Psalms 147:8

Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.

Who covereth {H3680} the heaven {H8064} with clouds {H5645}, who prepareth {H3559} rain {H4306} for the earth {H776}, who maketh grass {H2682} to grow {H6779} upon the mountains {H2022}.

He veils the sky with clouds; he provides the earth with rain; he makes grass grow on the hills;

who covers the sky with clouds, who prepares rain for the earth, who makes grass to grow on the hills.

Who covereth the heavens with clouds, Who prepareth rain for the earth, Who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.

Commentary

Context

Psalm 147 is a magnificent hymn of praise, celebrating God's supreme power, wisdom, and benevolent care, both for His chosen people and for all creation. This particular verse, Psalm 147:8, shifts focus from God's personal care for Israel (as seen in earlier verses like His healing of the brokenhearted in Psalm 147:3) to His universal provision for the natural world. It highlights His active involvement in sustaining life on earth, demonstrating His continuous oversight and generosity.

Key Themes

  • Divine Providence and Sustenance: The verse beautifully illustrates God's active and continuous involvement in sustaining creation. He doesn't merely create and then abandon; He meticulously provides for the needs of the earth, from the vast heavens to the smallest blade of grass. This speaks to His ongoing care for the entire ecosystem.
  • God's Omnipotence and Wisdom: The intricate cycle of clouds, rain, and vegetation growing even in challenging terrains like mountains showcases God's immense power and intelligent design. It's a testament to His ability to orchestrate complex natural processes for the benefit of all life.
  • Universal and Unconditional Care: By providing rain and making grass grow "upon the mountains," the psalmist emphasizes that God's care extends to all corners of the earth, not just fertile plains. His provision is universal, reaching even seemingly inaccessible or barren places. This echoes themes of God's universal care for all His creatures, as seen in Psalm 104:13-14.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV uses strong verbs to convey God's active role:

  • "Covereth" (Hebrew: kasah - ื›ึธึผืกึธื”) implies an intentional act of blanketing or adorning the heavens with clouds, not merely a passive occurrence.
  • "Prepareth" (Hebrew: hekhin - ื”ึตื›ึดื™ืŸ) suggests careful planning and making ready for a specific purpose, underscoring God's deliberate design in providing rain for the earth.
  • "Maketh grass to grow" (Hebrew: matzmiach - ืžึทืฆึฐืžึดื™ื—ึท) highlights God as the ultimate source of life and growth, emphasizing His direct involvement in the flourishing of vegetation.

Practical Application

This verse offers profound encouragement and a call to worship:

  • Trust in God's Provision: If God meticulously provides for the clouds, rain, and grass on the mountains, how much more will He care for His human creation? This verse reinforces the call to trust in God's daily provision for our needs, as taught by Jesus.
  • Gratitude and Worship: It invites us to pause and appreciate the intricate workings of nature as a direct manifestation of God's power and goodness. Every cloud, every drop of rain, and every blade of grass is a reason to give thanks and praise to the Creator.
  • Appreciation for Creation: The verse reminds us of the divine hand behind the beauty and sustenance of the natural world, encouraging us to be good stewards of the earth that God so carefully maintains.
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Cross-References

  • Job 5:10

    Who giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth waters upon the fields:

  • Psalms 65:9

    Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, [which] is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it.

  • Psalms 65:13

    The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.

  • Psalms 104:13

    He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.

  • Psalms 104:14

    He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;

  • Matthew 5:45

    That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

  • Genesis 9:14

    And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: