Psalm 147

All the stars by their names

Read/pray the psalm. (Full text at bottom.)

• Isaiah 40:26 says:

Lift up your eyes on high and see:
    who created these?
He who brings out their host by number,
    calling them all by name;
by the greatness of his might
    and because he is strong in power,
    not one is missing.

• Jerome’s “Commentary on Isaiah” (c. 408–410 AD) says of this verse:

“He who knows the number of the stars and calls them by name also knows the number of angels and calls them by name.”

• In the Bible, the visible heavens symbolize to us the invisible heavens; the starry host, the angelic host.

• The basic intuition of astrology is correct: On earth as in heaven.

  • But this is not because the inanimate stars are agents influencing our lives, but because Almighty God is sovereign over both, and repeatedly places visible signs in heaven for humans to observe on earth.

  • (The most noteworthy is of course the star that guided the Magi.)

• So while it is certainly true that God knows the material stars each by name, just as he numbers the hairs on every head, this verse is primarily about every angelic power deployed for our benefit.

• Because, note: The rest of the psalm is about his gracious Providence in our lives!

So…

• While there is a great deal of superstition, sentimentalism, and quackery today about angels, the heavenly host lives to execute the LORD’s commands.

• Thus the concept of “guardian angels” is fundamentally sound.

• Pray:

Heavenly Father, you have said: 
“For he will command his angels concerning you
        to guard you in all your ways. 
On their hands they will bear you up,
        lest you strike your foot against a stone.” [Psalm 91:11-12]

So I praise you that no irredeemable harm can come to me as I walk in your will.

Psalm 147
Laudate Dominum

1	Praise the Lord, for it is a good thing to sing praises unto our God; *
		indeed, a joyful and pleasant thing it is to be thankful. 
2	The Lord builds up Jerusalem, *
		and gathers together the outcasts of Israel.
3	He heals those who are broken in heart, *
		and binds up their wounds.
4	He counts the number of the stars, * 
		and calls them all by their names.
5	Great is our Lord, and great is his power; * 
		indeed, his wisdom is infinite.
6	The Lord lifts up the meek, *
		and brings the ungodly down to the ground.
7	O sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving; *
		sing praises with the harp unto our God,
8	Who covers the heavens with clouds, and prepares rain for the earth, *
		and makes the grass to grow upon the mountains, and plants for the use of men,
9	Who gives food to the cattle *
		and feeds the young ravens that call upon him.
10	He has no pleasure in the strength of a horse; * 
		neither does he delight in any man’s strength.
11	But the Lord’s delight is in those who fear him * 
		and put their trust in his mercy.
12	Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem; *
		praise your God, O Zion.
13	For he has made strong the bars of your gates * 
		and has blessed your children within you.
14	He makes peace in your borders *
		and fills you with the finest of wheat.
15	He sends forth his commandment upon the earth, * 
		and his word runs very swiftly.
16	He gives snow like wool *
		and scatters the white frost like ashes.
17	He casts forth his ice like crumbs; * 
		who is able to abide his frost?
18	He sends out his word and melts them; *
		he blows with his wind, and the waters flow.
19	He declares his word unto Jacob, *
		his statutes and ordinances unto Israel.
20	He has not dealt so with other nations; *
		neither have they knowledge of his laws. Praise the Lord.

New Coverdale Psalter