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Illustration for Psalm 147: God Heals the Brokenhearted

Psalm 147

God Heals the Brokenhearted

Praise

God does two amazing things at the same time: He counts all the stars and calls them by name AND He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He is both enormous and incredibly gentle. He gives strength to the weak and lifts up those who are humble.

  1. 1Hallelujah! How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise Him!
  2. 2The LORD builds up Jerusalem; He gathers the exiles of Israel.
  3. 3He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
  4. 4He counts the number of the stars and calls them each by name.
  5. 5Great is our Lord and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit.
  6. 6The LORD sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground.
  7. 7Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make music to our God on the harp.
  8. 8He covers the sky with clouds; He supplies rain for the earth and makes grass grow on the mountains.
  9. 9He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they cry.
  10. 10He does not delight in the strength of the horse, nor take pleasure in the legs of a man.
  11. 11The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His loving devotion.
  12. 12Extol the LORD, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion!
  13. 13For He has strengthened the bars of your gates and blessed your children within you.
  14. 14He makes peace in your borders and satisfies you with the finest wheat.
  15. 15He sends His command to the earth; His word runs swiftly.
  16. 16He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes.
  17. 17He hurls down His hail like pebbles. Who can withstand His icy blast?
  18. 18He sends His word and melts them; He stirs up His breezes, and the waters flow.
  19. 19He has revealed His word to Jacob, His statutes and judgments to Israel.
  20. 20He has done this for no other nation; they do not know His judgments. Hallelujah!

What it means

The very same God who counts the stars and calls each one by name also notices a broken heart — and heals it. He is both enormous and gentle at the same time.

A little prayer

Lord, You count the stars and call each one by name — and You also heal broken hearts and bind up wounds. Thank You for being so big and so gentle. Amen.

Memory verse

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

Psalm 147:3 (BSB)

The two halves of the same verse are the biggest and the smallest thing in the psalm.

Talk about it

Questions with no single right answer — for a family table or a Sunday-school circle.

  1. The psalm says God counts the stars and names them, and heals broken hearts. Why put those two side by side?
  2. It says God's understanding has no limit. What is something you will never fully understand?
  3. It says God takes pleasure in those who hope in His love, not in strong horses. What does God notice?
  4. What is broken that you would like healed?

Try this

Count and name

Try to count the stars in one patch of sky, then give three of them names. Read verses 3 and 4 and talk about doing both at once.

You will need: A clear night.

Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB)