The LORD does build up Jerusalem: he gathers together the outcasts of Israel.
Read Chapter 147
Augustine of Hippo
AD 430
4. Who is "our God," that praise should be pleasant to Him? He maketh Himself sweet to us, He commendeth Himself to us; thanks to His condescension. ..."But God commendeth His love to us" ..."in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." ...Let us see whether it be the commendation whichthe Apostle speaketh of, that Christ died for the sinners and ungodly: "the Lord who buildeth up Jerusalem, and gathereth the dispersions of Israel" (ver. 2). For the people of Jerusalem are the people of Israel. It is Jerusalem "eternal in the heavens," whereof theAngels are citizens also. ...All the citizens then of that city, through "seeing God," rejoice in that great and wide and heavenly city; they gaze upon God Himself. But we are wanderers from that city, driven out by sin, that we should not remain there; weighed down by mortality, that we should not return thither. God looked back on our wandering, and He who "buildeth up Jerusalem," restored the part that had fallen. How restored H...
Bruises. God delivered the captives, after chastising them, Deuteronomy xxxii. 39. (Calmet)
He gives life to the penitent, as Christ healed the sick, Isaias lxi. 1. (Berthier)
