Earlier in Psalm 147 we saw the great power of God and God’s control over everything. He controls the weather and brings winter, giving snow and ice at His command. He sends forth His word and ends winter and brings spring. Since we know God can control all these things, we know that God’s word is powerful. No one can stand against God’s word, and God always keeps His word. In verses nineteen and twenty of Psalm 147, God has a special word just for His people Israel.
Verse nineteen says, “He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.” When God chose Israel for Himself, He gave them a special blessing. He taught to them His word, His statues, and His judgments. Verse twenty goes on to say, “He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD.” Now, since Jesus has come and broken down the middle wall of partition between us, we all have access to copies of God’s word – both Jew and Gentile. Originally, God’s word was given specifically to Israel. He showed it to them and helped them know what it means. Romans 3:1,2 says, “1) What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? 2) Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.” God committed His word to them or entrusted it to them. What were they do to with His word? Psalm 78:5-7 says, “5) For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: 6) That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: 7) That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments.” They were to teach them to their children so that their children could teach them to their children and so on. The words of God were to be passed down to each generation so that they might set their hope in God, remember His works, and keep His commandments.
Israel turned its back on God. They went into captivity and suffered there many years. When Jesus came, they did not recognize Him as their Messiah. They suffered even more and were spread abroad all over the earth. But God has not forgotten them. One day He will come to the remnant of Israel and turn them back to Himself. Isaiah 59:20,21 tells more, “20) And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD. 21) As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.”
God is a faithful God. He is of great power, and His understanding is infinite. God made the stars and knows their names; He makes rain and causes grass to grow; He feeds the beasts and the birds; He takes pleasure in and watches over those who fear Him; He makes winter and snow and ice; He melts the snow and ice and brings the spring. The God who can do all these things gave His word to Israel and committed it to them. He chose Israel for Himself and one day will redeem the remnant of Israel to Himself. This is a mighty God with a very sure word. If we know the Lord Jesus as our Savior, this mighty God is our God, and we can trust His sure word. We can depend on the Lord if we fear Him. We can set our hope in God, for He does not fail.