He Gathers and He Heals — A Shabbat Reflection

Описание: “Praise the Lord, for it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful.”
Psalm 147 opens with a simple yet powerful truth: praise is not a burden — it is a gift. God invites us into praise not because He needs it, but because we need it.

When we praise the Lord, something shifts within us. Our focus moves away from our fears, our disappointments, and the weight of daily life, and it begins to rest on who God is. Praise lifts our eyes. It realigns our hearts. It gently reminds us that we are not alone, that our story is held in the hands of a faithful God. Scripture tells us that praise is pleasant — it brings delight to the heart of God, and it brings healing to our own souls.

Praise is beautiful. It is beautiful in heaven, and it is beautiful in the life of a believer. It nourishes our spirit. It strengthens us when we feel weak. It opens our hearts to receive what God is already longing to give.

Psalm 147 then leads us deeper, showing us the context in which this praise rises:
“The Lord builds up Jerusalem; He gathers the outcasts of Israel.”

This is not an abstract idea — this is God’s active work in history and in our time. God is building. God is restoring. God is gathering His people. Today, we see men, women, and families returning to the land of Israel from places of hardship, persecution, and uncertainty. Many arrive carrying wounds that go far beyond the physical — wounds of rejection, fear, loss, and trauma. Yet the Lord does not overlook these wounds. He sees every story. He knows every tear.

And then the Psalm reveals the heart of God even more clearly:
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

This is the second step of God’s work. First, He gathers. Then, He heals. Our God is not distant. He is Jehovah Rapha — the Lord our Healer. In Hebrew, He is HaRofeh — the Physician, the One who knows exactly where the pain is and how to bring true restoration. He heals the soul. He touches the past. He binds wounds that have been open for years. He brings wholeness where life has left scars.

We are witnessing this in Israel today, as the Holy Spirit moves in the hearts of people — bringing joy, hope, and inner healing. But this truth is not only about the nation. It is also deeply personal.

God is still gathering today. He is drawing in loved ones — children, relatives, friends — some who may feel far from Him, some who are carrying brokenness, confusion, or pain. And when God brings them in, He does not leave them broken. He continues His holy work, step by step, healing hearts and restoring lives in ways only He can.

Perhaps this Shabbat, God is speaking directly to you. Maybe there are areas in your heart that still need His healing touch — memories that ache, disappointments that linger, wounds that feel tender. The same God who is restoring Israel is at work in your life. The same God who builds Jerusalem is carefully building something beautiful within you.

As we enter this Shabbat, let us choose praise — not because everything is perfect, but because God is faithful. Let praise rise in our homes, in our hearts, and in our prayers. Let us trust that as we draw near to Him, He is healing what is broken, restoring what was lost, and renewing us by His Spirit.

My prayer for you this Shabbat is that the Lord would continue to heal your heart, restore your soul, renew your mind, and release His joy and shalom over your life and your family.

Shabbat Shalom, dear friends.
May His peace rest upon you.

Blessings,Pastor Israel Pochtar

https://www.beithallel-israel.org

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