Psalms 147:16

Psalms 147:16

I. Look, first, at the beauty of the snow. It makes a spiritual world of this dull, dark earth of ours; and the fields that seemed fit only for the growth of man's food and the tread of weary feet in the common labours of life, covered with its white, immaculate carpet, look like a celestial floor, on which white-winged angels on lofty errands of mercy might alight from the kindred heavens. The snow-crystals are the blossoms of inorganic nature. Their beauty is not a chance endowment. It is God's Hall-mark, attesting that the work is His. Such beauty is a reflection of the Divine image, not something that God does, but something that He is, really and suitably a part of Himself. It awakens that curiosity about God which is an essential element of worship. He who arranged the particles of snow into such exquisite shapes of beauty can bring order out of our confusion, and change our vile bodies and spirits into the likeness of Christ's.

II. Look at the power of the snow. In a few hours God's little army of snowflakes does a work which defies all the resources of man to undo it, and before which he has to pause baffled and defeated.

III. Look, further, at the service of the snow. "He giveth snow like wool," says the psalmist. The comparison expressively indicates one of the most important purposes which the snow serves in the economy of nature. It covers the earth like a blanket during that period of winter sleep which is necessary to recruit its exhausted energies and prepare it for fresh efforts in spring. He who warms the tender latent life of the flowers by the snow, and moulds the quiet beauty of the summer landscape by the desolating glacier, makes the cold of adversity to cherish the life of the soul, and to round into spiritual loveliness the harshness and roughness of a carnal, selfish nature.

IV. Look at the Giver of the snow. The psalmist had not the shadow of a doubt that God formed and sent the annual miracle of snow, as He had formed and sent the daily miracle of manna in the desert. It was a commonplace thing; it was a natural, ordinary occurrence; but it had the Divine sign upon it, and it showed forth the glory and goodness of God as strikingly as the most wonderful supernatural event in his nation's history.

H. Macmillan, Two Worlds are Ours,p. 269.

Four attributes of God find their illustration and plain exhibition in the snow:

I. His omnipresence. Each one of these drifting flakes is a present from God. "He giveth snow like wool." (1) Sometimes it seems as if we were less observant of Divine handiwork in nature than the early Christians used to be. (2) Sometimes it seems as if we were most absurdly concerned lest the dignity of God should not be preserved in the minute management of things. (3) Sometimes it seems as if we were positively afraid to put God in peril by admitting that He is personally responsible for all His universe. It has invariably happened that the more clear are the expositions of trustworthy science, the safer is the Bible.

II. God's beneficence finds an illustration in the snow. (1) The philosophy of God's benediction in these bewildering flakes carries with it an interesting surprise. We are wont to associate cold only with a winter's depth of snow; but snow keeps the ground from freezing, and so preserves the life of seeds and trees. (2) The argument from this has two branches: it demands implicit confidence in God; it counsels generous remembrance of others around us.

III. The gentleness of God finds an illustration in the falling of the snow. Thus always appears God's gentleness: (1) in nature; (2) in providence; (3) in grace; (4) in retribution. "The feet of the avenging deities are shod with wool," says the classic poet. "He giveth snow like wool," says the text.

IV. The holiness of God finds a fitting illustration in the snow. Snow has been chosen as the symbol: (1) of the Gospel of redemption. "As the snow cometh down from heaven, so shall My word be," etc. (2) Of the standard of complete sanctification. "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be "white as snow." (3) Of ultimate attainment in grace. Jesus' robe of righteousness is absolutely white. (4) Of faith's final reward. Three distinct visions of God as He appears in heaven have been vouchsafed on earth to mortal eyes: one to Daniel in Babylon, one to Peter on the Mount of Transfiguration, and one to John on the Isle of Patmos. These men all put on record what in that supreme moment they saw. They differ in some particulars, but the one thing they all noticed was the raiment of glorious apparel which was worn by the exalted Redeemer. The glistering garments, such as no fuller could whiten them, they thought made up the supernatural beauty of heaven itself. "His garment was white as snow."

C. S. Robinson, Sermons on Neglected Texts,p. 49.

References: Psalms 147:16; Psalms 147:17. W. Simpson, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xi., p. 40; W. G. Horder, Ibid.,vol. xix., p. 76. Psalms 147:16. Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. xii., No. 670. Psalms 147:17. H. Macmillan, Bible Teachings in Nature,p. 27.