12 Laud Jehovah, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion. 13 For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee; 14 He maketh peace in thy borders; he satisfieth thee with the finest of the wheat. 15 He sendeth forth his oracles to the earth: his word runneth very swiftly. 16 He giveth snow like wool, scattereth the hoar frost like ashes; 17 He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold? 18 He sendeth his word, and melteth them; he causeth his wind to blow—the waters flow. 19 He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. 20 He hath not dealt thus with any nation; and as for [his] judgments, they have not known them. Hallelujah!
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 147:12-20
Commentary on Psalm 147:12-20
(Read Psalm 147:12-20)
The church, like Jerusalem of old, built up and preserved by the wisdom, power, and goodness of God, is exhorted to praise him for all the benefits and blessings vouchsafed to her; and these are represented by his favours in the course of nature. The thawing word may represent the gospel of Christ, and the thawing wind the Spirit of Christ; for the Spirit is compared to the wind, John 3:8. Converting grace softens the heart that was hard frozen, and melts it into tears of repentance, and makes good reflections to flow, which before were chilled and stopped up. The change which the thaw makes is very evident, yet how it is done no one can say. Such is the change wrought in the conversion of a soul, when God's word and Spirit are sent to melt it and restore it to itself.