Read
Psalm 147:2
The LORD builds up Jerusalem. He gathers together the outcasts of Israel.
1Praise the LORD, for it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant and fitting to praise him.
2The LORD builds up Jerusalem. He gathers together the outcasts of Israel.
3He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds.
4He counts the number of the stars. He calls them all by their names.
Notice
Jerusalem being built up while Israel's outcasts are gathered connects the hope of a restored place with the return of displaced people.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What do you notice about YHWH being the subject of both sentences?
Write on thisWho comes to mind as you read about Israel's outcasts?
Write on thisWhere do you long to see scattered people gathered together?
Write on thisConnect
Where else Scripture says this
12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Deuteronomy 30:3that then the LORD your God will release you from captivity, have compassion on you, and will return and gather you from all the peoples where the LORD your …Both passages describe the LORD gathering Israel's scattered people, with Deuteronomy naming compassion and release from captivity.
Isaiah 56:8The Lord GOD, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, says, “I will yet gather others to him, in addition to his own who are gathered.”Both name God as the one who gathers Israel's outcasts, and Isaiah adds his promise to gather others.
Psalm 51:18Do well in your good pleasure to Zion. Build the walls of Jerusalem.Psalm 51 asks God to build Jerusalem's walls; Psalm 147 praises the LORD as the one who builds Jerusalem.
Psalm 102:20–22to hear the groans of the prisoner, to free those who are condemned to death,Both describe God's care for people in distress: gathering outcasts in Psalm 147 and hearing prisoners in Psalm 102.
Isaiah 62:7and give him no rest until he establishes, and until he makes Jerusalem a praise on the earth.Jerusalem's restoration is God's work in both passages: he builds it up in the psalm and establishes it in Isaiah.
Isaiah 11:12He will set up a banner for the nations, and will assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the …Both speak of gathering Israel's outcasts, while Isaiah also names Judah's dispersed people and the four corners of the earth.
Ephesians 2:12–19that you were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and …Both mention Israel and exclusion, though the psalm describes gathered outcasts while Ephesians describes its readers' former alienation from Israel.
Ezekiel 39:27–28when I have brought them back from the peoples, gathered them out of their enemies’ lands, and am shown holy among them in the sight of many nations.Both describe God gathering scattered people, with Ezekiel specifying their return from the lands of their enemies.
Isaiah 14:32What will they answer the messengers of the nation? That the LORD has founded Zion, and in her the afflicted of his people will take refuge.Both connect God's work in Jerusalem or Zion with care for vulnerable people: Israel's outcasts and the afflicted of his people.
Jeremiah 32:37“Behold, I will gather them out of all the countries where I have driven them in my anger, and in my wrath, and in great indignation; and I will bring them …Both describe God gathering his displaced people, while Jeremiah also names his anger in their scattering and promises safe dwelling.
Ezekiel 38:8After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land that is brought back from the sword, that is gathered out of many peoples, …Both describe Israel's gathering after displacement, with Ezekiel also describing a land recovered from war and people dwelling in safety.
Ezekiel 36:24–38“‘“For I will take you from among the nations and gather you out of all the countries, and will bring you into your own land.Both describe God gathering his people, and Ezekiel specifies bringing them from many countries into their own land.
Where this verse fits
Loneliness. church hurt. praise and worship.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
Being cast out does not place someone beyond God's care. YHWH who builds Jerusalem also gathers Israel's outcasts; his work includes people who have been scattered.
Now put it in your words.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).