Psalms 148

1 Praise the LORD.[a]Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise him in the heights above.
2 Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his heavenly hosts.
3 Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars.
4 Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies.
5 Let them praise the name of the LORD, for at his command they were created,
6 and he established them for ever and ever— he issued a decree that will never pass away.
7 Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
8 lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding,
9 you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars,
10 wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds,
11 kings of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth,
12 young men and women, old men and children.
13 Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.
14 And he has raised up for his people a horn,[b]the praise of all his faithful servants, of Israel, the people close to his heart. Praise the LORD.

Psalms 148 Commentary

Chapter 148

The creatures placed in the upper world called on to praise the Lord. (1-6) Also the creatures of this lower world, especially his own people. (7-14)

Verses 1-6 We, in this dark and sinful world, know little of the heavenly world of light. But we know that there is above us a world of blessed angels. They are always praising God, therefore the psalmist shows his desire that God may be praised in the best manner; also we show that we have communion with spirits above, who are still praising him. The heavens, with all contained in them, declare the glory of God. They call on us, that both by word and deed, we glorify with them the Creator and Redeemer of the universe.

Verses 7-14 Even in this world, dark and bad as it is, God is praised. The powers of nature, be they ever so strong, so stormy, do what God appoints them, and no more. Those that rebel against God's word, show themselves to be more violent than even the stormy winds, yet they fulfil it. View the surface of the earth, mountains and all hills; from the barren tops of some, and the fruitful tops of others, we may fetch matter for praise. And assuredly creatures which have the powers of reason, ought to employ themselves in praising God. Let all manner of persons praise God. Those of every rank, high and low. Let us show that we are his saints by praising his name continually. He is not only our Creator, but our Redeemer; who made us a people near unto him. We may by "the Horn of his people" understand Christ, whom God has exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour, who is indeed the defence and the praise of all his saints, and will be so for ever. In redemption, that unspeakable glory is displayed, which forms the source of all our hopes and joys. May the Lord pardon us, and teach our hearts to love him more and praise him better.

Cross References 25

  • 1. Psalms 33:2; Psalms 103:1
  • 2. Psalms 19:1; Psalms 69:34; Psalms 150:1
  • 3. Psalms 103:20
  • 4. S 1 Kings 22:19
  • 5. S Psalms 19:1
  • 6. S Deuteronomy 10:14
  • 7. S Genesis 1:7; 1 Kings 8:27
  • 8. Psalms 145:21
  • 9. S Psalms 147:15; Genesis 1:1,6; Psalms 33:6,9
  • 10. Job 38:33; Psalms 89:37; Jeremiah 31:35-36; Jeremiah 33:25
  • 11. Psalms 33:2
  • 12. S Genesis 1:21; Psalms 74:13-14
  • 13. S Deuteronomy 33:13
  • 14. S Exodus 9:18; S Joshua 10:11
  • 15. Job 37:11-12; S Psalms 103:20; Psalms 147:15-18
  • 16. Isaiah 44:23; Isaiah 49:13; Isaiah 55:12
  • 17. Isaiah 43:20; Hosea 2:18
  • 18. S Psalms 102:15
  • 19. S Psalms 113:2; Psalms 138:4; Isaiah 12:4
  • 20. S Psalms 145:5
  • 21. S Psalms 8:1; Psalms 113:4
  • 22. S 1 Samuel 2:1; Psalms 75:10
  • 23. S Exodus 15:2; Psalms 22:3
  • 24. S Psalms 145:10
  • 25. S Deuteronomy 26:19

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Hebrew "Hallelu Yah" ; also in verse 14
  • [b]. "Horn" here symbolizes strength.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 148

This psalm seems to have been written about the same time, and by the same person, as the preceding; even by the psalmist David, when he was in profound peace, and at rest from all his enemies; and the kingdom of Israel was in a well settled and prosperous condition, both with respect to things civil and ecclesiastical, as appears from Ps 148:14. And as it may respect future time, the times of the Messiah, of whom David was a type, it will have its accomplishment in the latter day, when there will be just occasion for all creatures, in heaven and earth, to praise the Lord; and which the Evangelist John, in vision, saw and heard them doing, Re 5:11-13. Aben Ezra says, this psalm is exceeding glorious and excellent, and has deep secrets in it; in which the psalmist speaks of two worlds, the upper and the lower. As for the title of this psalm, the Septuagint, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions, and Apollinarius, entitle it as the two preceding.

Psalms 148 Commentaries

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