Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 147:9
He giveth to the beast his food, [and] to the young ravens which cry.
9. Cp. Psa 145:15; Job 38:41; Luk 12:24. Tristram, Nat. Hist, of Bible, p. 200, denies that there is any foundation for the notion that the raven turns its young out of the nest at so early a period that they are unable to provide for themselves. Perhaps the raven’s croak struck the Psalmist especially as an importunate cry.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
He giveth to the beast his food – To the wild beast; to the animals that cannot toil for it themselves, as man does. Compare Psa 104:21, note; Psa 104:27-28, notes.
To the young ravens which cry – Compare the notes at Job 38:41. See also Psa 145:15.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Psa 147:9
To the young ravens which cry.
The ravens cry
Naturalists tell us, says Caryl, that when the raven hath fed his young in the nest till they are well fledged and able to fly abroad, then he thrusts them out of the nest, and will not let them abide there, but puts them to get their own living. Now, when these young ones are upon their first flight from their nest, and are little acquainted with means how to help themselves with food, then the Lord provides food for them. It is said by credible authorities, that the raven is marvellously strict and severe in this; for as soon as his young ones are able to provide for themselves, he will not fetch any more food for them; yea, some affirm the old ones will not suffer them to stay in the same country where they were bred; and, if so, then they must needs wander. We say proverbially, Need makes the old wife trot; we may say, and the young ones too. It hath been, and possibly is, the practice of some parents towards their children, who, as soon as they can shift for themselves, and are fit in any competency to get their bread, they turn them out of doors, as the raven doth his young ones out of the nest. Now, saith the Lord in the text, when the young ones of the raven are at this pinch, that they are turned off, and wander for lack of meat, who then provides for them? Do not I, the Lord? Do not I, who provide for the old raven, provide for his young ones, both while they abide in the nest and when they wander for lack of meat?
I. God hears the young ravens; will He not hear you?
1. I argue that He will, first, when I remember that it is only a raven that cries, and that you, in some senses, are much better than a raven. The raven is but a poor, unclean bird, whoso instant death would make no sort of grievous gap in creation. If thousands of ravens had their necks wrung to-morrow, I do not know that there would be any vehement grief and sorrow in the universe about them; it would simply be a number of poor birds dead, and that would be all. But you are an immortal soul, formed in Gods own image. True, the raven is not sinful, as you are. But what does this prove? Why, that you are a creature capable of sinning, and, consequently, that you are an intelligent spirit living in a sense in which a raven does not live. You are a creature moving in the spirit-world; you belong to the world of souls, in which the raven has no portion. Doth God care for flesh, and blood, and bones, and black feathers, and will He not care for your reason, your will, your judgment, your conscience, your immortal soul? Oh, if you will but think of it, you must see that it is not possible for a ravens cry to gain an audience of the ear of Divine benevolence, and yet for your prayer to be despised and disregarded by the Most High.
2. There is a great deal of difference between your cry and the cry of a raven. When the young ravens cry, I suppose they scarcely know what they want. They have a natural instinct which makes them cry for food, but their cry does not in itself express their want. They have no articulate speech. But you do know what you want. Few as your words are, your heart knows its own bitterness and dire distress. Moreover, you have a multitude of arguments ready to hand, and you have an understanding with which to set them in array and marshal them to besiege the throne of grace.
3. Remember, that the matter of your prayer is more congenial to the ear of God than the ravens cry for meat. All that the young ravens cry for is food; give them a little carrion and they have done. Your cry must be much more pleasing to Gods ear, for you entreat for forgiveness through the blood of His dear Son. It is a nobler occupation for the Most High to be bestowing spiritual than natural gifts.
4. The ravens are nowhere commanded to cry. When they cry their petition is unwarranted by any specific exhortation from the Divine mouth, while you have a warrant derived from Divine exhortations to approach the throne of God in prayer.
5. The cry of a young raven is nothing but the natural cry of a creature, but your cry, if it be sincere, is the result of a work of grace in your heart. When the raven cries to heaven it is nothing but the ravens own self that cries; but when you cry, God be merciful to me a sinner,–it is God the Holy Spirit crying in you.
6. When the young ravens cry they cry alone, but when you pray you have a mightier one than you praying with you. Hear that sinner crying, God be merciful to me a sinner. Hark! Do you hear that other cry which goes up with his? No, you do not hear it, because your ears are dull and heavy, but God hears it. There is another voice, far louder and sweeter than the first, and far more prevalent, mounting up at the same moment and pleading, Father, forgive them through My precious blood.
II. If you have cried unsuccessfully, still cry on. Go again seven times, aye, and seventy times seven. Remember that the mercy of God in Christ Jesus is your only hope; cling to it, then, as a drowning man clings to the only rope within reach. If you perish praying for mercy through the precious blood, you will be the first that ever perished so. Cry on; just cry on; but, oh! believe, too; for believing brings the morning star and the day-dawn. But stay a while, I have something else to say. Is it possible that you may have already obtained the very blessing you are crying after? Oh, say you, I would not ask for a thing which I had already got; if I knew I had it, I would leave off crying, and begin praising and blessing God. Now, I do not know whether all of you seekers are in so safe a state, but I am persuaded that there are some seeking souls who have received the mercy for which they are asking. The Lord instead of saying to them to-night, Seek ye My face, is saying, Why criest thou unto Me? I have heard thee in an acceptable hour, and in an acceptable time have I succoured thee; I have blotted out thy sins like a cloud, and like a thick cloud thine iniquities; I have saved thee; thou art Mine; I have cleansed thee from all thy sins; go thy way and rejoice. In such a case believing praise is more suitable than agonizing prayer. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Which he mentions, partly, because they were most contemptible, especially to the Jews, to whom they were unclean and forbidden for food; partly, because they are greedy and voracious; and partly, because they are not only neglected by men, but also forsaken by their dams as soon as ever they can fly, and so are wholly left to the care and keeping of Divine Providence.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
He giveth to the beast his food,…. Through the plenty of grass growing upon the mountains, by the rain falling from the clouds of heaven upon them: these cannot provide for themselves, but the Lord feeds them; and they wait upon him for their food, and receive it of him, Ps 104:27. How much more will he feed his own people, both with temporal and spiritual food; though in their fallen state they are become like the beasts, of which they are sensible when called by grace, and own and acknowledge it! Ps 49:12;
[and] to the young ravens which cry: which are particularly mentioned, because contemptible creatures, and of no use and service to men, and by the ceremonial law were impure to the Jews; and the rather, because, as naturalists observe, they are very early turned out of their nests, or forsaken by their dams: and this particular instance of the care of Providence is elsewhere observed, Job 38:41. Arama takes notice of the preservation of this creature in the ark, and the use of it to Elijah. The Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Ethiopic, and Arabic versions, render it, “that call upon him”; that is, upon God and to him; they are expressly said to cry, Job 38:41. The ancient fathers interpret this figuratively; and by the “ravens” understand the Gentiles; and by their “young ones” Christians that spring from them, who call upon the true God.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
9. Who gives to the cattle their food By giving an instance he explains more clearly what he had said, of God’s providing food for every living creature. When he speaks of the cattle and the ravens being fed, and not of men, this is to give more emphasis to his argument. We know that it was for man’s sake the world was made at all, and endued with fertility and plenty; and in proportion as we are nearer in the scale of existence to God, he shows us the more of his goodness. But if he condescends to notice the brute creation, it is plain that to us he will be a nurse and a father. For the same reason he names the ravens, the most contemptible of all birds, to teach us that the goodness of God extends to every part of the world. When he says that their young cry unto God, he no doubt refers to their natural cry, but hints at the same time that they own that they must be in want unless God give them meat from heaven. As to the Jewish fable that the ravens desert their young ones as soon as put forth, and that worms are bred in the barks of the trees to feed them, this is one of their customary stories, never scrupling as they do, nor being ashamed, to invent anything, however unfounded, when a difficulty comes in the way. (292) It is enough for us to know that the whole system of nature is so regulated by God, that not even the young ravens want their food, when with hoarse outcry they confess that they are in need, and that they cannot have it supplied except by God.
(292) “ Car quant a la fable que les Juifs racontent, que les corbeaux laissent leur petits si tost qu’ils sont esclos,” etc. — Fr.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(9) Comp. Psa. 104:14; Psa. 145:15; Job. 38:41; Luk. 12:24.
The proper attitude towards one who is thus great to grant as mighty to make, is not conceit of wisdom and strength, but humble dependence and trust.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
9. Ravens which cry The young ravens, like the sparrows, are low and worthless birds. The divine care over them implies more care over those who are of more value than many sparrows.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 147:9. He giveth to the beast his food The Hebrew word indifferently signifies either a tame or a wild beast; but this passage of the Psalmist is to be understood only of wild beasts; those for whom God by his especial providence prepares food, and who have no other care taken of them. The beasts which live among men are taken care of by them; but the wild beasts that live upon the mountains, and in woods and desart places, are fed only from God. The rain that distils from the heavens, enriches those dry hills, and makes grass to grow thereon; and so God gives to these wild beasts their food, after the same manner of divine providence, as, at the end of the verse, he is said to provide for young ravens. Though what some tell us of these birds is not true, (for it is certain they are not less careful of their young than others are;) yet, as the rearing up the young of any species of animals, is a striking instance of the ordinary providence of God; and the cawing of a young raven in poetical speech may very beautifully be considered as a sort of natural prayer to God, in answer to which he supplies their wants; this certainly is sufficient to justify the Psalmist’s expression.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Psa 147:9 He giveth to the beast his food, [and] to the young ravens which cry.
Ver. 9. He giveth to the beast his food ] See Job 39:3 Psa 104:27-28 . See Trapp on “ Job 39:3 “ See Trapp on “ Psa 104:27 “ See Trapp on “ Psa 104:28 “
And to the youny ravens which cry
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 104:27, Psa 104:28, Psa 136:25, Psa 145:15, Psa 145:16, Job 38:41, Mat 6:26, Luk 12:24
Reciprocal: Gen 1:29 – to you Gen 1:30 – General Gen 6:21 – General Gen 8:7 – a raven Num 22:32 – Wherefore 1Ki 17:4 – I have commanded Job 36:32 – General Job 38:26 – on the wilderness Job 40:20 – the mountains Psa 36:6 – thou Psa 50:11 – know Psa 65:9 – greatly Psa 104:12 – sing Psa 104:14 – causeth Psa 104:21 – seek Joe 1:20 – cry Joe 2:22 – afraid Luk 12:6 – and 1Co 9:9 – Doth
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
147:9 He giveth to the beast his food, [and] to the young ravens which {g} cry.
(g) For their crying is as it were a confession of their need, which cannot be relieved, but by God alone, then if God show himself mindful of the most contemptible souls, can he suffer them to die with famine, whom he has assured of life everlasting?