He Heals and Names

Psalm 147 cont’d:

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.

What does the second sentence have to do with the first?

Everything.

The God we serve numbers the stars.  That in itself is amazing, because to us the stars are innumerable.  But he who flung them into space knows their number.  In fact, this verse says he calls each of them by name. That’s personal attention of the creator over his creation!  

When we realize the vastness and power of our God, yet his attention to the smallest of details, we can then acknowledge and receive his forgiveness of our sin.

The first verse says God heals those who are brokenhearted.  He even binds up their wounds.  

We don’t have to wonder or worry that God is going to leave us to die when we have sinned and separated ourselves from him.  He keeps the stars in motion and calls them out every evening by name.  We, who are made in his image, should realize that he also has each one of us in his hand, knows us by name, and will completely heal us from start to finish, with no trace of shame to be found.

Next time you feel alone, brokenhearted, and torn to pieces, look up at the night sky.  Wonder at the beauty of the stars set against the blackness of the sky, and receive the forgiveness of the great and mighty God who knows you by name, who created you for worship, and who can make you white as snow.