Kings of the earth, and all people - This would embrace all, as all are included in the idea of the rulers and the ruled.Princes, and all judges of the earth - Those of exalted rank; those high in authority. This is proper in itself considered, as they are people like other people; and proper as an example to the rest. None of any rank are exempt from the obligation to praise God; none are cut off from the privilege. read more
Both young men, and maidens - Those in the morning of life, just entering on their career; just forming their character: with ardor, elasticity, cheerfulness, hope; let them consecrate all this to God: let all that there is in the buoyancy of their feelings, in the melody of their voices, in their ardor and vigor, be employed in the praise and the service of God.Old men, and children - Old men, with what remains of life, and children, with all that there is of joyousness - let all unite in... read more
Let them praise the name of the Lord - Let them praise Yahweh - the name being often put for the person.For his name alone is excellent - Margin, as in Hebrew, exalted. He only is exalted as God. See the notes at Psalms 8:1 : “O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!”His glory is above the earth and heaven - Compare the notes at Psalms 113:4 : “The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.” See also the notes at Psalms 8:1 : “Who hast set thy glory... read more
He also exalteth the horn of his people - He gives them power and prosperity. See the notes at Psalms 89:17 : “And in thy favor our horn shall be exalted.” Compare Psalms 92:10; Psalms 112:9.The praise of all his saints - That is, “he has raised up praise for all his saints;” or, has given them occasion for praise. He has so blessed them with special mercies as to make praise especially appropriate for them.Even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him - whom he admits to his presence... read more
A.M. 2987. B.C. 1017. In this Psalm, the author of which is uncertain, all the creatures in the invisible and visible world are called upon by the psalmist to unite in the grand chorus of praise and thanksgiving. The various parts are to be performed as follows: By the angelic hosts, 1, 2; by the material heavens, and the luminaries placed in them, 3-6; by the ocean, with its inhabitants, 7; the meteors of the air, Psalms 148:8 ; the earth, as divided into hills and valleys, with the... read more
Psalms 148:1-2. Praise ye the Lord Bishop Lowth, speaking of the origin of this divine ode, observes, “that it had its birth from the most pleasing affections of the human soul, joy, love, admiration.” “If we contemplate man,” says he, “newly created, such as the sacred Scriptures exhibit him to us, endued with the perfect power of reason and speech; neither ignorant of himself nor of God; conscious of the divine goodness, majesty, and power; no unworthy spectator of the beautiful fabric of... read more
Psalms 148:3-4. Praise him, sun and moon, &c. You were adored by the blind heathen for gods; you are but his creatures, and therefore would be obliged, if you were capable of it, to worship and praise him for your glorious light and powerful influences. “The material heavens, through their various regions,” says Dr. Horne, “with the luminaries placed in them, and the waters sustained by them, though they have neither speech nor language, and want the tongue of men, yet, by their... read more
Psalms 148:5-6. Let them praise the name of the Lord “Who hath set forth his most transcendent wisdom, power, and magnificence in such a variety of stupendous works, that there is not the smallest of them, but ministers such matter of praise and admiration to those who attentively consider them, that they cannot but wish, with the psalmist here, that every one of them were able to tell us how much skill he hath shown in its contrivance; or that we were able to find it out and comprehend... read more
Psalms 148:7. Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps “From heaven above the psalmist descends to the deep beneath, which, while it proclaims the power, observes the laws and decrees of him who made it, and poured it abroad. And the same may be said of its enormous inhabitants, which are under the command of Jehovah, and of none but him.” By dragons here, we may either understand serpents, which abide in the deep caverns or holes of the earth; or, rather, whales,... read more
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Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 148:10
Beasts, and all cattle - Wild beasts and tame; those which roam the forest, and those which have been domesticated for the service of man. As fruitful trees and cedars might include all the trees, so the “beasts and cattle” here might include the whole of those that were wild and tamed.Creeping things, and flying fowl - Margin, as in Hebrew, Birds of wing. These are grouped together for a reason similar to that for which fruitful trees and cedars, and beasts and cattle, are grouped together, to... read more