and appropriate in accord with the law. Jesus, we see, upholds the
law but when necessary he challenges how the priests etc. used or misused the law. Subtle
difference.
The final verse demonstrates how his disobedience threw a spanner in the works for Jesus.
Jesus now had to avoid the crowds because the demand for a 'wonder worker' was growing
and we can understand but, we also have to understand that there is a whole agenda, for
Jesus, not just a healing one.
Jesus cared and cares for whole people.
Yes, he heals, yes, he calls for justice and care for
the marginalised but he also has a message of the Kingdom which has to be heard, and, be
heard it will.
Balance is needed and I say similar to what I said last week and that is that we, which
includes the church as a whole, can easily get out of balance with what we do and say.
Perhaps its back to prayer that is Kingdom focused!
Conclusion
If what we have seen over two weeks in Mark 1 is, more or less, plain sailing, Mark 2 brings
change and the start of Jesus being questioned, albeit silently, about who he is and his
authority. The intensity and opposition will grow.
In ministry we have times of plain sailing when all goes well and there is interest and growth
- we need to pray for these.
However, there are also times when we face opposition and
attack from 'unclean spirits' and opposition from within and outside the fellowships we
belong to.
I say it again - prayer and this time add, spiritual warfare, Ephesians 6:1ff.
Remember: who is reigning and has won the undefeatable victory and that therefore, in him
we are more than conquerors.
3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior,4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
So what does the apostle Paul recommends in his letter to Timothy?
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—
2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
A prayer tonight.
Father, we thank you for your word; open our eyes and our hears to your voice, that we may guide us according to your will and pray for those your Spirit leads us to pray. We are your people and you are our Father, we pray that you look after us and that we may feel your loving presence by us all the time especially in the middle of a storm. We ask you to heal us emotionally and physically, transform our hearts of stone in hearts of love and renew our mind so that we see you clearly. We know we can take refuge under your wings and that your grace and mercy abound all around us. We ask you in the name of your son and Saviour Jesus-Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit, our Counsellor. Amen
Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. Proverb 16:24
“‘Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security. Jeremiah 33: 6
Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; Save me, and I shall be saved, For you are my praise. Jeremiah 17:14
Dear friends, My hubby and I have been unwell for the last five days, laryngitis, coughing. We invited my brother on Christmas day but thought of cancelling. On Christmas Eve, Steven went to bed at 9 pm and trusted me to bone out the goose because he was feeling so rough. Yesterday, I went to the GP, my appointment was at 6 30 pm she was running an hour late and the waiting room was packed with mum and tearful kids, couples, coughing, sneezing.. My friend Brigitte told me that only good teachers are ill during the holidays!..lol
12 Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit,
9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,
10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
38 About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill, and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to visit him. He gave the king this message: “This is what the Lordsays: ‘Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die. You will not recover from this illness.’”
2 When Hezekiah heard this, he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord,3 “Remember, O Lord, how I have always been faithful to you and have served you single-mindedly, always doing what pleases you.” Then he broke down and wept bitterly.
4 Then this message came to Isaiah from the Lord:5 “Go back to Hezekiah and tell him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your ancestor David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will add fifteen years to your life,6 and I will rescue you and this city from the king of Assyria. Yes, I will defend this city.
7 “‘And this is the sign from the Lord to prove that he will do as he promised:8 I will cause the sun’s shadow to move ten steps backward on the sundial[a] of Ahaz!’” So the shadow on the sundial moved backward ten steps.
A. The mercy of God to Hezekiah.
1. (1) Isaiah’s announcement to Hezekiah.
In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.’”
a. In those days: This happened at the time of the Assyrian invasion of Judah, because Jerusalem had not been delivered from the Assyrian threat yet (Isaiah 38:6). The events of this chapter are also recorded in 2 Kings 20:1-11.
i. “Interpreters agree that the events described in chapters 38 and 39 preceded the invasion of 701 B.C. . . Many date these events in 703 B.C., but the evidence more strongly suggests a date of about 712 B.C.” (Wolf)
b. Was sick and near death: We are not told how Hezekiah became sick. It may have been through something obvious to all, or it may have been through something known only to God. However Hezekiah became sick, it was certainly permitted by the LORD.
c. Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live: God was remarkably kind to Hezekiah, telling him that his death was near. Not all people are given the time to set your house in order.
i. We know from comparing 2 Kings 18:2 with 2 Kings 20:6, that Hezekiah was 39 years old when he learned he would soon die.
2. (2-3) Hezekiah’s prayer.
Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the LORD, and said, “Remember now, O LORD, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what is good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
a. Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall: This shows how earnest Hezekiah was in his prayer. He directed his prayer in privacy to God, and not to any man.
b. Remember now, O LORD: To our ears, Hezekiah’s prayer might almost sound ungodly. In it, his focus is on self-justification and his own merits. It is pretty much as if Hezekiah prayed, “LORD, I’ve been such a good boy and You aren’t being fair to me. Remember what a good boy I’ve been and rescue me.”
i. But under the Old Covenant, this was a valid principle on which to approach God. Passages like Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28 show that under the Old Covenant, blesssing and cursing was sent by God on the basis of obedience or disobedience. On that principle, David could write in Psalm 15: LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart. (Psalm 15:1-2)
ii. But under the New Covenant, we are blessed on the principle of faith in Jesus (Galatians 3:13-14). Hezekiah’s principle of prayer isn’t fitting for a Christian today. We pray in the name of Jesus (John 16:23-24), not in the name of who we are or what we have done.
iii. “We come across similar pleas again and again in the prayers of God’s children of old. The Psalms abound with them. But we do not find them in the New Testament. The Church bases its pleas on Christ’s righteousness.” (Bultema)
c. And Hezekiah wept bitterly: Why was Hezekiah so undone at the prospect of death? Many Christians today would say, “Take me home, LORD!” But Hezekiah lived under the Old Covenant, and at that time there was not a confident assurance of the glory in the life beyond. Instead, Jesus brought life and immortality came to light through the gospel (2 Timothy 1:10). Also, under the Old Covenant Hezekiah would have regarded this as evidence that God was very displeased with him.
3. (4-5) Isaiah brings God’s answer to Hezekiah’s prayer.
And the word of the LORD came to Isaiah, saying, “Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will add to your days fifteen years.”’”
a. I will add to your days fifteen years: In response to Hezekiah’s prayer, God granted Hezekiah fifteen years more.
i. Because Hezekiah recovered, was God’s word (You shall die and not live, Isaiah 38:1) proved false? No; first, Hezekiah did in fact die, just not as soon as God first announced. Second, when God announces judgment it is almost always an invitation to repent and to receive mercy.
b. I have heard your prayer: Hezekiah’s prayer was important. By all indications, if Hezekiah had not made his passionate prayer, then his life would not have been extended. Prayer matters!
i. In fact, God gave two gifts to Hezekiah. First, He gave the gift of an extended life. Second, He gave the gift of knowing he only had fifteen years left. If he were wise, this would still give King Hezekiah the motivation to walk right with God and to set his house in order.
4. (6) The promise of deliverance from the Assyrian threat.
“I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city.”
a. This promise is in accord with the LORD’s previous prophecies of deliverance, and dates this chapter as being before God destroyed the Assyrian army (Isaiah 37:36-37).
b. The connection of the two promises indicates that one would confirm the other. When Hezekiah recovered his health, he could know that God would also deliver him from the Assyrians.
5. (7-8) A sign to confirm the promise.
“And this is the sign to you from the LORD, that the LORD will do this thing which He has spoken: Behold, I will bring the shadow on the sundial, which has gone down with the sun on the sundial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward.” So the sun returned ten degrees on the dial by which it had gone down.
a. This is the sign . . . that the LORD will do this thing which He has spoken: God showed even more mercy to Hezekiah. God was under no obligation to give this sign. In fact, God would have been justified in saying, “Hey Hezekiah, I said it and you believe it. How dare you not take My word for true?” But in real love, God gave Hezekiah more than he needed or deserved.
i. God shows the same mercy to us. It should be enough for God to simply say to us, “I love you.” But God did so much to demonstrate His love to us (John 3:16, Romans 5:8).
b. Behold, I will bring the shadow of the sundial . . . ten degrees backward: God promised to do something completely miraculous for the confirming sign. And it happened just as God promised: So the sun returned ten degrees on the dial by which it had gone down.
i. This was a wonderfully appropriate sign for Hezekiah. By bringing the shadow of the sundial move backward, it gave more time in a day - just as God gave Hezekiah more time.
ii. How was this miracle accomplished? We simply don’t know. God could have simply “moved the sun back.” Or, He may have simply provided the miraculous appearance of it on the sundial of Ahaz. It doesn’t really matter how God did it; He has miraculous resources and ways we know nothing about.
for He is awesome, powerful and merciful, swift to forgive and slow to anger. In Psalm 147 v 3 we read that 'He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.'
The Story of Psalm 147
This psalm tells us something about God’s love and his power. Here, power does not only mean that he rules everything. It also means that he is very, very strong. It is the second of the 5 *Hallelujah Psalms, 146-150. "*Hallelujah" means "*praise the *LORD". This means "tell the *LORD that he is very great". In verse 1, "*praises" are words that say how great somebody is. "*LORD" is the *covenant name for God. A *covenant is when two people (or groups of people) agree. Here, God agrees to love and give help to his people. His people agree to love and obey God. In verse 5 is another word, "*Lord". This is not the same Hebrew word as "*LORD". Hebrew is the language that the *Jews spoke. They wrote the psalms in Hebrew. "*Lord" translates a Hebrew word that means "master" or "someone with authority".
There are three parts in this psalm:
·verses 1 - 6: God’s power in Israel and Babylon and in the skies above;
·verses 7 - 11: God’s power on the earth with plants and animals;
·verses 12 - 20: God’s power in giving his people what they need.
In the Greek Bible, (verses 1-11) make Psalm 146 and verses 12-20 Psalm 147. This Greek Bible makes Psalms 9 and 10 into one psalm. All the numbers from 10 to 146 are one less than in our Bibles. The *Jews translated their Hebrew Bible into Greek about 200 years before Jesus came to the earth.
We do not know who wrote Psalm 147. But many Bible students think that it was after the *exile. The note on verses 2 and 3 explains the *exile. The *Jews used Psalm 147 in the new *temple (house of God) in Jerusalem. Maybe Nehemiah or one of his friends wrote Psalm 147.
What Psalm 147 means
Verses 2 and 3 tell us that God is powerful among the countries of the world. God let the Babylonians beat his people that lived near Jerusalem. This happened about 600 years before Jesus came to the earth. The Babylonians destroyed the city and took the people away to Babylon. Babylon was a country east of Jerusalem. They made them live there for 70 years. They were exiles, (they lived away from their own country). This happened because God’s people did not love him nor obey him. But after 70 years, God destroyed Babylon and brought his people home. He built Jerusalem again and made his people feel happy again. Some of them had broken hearts. This is a way to say that they felt very, very sad (or depressed). Other people had injuries.
Verse 6 tells us about poor people and *wicked people. "*Wicked" means "very, very bad". Perhaps the *psalmist meant the people of Babylon. God threw them to the ground. This means that he destroyed them. He did this when he sent the Persian army to fight the Babylonian army. But God lifted up the poor people. Perhaps they were the *Jewish people. He gave them help to go home from Babylon.
Verse 7 starts the next part of the psalm. The harp usually makes quiet music, but it can be loud.
Verse 8: In the Greek Bible, there is a bit more in this verse. At the end, it says ‘He gives plants for men to use’. Many English translations put this extra bit in.
Verse 9: A raven is a big, black bird. In this verse, God makes sure that other people, animals or birds feed themselves or their young. God does not do it himself. The *psalmist says that God really did it! This is because it is part of God’s great plan. The *psalmist is the person that wrote the psalm.
Verse 11: "In awe" means that you love somebody that you are a bit afraid of! People that are "in awe" of God obey him. Also, they *trust him, (or believe that he will do what he has promised to do).
Verses 12 - 14 start the last part of the psalm. God gives his people a city to live in, Jerusalem. Jerusalem is also called Zion. He gives them a safe country to live in. That is what safe *borders means. He gives his people good food. All this happened after the *exile. Psalm 149 in this set of psalms explains what the *exile was. Bible students think that the *psalmist wrote Psalm 147 after the *exile. It was a psalm for the new *temple. The *temple in Jerusalem was the house of God.
Verses 15 - 18 tell us that God rules the earth as well as the people in it. "Frost" is very little bits of ice. It falls on plants and buildings in very cold weather. Hail is larger bits of ice. It falls like rain or snow. "Icy" means "very, very cold". In verse 18, the weather becomes warm again. Ice becomes water, and the water runs away. Again, God made the rules that the weather must obey. When it is cold, water changes to ice. When it gets warm, ice changes to water.
Verses 19 - 20 end the psalm. They tell us that only the *Jewish people knew his rules and *laws. "*Laws" is another word for "rules". This is not true now, because everybody with a Bible knows God’s rules and *laws. These rules and *laws are not only about what is right and wrong. They are also about what happens in the world.
Word List
bandage ~ a piece of cloth that you put on a *wound.
border ~ edge of a country.
broken hearts ~ a way to say that someone is very, very sad.
covenant ~ two people have agreed what each should do (here, God and his people). Look in Psalm 120 about the covenant.
exile ~ away from your own country.
frost ~ cold white powder like snow.
hail ~ ice in rain.
hallelujah ~ say that the *LORD is great. (Jah is *Hebrew for *LORD.)
harp ~ a *musical instrument.
heart ~ part of the body. *Jews believed that you thought in your heart.
Hebrew ~ the language that the Jews spoke; they wrote the Psalms in Hebrew.
icy ~ very, very cold.
in awe ~ a bit afraid of someone that you love.
injury ~ a place on your body. Someone has hit you, or cut you with a knife.
Jew ~ a person who is born from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their children.
Jewish ~ a word that describes a *Jew or anything to do with a *Jew.
laws ~ the rules in a country. In Psalm 147, God’s rules.
LORD ~ the *covenant name for God (in a *covenant you agree with someone).
musical instrument ~ something that makes music when you hit it (cymbals, drum), blow in it (flute, trumpet, horn, shofar) or touch it in a quiet way (harp, lyre). Many of these are in Psalm 150 in Book 5 of The Psalms of David.
pleasant ~ nice; what we like to do.
power ~ See The Story of Psalm 147.
praise ~ to say how great someone is; or, words that say how great someone is.
psalmist ~ the person that wrote a psalm (or psalms).
punish ~ hurt someone because they have not obeyed the rules.
raven ~ a big, black bird.
temple ~ a place where people meet to worship God.
trust ~ believe that someone (usually God in the psalms) will be kind to you.
wicked ~ very, very bad.
wound ~ mark on the body. Someone hit it or cut it.
