Psalms 148Another anonymous psalm stresses the importance of praising God. This one calls on the heavens to praise Him for establishing them, and the earth to bless Him for exalting Israel. Each major section of the psalm begins with a call to worship ("Praise the LORD"), and the whole poem ends with the same call, forming an inclusio. "Praise" appears 13 times in the 14 verses of this psalm. read more
Parallel to the heavenly multitudes, the psalmist next called on all of the earthly multitudes to praise Yahweh. Again he personified inanimate objects and listed various representative groups. Some merisms express the totality of the group, such as "old men and children" (Psalms 148:12), an expression that represents people of all ages. The pagans also worshipped creatures and natural formations, which this psalm shows are Yahweh’s creations. [Note: On the subject of God’s direct... read more
2. Praise for exalting Israel 148:7-14 read more
This is the ’Gloria in Excelsis’ of the Psalter, wherein all created things, animate and inanimate, are called upon to praise Jehovah.1. From the heavens] i.e. angels and the heavenly bodies. 4. Waters that be above the heavens] So God divided the waters: see Genesis 1:6, Genesis 1:7. 6. Which shall not pass] RM’which none shall transgress.’8. Vapours] smoke or steam: cp. Psalms 119:83. 13. Excellent] RV ’exalted.’14. RM ’a horn for his people, a praise for all his saints,’ i.e. the giving... read more
(10) So here we have wild animals and domesticated animals. (See Note, Psalms 50:10.)Creeping things.—This seems to include all the smaller creatures that move on the ground, in contrast with the birds that fly above it. read more
Psalms 148:0 St. Bernard of Clairvaux thus describes the death of his brother Gerard: 'Who could ever have loved me as he did? He was a brother by blood, but far more in the faith. God grant, Gerard, that I may not have lost thee, but that thou hast only gone before me; for, of a surety, thou hast joined those whom, in thy last night below, thou didst invite to praise God, when suddenly, to the surprise of all, thou, with a serene countenance and cheerful voice, didst commence chanting that... read more
Psalms 148:1-14THE mercy granted to Israel (Psalms 148:14) is, in the psalmist’s estimation, worthy to call forth strains of praise from all creatures. It is the same conception as is found in several of the psalms of the King (Psalms 93:1-5; Psalms 94:1-23; Psalms 95:1-11; Psalms 96:1-13; Psalms 97:1-12; Psalms 98:1-9; Psalms 99:1-9; Psalms 100:1-5), but is here expressed with unparalleled magnificence and fervour. The same idea attains the climax of its representation in the mighty anthem... read more
Psalm 144-150 The Hallelujah Chorus The five Psalms with which this marvellous book closeth are all Psalms of praise. The word “praise” is found in the Hebrew thirty-seven times. Each one of these Psalms begins and ends with a hallelujah; there are ten hallelujahs. First is a hallelujah which celebrates Himself, He who is the God of Jacob. Precious vision of Him who delights to call Himself “the God of Jacob,” the God who loves the sinner and has redeemed His people. Who is He? The Creator of... read more
Psalms 135:0 Praises God for choosing Jacob (Psalms 135:1-4 ), extols His power in the natural world (Psalms 135:5-7 ), and in the deliverance of His people from Egypt (Psalms 135:8-9 ) and bringing them into the promised land (Psalms 135:10-12 ). All this is in contrast to the vanity of idols (Psalms 135:13-18 ). Psalms 136:0 Is of the same character as the preceding, but is notable for the chorus attached to each verse a chorus with which we have become familiar in other psalms (Psalms 106:1... read more
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Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Psalms 148:10
7-10. The call on the earth, as opposed to heaven, includes seas or depths, whose inhabitants the dragon, as one of the largest (on leviathan, see on Psalms 148:10), is selected to represent. The most destructive and ungovernable agents of inanimate nature are introduced. read more