Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.
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.
Praise is our bounden duty and our highest pleasure, for it is good in itself and good for us; it answers why we were made. The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem from ruins and gathers the scattered exiles, proving Himself worthy of our most exalted song.
AI summary
Commenting on Psalm 147:1-11