How to Pray Psalm 147
You can use this method to pray through Psalm 147. This is the conclusion of the 21 days of Praying the Psalms campaign. To find the rest of the days, check out this index for praying the Psalms.
Prayer for Illumination
Almighty and eternal God, direct our actions with what pleases you, that in the name of your beloved Son we may be made to abound in good works; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. ~A Collection of Prayers
Scripture: Psalm 147
Psalm 147 is a psalm of praise to God for His power and mercy. It begins by calling on all people to praise the Lord, who is the creator and sustainer of the universe. The psalmist then describes the many ways in which God shows His love and compassion to His people. He heals the brokenhearted, binds up their wounds, and gives them strength. He sends His word to comfort and restore them, and He makes His covenant with them. The psalmist concludes by urging people to praise the Lord for His goodness and to trust in His unfailing love.
Using the ACTS model of Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication, read through Psalm 147 and then pray the following:
Adoration
Look for anything that tells you what God is like or points to His character and give Him praise.
“Father, I praise you that you are worthy of praise and adoration” (147:1).
“Father, I praise you that you gather the outcast and that you heal the brokenhearted” (147:2-3).
“Father, I praise you that your power and knowledge is unlimited” (147:4).
“Father, I praise you that you are abundant in your power and your understanding is beyond measure (147:5).
“Father, I praise you that you lift up the humble” (147:6).
“Father, I praise you that you are God over all creation” (147:8-9).
“Father, I praise you that you are a God of steadfast love” (147:11).
“Father, I praise you that you are my strength and source of blessings” (147:13).
“Father, I praise you that you give peace” (147:14a).
“Father, I praise you that you are generous” (147:14b-18).
“Father, I praise you for your Word, your rules, and statutes (147:19).
For an adoration video for praying Psalm 147, watch this:
Confession
As you acknowledge who God is and adore Him for all that He is, confession is a natural consequence. This is a moment of introspection as you ask God to search your heart for areas that displease Him.
“I confess, Lord, that I have put my hope in……rather than in your Word.”
“Lord, I acknowledge that I have not followed your Word in the area of……”
“Lord, I confess that I have not humbled myself in……”
Ps. 147:10 says that God does not take delight in the strength of a horse or in the legs of a man. In other words, “He's not impressed with horsepower; the size of our muscles means little to him.” In what ways have you trusted in your own might or in other things rather than in God? Make your confession to God.
Thanksgiving
This is a time to express gratitude for what God has done and for who He is. Allow the Scripture you have read to feed your thanksgiving.
Give thanks to the Lord that He is good and worthy of our songs (147:1)!
Give thanks to the Lord that He gathers and heals the broken, outcast, and marginalized (147:2-3)!
“Father, I thank you for healing me and binding up the wound of my……”
Ps. 147:8-9, 13-18 speaks of the Lord’s blessings, some of them material. Look around wherever you may be reading this, and give God thanks for the material blessings He has given you.
Ps. 147:14 says that He “fills you with the finest wheat.” Give to the Lord thanks for the food He provides for you. Look in your pantry and give thanks to the Lord!
Ps. 147:19 speaks about God’s word, statutes, and rules. Take some time and give thanks to the Lord for His Word!
Supplication
In this moment, pray for yourself and others that you will be able to put into practice what you have read and heard.
“Father, I pray that you would bind up the wounds of ________ (name).”
“Father, I need to delight in your strength rather than mine for……”
“Father, remind me that you are great and abundant in power, even when I feel overwhelmed by……”
Hymn of Reflection
With songs and honors sounding loud
address the Lord on high;
over the heav'ns He spreads His cloud,
and waters veil the sky.
He sends His rains of blessing down
to cheer the earth below;
He makes the grass the mountains crown,
and fields in valleys grow.
His steady counsels change the face
of each declining year;
He bids the sun cut short its race,
and winter's day appear.
His bitter frost, His falling snow,
descend and clothe the ground;
the streams of water cease their flow,
in icy fetters bound.
He sends His word and melts the snow,
the fields no longer mourn;
He calls the warmer wind to blow,
and bids the spring return.
The changing sun, the soaring cloud,
obey His mighty word;
with songs and honors sounding loud,
give praises to our Lord!
Closing Prayer
Glory be to the Father, who sends forth his Word; glory be to the Son, himself the
Word, who melts sinners; glory be to the Holy Spirit, the wind that makes the
waters flow. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.
(Trinitarian glorias by Gerhohus the Great, adapted from J. N. Neale and R. F. Littledale's A Commentary on the Psalms: From Primitive and Mediaeval Writers. 4 vols. London: Joseph Masters, 1868. (For a full list of these prayers, see https://holyjoys.org/trinitarian-glorias-psalm/).