who covers the sky with clouds, who prepares rain for the earth, who makes grass to grow on the hills.
God stirs us to praise Him for two reasons: His power and wisdom shown in governing all creation, and His special mercy to His chosen Church, restoring it when it falls, gathering it when scattered. The Psalm likely arose after Jerusalem's rebuilding, when the people saw God's hand return them from captivity.
AI summary
Commenting on Psalm 147:1-20
Who covereth the heaven with clouds. He works in all things, above as well as below. Clouds are not caused by accident, but produced by God himself, and made to assume degrees of density by which the blue firmament is hidden. A sky scape might seem to be a mere fortuitous concourse of vapours, but it is not so: the Great Artist's hand thus covers the canvas of the heavens.
Here, I. The duty of praise is recommended to us. It is not without reason that we are thus called to it again and again: Praise you the Lord (Psa 147:1), and again (Psa 147:7), Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving, sing praise upon the harp to our God (let all our praises be directed to him and centre in him), for it is good...
Commenting on Psalm 147:1-11