A Peacemakers 7 Day Devotional Part 3Намуна

Scripture 

Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. (Psalm 147:5 ESV)  

Thoughts 

To me, this is one of the most beautiful psalms. Here is the context of verse 5; read it out loud with me:  

Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God;  

for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.  

The Lord builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel.  

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.  

He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names.  

Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.  

The Lord lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground.  

Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre!  

He covers the heavens with clouds; he prepares rain for the earth;  

he makes grass grow on the hills.  

He gives to the beasts their food, and to the young ravens that cry.  

His delight is not in the strength of the horse,  

nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,  

but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,  

in those who hope in his steadfast love. (Psalm 147:1–11 ESV)  

In verse 5, the psalmist lists three things about God that are deeply reassuring: God is great, he is abundant in power, and his understanding is beyond measure. Our God understands. He understands the person with a broken heart. He understands the outcast. He understands our wounds, whether they are physical or emotional. 

Look at what the Lord delights in—not the strength of horses or the strength of our legs. The psalmist makes it clear in the last verse: “the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear [revere] him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.” That’s what I am talking about! After reading this psalm, we have these words floating around in our heads—great, abundant power, understanding beyond measure, takes pleasure, and those who hope. What is our response? Praising him and singing to him!  

Application 

Are you an outcast? Praise him for “gathering” you. Is your heart broken? Sing to him because he heals. Are you wounded? Proclaim his greatness because he binds up wounds. Have you been humbled? Thank him because he lifts up the humble.  

Here is the point: Your love for others is directly tied to your hope in God. If your hope is in God, then his love takes over, and you can love like he does. Don’t try to love in your own strength. Don’t let a horse or a thing become your strength. The Lord is ready to heal you and bind up your wounds. 

Prayer 

Lord, my heart is sometimes broken, and my wounds hurt. Other times, I feel like an outcast. It’s been so humbling. You are great, you are abundant in power, and you understand me, so I will hope in your steadfast love. Thank you, Lord… (Continue praying.)