Psalms 147:2. The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.
There is the first reason for praise. The Jews were pleased to behold their city rising out of the heap of ruins, they were glad to see the scattered ones, the outcasts, coming back to their native place, and entering into citizenship in Zion. Shall not the Church of God, of which Jerusalem was a type, praise God that he is steadily and solidly building up a Church to his praise and glory? He is building it out of strange materials; outcast sinners, who were far from him by wicked works, are brought nigh by the blood of Christ. Stones from nature’s quarry are changed into living stones, and then built up into a living temple for his praise. "Jehovah doth build up Jerusalem." Not the minister, not the workers in the church, but the Lord himself does it. "He gathereth together the outcasts of Israel." An uplifted Christ draws all men to him; the gathering power is with him. "Unto him shall the gathering of the people be." Let us praise God that this does take place in a measure in our midst, and in other churches where his name is honoured.
Psalms 147:2. The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.
There is the first reason for praise. The Jews were pleased to behold their city rising out of the heap of ruins, they were glad to see the scattered ones, the outcasts, coming back to their native place, and entering into citizenship in Zion. Shall not the Church of God, of which Jerusalem was a type, praise God that he is steadily and solidly building up a Church to his praise and glory? He is building it out of strange materials; outcast sinners, who were far from him by wicked works, are brought nigh by the blood of Christ. Stones from nature’s quarry are changed into living stones, and then built up into a living temple for his praise. "Jehovah doth build up Jerusalem." Not the minister, not the workers in the church, but the Lord himself does it. "He gathereth together the outcasts of Israel." An uplifted Christ draws all men to him; the gathering power is with him. "Unto him shall the gathering of the people be." Let us praise God that this does take place in a measure in our midst, and in other churches where his name is honoured.