Psalms 147:2 - Yahweh builds up Jerusalem. He gathers together the outcasts of Israel.

Generated Verse: Psalms 147:2

What does "Psalms 147:2" mean?


Psalm 147:2, "Yahweh builds up Jerusalem. He gathers together the outcasts of Israel," speaks to God's restoration and compassion. Let's break it down:

"Yahweh builds up Jerusalem": This refers to both a literal and a figurative rebuilding.

Literal Rebuilding: Historically, Jerusalem had been destroyed (most notably during the Babylonian exile). This line suggests God's active role in restoring the physical city, its walls, and its infrastructure.
Figurative Rebuilding: Jerusalem represents the nation of Israel. "Building up" also signifies restoring the nation's prosperity, security, and spiritual well-being. It suggests God's active hand in strengthening and establishing his people.

"He gathers together the outcasts of Israel": This speaks to God's care for the marginalized and displaced.

Outcasts: These are people who have been rejected, exiled, or alienated from the community. They might be those who have been physically driven from the land, or those who are socially or spiritually ostracized. They may be the poor, the sick, or those considered ritually unclean.
Gathers together: This implies God's active role in seeking out and restoring these individuals to a place of belonging and acceptance. He is not indifferent to their suffering; he actively brings them back into the fold.
Of Israel: This emphasizes that the "outcasts" are part of God's chosen people, and he has a covenant relationship with them, no matter how far they have strayed.

Overall Meaning:

The verse conveys a powerful message of hope and restoration. It highlights God's active involvement in both the physical and spiritual rebuilding of his people. He is not only concerned with the overall prosperity of the nation but also with the well-being of the most vulnerable and marginalized within it. It underscores God's love, mercy, and commitment to restoring his people to wholeness and community, even after periods of hardship and exile. The verse suggests that even when things seem broken and lost, God has the power and the desire to rebuild and restore.

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