Psalm 147:7
Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make music on the harp to our God,
Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving
The phrase "Sing to the LORD" calls believers to engage in worship through song, a practice deeply rooted in the Hebrew tradition. The Hebrew word for "sing" is "zamar," which implies making music or singing praises. This act of singing is not merely a musical expression but a spiritual one, intended to glorify God. The addition of "with thanksgiving" emphasizes the attitude of gratitude that should accompany worship. Thanksgiving, or "todah" in Hebrew, is a form of praise that acknowledges God's goodness and provision. Historically, thanksgiving was a central part of Israelite worship, often associated with sacrifices and offerings, as seen in Leviticus 7:12-15. This phrase encourages believers to approach God with a heart full of gratitude, recognizing His continuous blessings and faithfulness.

make music on the harp to our God
The phrase "make music on the harp" refers to the use of musical instruments in worship, specifically the harp, which was a common instrument in ancient Israel. The Hebrew word for "harp" is "kinnor," an instrument associated with joy and celebration. King David, a central figure in the Bible, was known for playing the harp, and it was often used in temple worship. The act of making music is not just about the sound but about creating an atmosphere of reverence and joy before God. "To our God" personalizes the worship, reminding believers of their relationship with the divine. It underscores the communal aspect of worship, as the phrase "our God" unites the worshippers in a shared faith and devotion. This part of the verse invites believers to use their talents and resources to honor God, fostering a sense of unity and purpose in the community of faith.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal existence and faithfulness to His people.

2. Psalmist
The author of the psalm, traditionally attributed to David, who calls the people to worship and praise God.

3. Harp
A musical instrument used in ancient Israelite worship, symbolizing joy and celebration in the presence of God.
Teaching Points
The Call to Worship
Worship is an active response to God's goodness and faithfulness. We are called to engage in worship with a heart full of thanksgiving.

The Role of Music in Worship
Music is a powerful tool for expressing our gratitude and adoration to God. It can uplift our spirits and draw us closer to Him.

Thanksgiving as a Lifestyle
Thanksgiving should not be limited to specific occasions but should be a continual attitude in the life of a believer. Recognizing God's blessings daily fosters a heart of gratitude.

The Importance of Community Worship
Worshiping together as a community strengthens our faith and encourages others. It is a collective expression of our love and reverence for God.

Reflecting on God's Attributes
As we sing and make music to God, we should meditate on His attributes—His love, mercy, and power—fueling our worship with genuine awe and reverence.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the act of singing with thanksgiving impact your personal relationship with God?

2. In what ways can you incorporate music into your daily worship routine to enhance your spiritual life?

3. Reflect on a time when community worship strengthened your faith. How can you encourage others to participate in communal worship?

4. How can you cultivate a lifestyle of thanksgiving, even in challenging circumstances?

5. What attributes of God inspire you the most in your worship, and how can you focus on these during your times of praise?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Colossians 3:16
This verse encourages believers to let the word of Christ dwell richly in them, teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with gratitude in their hearts to God. It connects to Psalm 147:7 by emphasizing the importance of thanksgiving and music in worship.

1 Chronicles 16:8-9
These verses recount David's psalm of thanks when the Ark of the Covenant was brought to Jerusalem, highlighting the call to give thanks and sing praises to God, similar to the exhortation in Psalm 147:7.

Hebrews 13:15
This verse speaks of offering a sacrifice of praise to God, the fruit of lips that openly profess His name, aligning with the theme of thanksgiving and worship in Psalm 147:7.
A Praiseful SpiritPsalm 147:1-11
Genuine WorshipDavid Thomas, D. D.Psalm 147:1-11
Master Motives to PraiseW. T. Fullerton.Psalm 147:1-11
PraiseHenry Ward Beecher.Psalm 147:1-11
God Worthy of PraiseC. Short Psalm 147:7-11
People
Jacob, Psalmist
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Harp, Instruments, Lyre, Melody, Music, Praise, Praises, Psalms, Sing, Songs, Thanksgiving
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 147:7

     5332   harp
     5420   music
     7960   singing

Psalm 147:1-17

     4060   nature

Psalm 147:7-9

     8352   thankfulness
     8676   thanksgiving

Library
Healing for the Wounded
We will not delay you by a preface, but will come at once to the two thoughts: first, here is a great ill--a broken heart; and secondly, a great mercy--"he healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds." Man is a double being: he is composed of body and soul, and each of the portions of man may receive injury and hurt. The wounds of the body are extremely painful, and if they amount to a breaking of the frame the torture is singularly exquisite. Yet God has in his mercy provided means
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 1: 1855

Christ's Hospital
"He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds."--Psalm 147:3. Often as we have read this Psalm, we can never fail to be struck with the connection in which this verse stands, especially its connection with the verse that follows. Read the two together: "He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names." What condescension and grandeur! What pity and omnipotence! He who leads out yonder ponderous orbs
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 38: 1892

The Acceptable Sacrifice;
OR, THE EXCELLENCY OF A BROKEN HEART: SHOWING THE NATURE, SIGNS, AND PROPER EFFECTS OF A CONTRITE SPIRIT. BEING THE LAST WORKS OF THAT EMINENT PREACHER AND FAITHFUL MINISTER OF JESUS CHRIST, MR. JOHN BUNYAN, OF BEDFORD. WITH A PREFACE PREFIXED THEREUNTO BY AN EMINENT MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL IN LONDON. London: Sold by George Larkin, at the Two Swans without Bishopgates, 1692. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. The very excellent preface to this treatise, written by George Cokayn, will inform the reader of
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Anxious About Earth, or Earnest About the Kingdom
'And He said unto His disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. 23. The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. 24. Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? 25. And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? 26. If ye then be not able to do that thing
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

The Chorus of Angels
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour and glory, and blessing! I t was a good report which the queen of Sheba heard, in her own land, of the wisdom and glory of Solomon. It lessened her attachment to home, and prompted her to undertake a long journey to visit this greater King, of whom she had heard so much. She went, and she was not disappointed. Great as the expectations were, which she had formed from the relation made her by others,
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

The Sermon of the Seasons
"Oh, the long and dreary Winter! Oh, the cold and cruel Winter!" We say to ourselves, Will spring-time never come? In addition to this, trade and commerce continue in a state of stagnation; crowds are out of employment, and where business is carried on, it yields little profit. Our watchmen are asked if they discern any signs of returning day, and they answer, "No." Thus we bow our heads in a common affliction, and ask each man comfort of his fellow; for as yet we see not our signs, neither does
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 32: 1886

The Room was Like and Oven
Sunday, 8.--We were at the minster [21] in the morning and at our parish church in the afternoon. The same gentleman preached at both; but though I saw him at the church, I did not know I had ever seen him before. In the morning he was all life and motion; in the afternoon he was as quiet as a post. At five in the evening, the rain constrained me to preach in the oven again. The patience of the congregation surprised me. They seemed not to feel the extreme heat or to be offended at the close application
John Wesley—The Journal of John Wesley

What God Is
John iv. 24.--"God is a Spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." We have here something of the nature of God pointed out to us, and something of our duty towards him. "God is a Spirit," that is his nature, and "man must worship him," that is his duty, and that "in spirit and in truth," that is the right manner of the duty. If these three were well pondered till they did sink into the bottom of our spirits, they would make us indeed Christians, not in the letter,
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Peace
Grace unto you and peace be multiplied. I Pet 1:1. Having spoken of the first fruit of sanctification, assurance, I proceed to the second, viz., Peace, Peace be multiplied:' What are the several species or kinds of Peace? Peace, in Scripture, is compared to a river which parts itself into two silver streams. Isa 66:12. I. There is an external peace, and that is, (1.) (Economical, or peace in a family. (2.) Political, or peace in the state. Peace is the nurse of plenty. He maketh peace in thy borders,
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

That it is Profitable to Communicate Often
The Voice of the Disciple Behold I come unto Thee, O Lord, that I may be blessed through Thy gift, and be made joyful in Thy holy feast which Thou, O God, of Thy goodness hast prepared for the poor.(1) Behold in Thee is all that I can and ought to desire, Thou art my salvation and redemption, my hope and strength, my honour and glory. Therefore rejoice the soul of Thy servant this day, for unto Thee, O Lord Jesus, do I lift up my soul.(2) I long now to receive Thee devoutly and reverently, I desire
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ

Prayer.
CHARACTERISTICS OF PRAYER. WHAT is prayer? A sincere, sensible, affectionate pouring out of the soul to God, through Christ, in the strength and assistance of the Spirit, for such things as God hath promised. The best prayers have often more groans than words. Alas, how few there be in the world whose heart and mouth in prayer shall go together. Dost thou, when thou askest for the Spirit, or faith, or love to God, to holiness, to saints, to the word, and the like, ask for them with love to them,
John Bunyan—The Riches of Bunyan

Concerning Peaceableness
Blessed are the peacemakers. Matthew 5:9 This is the seventh step of the golden ladder which leads to blessedness. The name of peace is sweet, and the work of peace is a blessed work. Blessed are the peacemakers'. Observe the connection. The Scripture links these two together, pureness of heart and peaceableness of spirit. The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable' (James 3:17). Follow peace and holiness' (Hebrews 12:14). And here Christ joins them together pure in heart, and peacemakers',
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

Letter xvi to Rainald, Abbot of Foigny
To Rainald, Abbot of Foigny Bernard declares to him how little he loves praise; that the yoke of Christ is light; that he declines the name of father, and is content with that of brother. 1. In the first place, do not wonder if titles of honour affright me, when I feel myself so unworthy of the honours themselves; and if it is fitting that you should give them to me, it is not expedient for me to accept them. For if you think that you ought to observe that saying, In honour preferring one another
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

The Preface to the Commandments
And God spake all these words, saying, I am the LORD thy God,' &c. Exod 20: 1, 2. What is the preface to the Ten Commandments? The preface to the Ten Commandments is, I am the Lord thy God.' The preface to the preface is, God spake all these words, saying,' &c. This is like the sounding of a trumpet before a solemn proclamation. Other parts of the Bible are said to be uttered by the mouth of the holy prophets (Luke 1: 70), but here God spake in his own person. How are we to understand that, God spake,
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

A Treatise on Good Works
I. We ought first to know that there are no good works except those which God has commanded, even as there is no sin except that which God has forbidden. Therefore whoever wishes to know and to do good works needs nothing else than to know God's commandments. Thus Christ says, Matthew xix, "If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." And when the young man asks Him, Matthew xix, what he shall do that he may inherit eternal life, Christ sets before him naught else but the Ten Commandments.
Dr. Martin Luther—A Treatise on Good Works

The Providence of God
Q-11: WHAT ARE GOD'S WORKS OF PROVIDENCE? A: God's works of providence are the acts of his most holy, wise, and powerful government of his creatures, and of their actions. Of the work of God's providence Christ says, My Father worketh hitherto and I work.' John 5:17. God has rested from the works of creation, he does not create any new species of things. He rested from all his works;' Gen 2:2; and therefore it must needs be meant of his works of providence: My Father worketh and I work.' His kingdom
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

John Bunyan on the Terms of Communion and Fellowship of Christians at the Table of the Lord;
COMPRISING I. HIS CONFESSION OF FAITH, AND REASON OF HIS PRACTICE; II. DIFFERENCES ABOUT WATER BAPTISM NO BAR TO COMMUNION; AND III. PEACEABLE PRINCIPLES AND TRUE[1] ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. Reader, these are extraordinary productions that will well repay an attentive perusal. It is the confession of faith of a Christian who had suffered nearly twelve years' imprisonment, under persecution for conscience sake. Shut up with his Bible, you have here the result of a prayerful study of those holy
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

Links
Psalm 147:7 NIV
Psalm 147:7 NLT
Psalm 147:7 ESV
Psalm 147:7 NASB
Psalm 147:7 KJV

Psalm 147:7 Commentaries

Bible Hub
Psalm 147:6
Top of Page
Top of Page