The psalmist summoned everything above the earth to praise God. This included the angels as well as the stars, planets, sun, moon, and clouds, to which the writer attributed the ability to praise by personification. read more
1. Praise for establishing the heavens 148:1-6 read more
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
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
(4) Heavens of heavens.—See Psalms 68:33, and references. Before passing downwards to the earth the invocation pauses to combine all the heights, which have been before addressed in the expression which denotes their position relatively to the earth; the highest heaven of all, and then the world of water which, in the Hebrew conception of the Cosmos, was supposed to be the foundation, while itself rests on the firmament or heavenly vault. (See Psalms 104:3.) 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
148:4 Praise him, ye {c} heavens of heavens, and ye {d} waters that [be] above the heavens.(c) Not that there are various heavens, but because of the spheres and of the situation of the fixed stars and planets, he comprehends by this word the whole heavens.(d) That is, the rain which is in the middle region of the air, which he here comprehends under the name of the heavens. read more
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Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Psalms 148:4
4. heavens of heavens—the very highest. waters—clouds, resting above the visible heavens (compare :-). read more