In Psalm 147:3, the psalmist writes, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” As one of the psalms of praise, Psalm 147 has been sung in the Temple, the synagogue, and the church for centuries. In v.1 it opens by saying “Hallelujah, for it is good to sing praises unto our God.” The psalmist then emphasizes how the Lord builds up, restores, and supports. It seems a rather interesting choice by the psalmist to have us sing: “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

We have such a blessed assurance from the Word of God that in our times of distress, heartache, and pain that the Holy Spirit comforts us. Yet, why do we sing Psalm 147:3? We are reminded that the Lord not only heals and binds wounds supernaturally, but also naturally through us, the Body of Messiah.

There is an interesting teaching in the Mishnah regarding how people entered the gates of the Holy Temple. In Middot 2:2 we read, “All who enter the Temple mount would enter by the right, circle, and exit to the left, except for one who had suffered an incident, who would circle from the left and exit to the right. People would ask this person, “Why did you go around to the left?” He would reply: “Because I am bereaved.” They would say: “May the One Who dwells in this house comfort you.”

As the throngs of visitors entered the Holy Temple, they would continue past the gate to the right. Yet, as they moved deeper into the Temple they would meet others coming from the other direction. In the Mishnah, those who had entered by the right ask those they now met: מה לך מקיף לשמאל, translated, “Why did you go around to the left?” Or another way: “What’s up with you?”

They entered the same door, but they did not walk the same way. Why? So that they would meet face to face, and in that meeting one would inquire of the other, “Why did you go that way?” They knew there was something wrong, but they dignified the other by asking, and in the asking they became present for them. Then, an avenue for healing would be open.

The apostle Paul writes, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2 Cor. 1:3-4).

Here is why we sing Psalm 147:3: “so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction.” The Lord healed us, bandaged our wounds, and prepared us to be present and available for the healing of others. Sometimes, however, those who are in need to comfort, help or aid do not know how to ask.

The leaders of the Temple made a way for others to do the asking: “Why did you go that way.” “I am bereaved … I am hurting … I am depressed … I am in pain … I need someone.” According to a report from the Surgeon General of the United States titled Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation, “lacking social connection can increase the risk for premature death as much as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day.”

In our technologically advanced and “connected” society, isolation, loneliness, depression, and heartache can make us feel overwhelmed and disconnected. The Temple said “enter by the left.” What do we say today? Well, we cannot always notice how people enter, but we can notice when people are not there.

As a pastor I notice when people are not in attendance in services, or when they are missing from my regular stops in life. What do I do? As best I can, I reach out. Not so much to say, “What’s up with you entering on the left … you who were not there,” but just to say hello. Personally, I know how easy to feel bereaved, overwhelmed and disconnected.

Dear reader, the Lord has comforted you, as Paul tells us, “so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction.” We can do this because when we turned to the left, the Lord met us from the right and graciously took the time to ask us, “What’s wrong?”

Perhaps this is not for you right now, but remember as you are praising the Lord this weekend, that you are able to lift your voice in praise because He healed you; and now He has prepared you to be an avenue of healing for others who are praying that someone will take notice of how they are walking.

Maranatha. Shabbat Shalom.