Psalm 147 is a psalm of praise to our God for His infallible and unchanging Word, as well as His providence in the lives of His own. It is a psalm that reminds us that He is a God who “counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name. Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite. The Lord lifts up the humble; He casts the wicked down to the ground.” And yet, He also cares for each of us and “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (vv. 3–6).

For those who hope in the lovingkindness of such a great God, this hope changes our perspective! It raises within us a heart of thanksgiving (v. 7), praise for His strength, and an overall trust and dependence on His Word (vv. 15–20).

For each of us today, this hope changes the way we view life in general, giving us purpose and meaning. Hoping in the promises of God aligns our thoughts and our hearts to the mind of our God. Hope causes us to pursue what is truly valuable and to trust our God for the daily benefits He provides.

Hope affects our perspective on the difficulties of life, even when hurricane-size storms hit our lives. Paul and Silas illustrated these verses when, in the darkness of night, they lifted up their voices and praised the Lord (Acts 16:25–26). They did not allow the darkness of the night nor the prison wall to stifle their hope; in fact, they used the joy of the Lord to bring down the prison walls! Hope in the lovingkindness of our God and experience His good pleasure!