Christmas Season · Second Sunday after Christmas Day · Year A
Psalm 147:12-20 or Wisdom 10:15-21
Psalm 147
January 4, 2026

Overview & Insights
“He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes.” (Psalm 147:16)
Psalm 147 is a hymn that celebrates in particular the restoration of the exiles (v. 2). The reference to “the bars of your gates” implies a date after the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem by Nehemiah. As noted below, many phrases in Psalm 147 are echoed elsewhere, especially in Isaiah 40–66, which addresses exilic and postexilic Judah. Its threefold structure is established by the three calls to praise in verses 1, 7, 12. It also contains three themes: the restoration of Jerusalem in the first and third sections (vv. 2–3, 12–14), Yahweh’s providence over creation in all three sections (vv. 4–5, 8–9, 15–18), and three contrasts of whom Yahweh favors (vv. 6, 10–11, 19–20). While each verse, section, and topic is profound in its own right, the total meaning that results from their combination is even more profound.
From Sermons.com: Join Today to access the most scholarly & well written preaching resources anywhere.
Take it further
Commentary
Background & Word Study
Psalm 147 in Hebrew, with Jewish commentary Sefaria
The Hebrew and English text of Psalm 147 with Jewish commentary links.
Sefaria: Psalms 147 (Hebrew) Sefaria
Hebrew text with English and classical Jewish commentary on the psalm.
BibleHub Interlinear: Psalm 147:12 BibleHub
Hebrew text with parsing for the psalm's word that runs swiftly.
The Church Fathers
Questions preachers ask
What joins the two halves of this psalm?
One God does both. He strengthens the bars of Jerusalem’s gates and he sends out his command to the earth, and the psalm treats the snow and the frost and the word given to Jacob as the same kind of act: the maker of winter is the one who has declared his statutes to Israel.
Prep at sermons.com
Ready to write?
- Full sermons on John 1:(1-9), 10-18
- Illustrations cleared for use in worship
- Commentary, quotes, and Bible dictionary
Trusted by pastors since 1995.
Free every Tuesday
Illustrations & Sermon Prep in your inbox
The coming Sunday’s readings, a cleared-for-use illustration, and a sermon-prep head start. One email, free.