He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly.
Psalm 147 belongs among the psalms of the return from Babylonian captivity, expressing the returning exiles' mingled joy, sorrow, and anxiety over the building and dedication of the second temple and its triumphs.
He sends forth His commandment upon the earth, and His word runs very swiftly throughout the earth, carrying out His purpose without delay. When His word is spoken, His heavenly servants respond swiftly to carry out His will. His swift word directs the earth and controls the forces of nature and the weather and seasonal changes, including snow, frost, ice, and their melting.
Human knowledge cannot give people this power over weather and seasons; He alone causes these things to happen. His command and word act with the power of His breath, bringing snow and hoarfrost, and have power to create and give life, as in the giving of life to the formed body in Genesis 2:7. The regular workings of nature, including snow, frost, ice, melting, wind, and flowing water, are the outworking of His word throughout the earth.
That continuing operation reveals His continuing care for creation and testifies visibly to the faithfulness of His word and promises. In the time of the end this swiftness is seen in the rapid spread of the printed Bible, as missionaries and colporteurs carry the Scriptures into distant and remote places to spread the revelation of God's redeeming love.
Psalm 147 belongs among the psalms of the return from Babylonian captivity, expressing the returning exiles' mingled joy, sorrow, and anxiety over the building and dedication of the second temple and its triumphs.
He sends forth His commandment upon the earth, and His word runs very swiftly throughout the earth, carrying out His purpose without delay. When His word is spoken, His heavenly servants respond swiftly to carry out His will. His swift word directs the earth and controls the forces of nature and the weather and seasonal changes, including snow, frost, ice, and their melting.
Human knowledge cannot give people this power over weather and seasons; He alone causes these things to happen. His command and word act with the power of His breath, bringing snow and hoarfrost, and have power to create and give life, as in the giving of life to the formed body in Genesis 2:7. The regular workings of nature, including snow, frost, ice, melting, wind, and flowing water, are the outworking of His word throughout the earth.
That continuing operation reveals His continuing care for creation and testifies visibly to the faithfulness of His word and promises. In the time of the end this swiftness is seen in the rapid spread of the printed Bible, as missionaries and colporteurs carry the Scriptures into distant and remote places to spread the revelation of God's redeeming love.