Psalms 150

Psalms 150:1-6

the Praise-Songs of God’ s People Psalms 149:1-9; Psalms 150:1-6 Israel was formed into a nation and delivered from Babylon, that her singers should lead the praises of mankind, and her teachers provide the metaphors and phrases for the world’ s religious nurture. “ This people have I made for myself,” said the Most High, “ that they might show forth my praise.” Is it not also our Christian duty to be joyful in our King? Our religious life has not enough ecstasy and gladness in it to attract the world, which is sad enough beneath its outward gaiety. Psalms 150:1-6A worthy close to the Psalter. Ten times the summons to praise rings out, and ten is the number of perfection. Think of the tears and groans, the questionings and perplexities, the feeble faith and disappointed aspiration, that have preceded! Now it all finishes thus! So life will finish! Our Misereres will be forgotten in the outbursting Jubilates . The first three books of the Psalter end with Amen and Amen, the firm expression of faith. The fourth book with Amen, Hallelujah, as though faith were beginning to be lost in glad realization. But here, at the end of all, there is one abounding and unhesitating Hallelujah! For Review Questions, see the e-Sword Book Comments.

Praise God in His sanctuary!The last Psalm is a tumultuous outburst of praise. The sea of adoration is swept by mighty tempests of feeling, which roll the billows forward to break in thunderous acclaim upon the shore. “The Psalms,” says Dr. Chalmers, “have their final and most appropriate outgoing in praise that highest of all the exercises of godliness.” “As the life of the faithful,” says Hengstenberg, “and the history of the Church, so also the Psalter, with all its cries from the depths, runs out in a Hallelujah.” “There is nothing in the Psalter,” says Dr. Alexander, “more majestic or more beautiful than this brief but most significant finale. As if in emblematical allusion to the triumph which awaits the Church and all its members, when through much tribulation, they shall enter into rest.”

“We have the place (Psalms 150:1); the theme (Psalms 150:2); the mode (Psalms 150:3-5); and the universality (Psalms 150:6)–of the praise to be presented to Jehovah. This Psalm is said by a Jewish tradition to have been sung by persons who came to present the first-fruits, while the Levites met them singing” (Psalms 30:1-12). Psalms 150:1. In his Sanctuary The sanctuary is the earthly temple; the firmament of his power the heavenly. Earth and heaven blend in common acts of praise. Every true act of worship on earth excites a response in yonder world–the home of praise.

Psalms 150:2. Praise Him for his mighty acts For the enumeration of these, we should turn to such recitals as Psalms 105:1-45; Psalms 106:1-48, or to Colossians 1:15-21.

Psalms 150:3. With trumpet, psaltery, and harp We are not concerned as to the nature of these instruments. But let us remember that each of our emotions and faculties may be a musical instrument in the best sense. Praise Him with the sound of your love!

Praise Him with hope and faith! Praise Him with meekness and patience! Praise Him with courage and strength! Praise Him in Christian work! Praise Him when tied by pain and weariness in a sick-bed!

Psalms 150:6. Let every thing … Praise the Lord! Pull out the mighty stops in nature’s organ!

Let the bright Seraphim in burning row, Their loud uplifted angel-trumpets blow.

Let the gnat make music with the vibrations of its wings. Let every creature which is in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea (Revelation 5:12-13) be heard saying, “Blessing, and honor and glory and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.” Hallelujah! Amen. The end