Bible Commentaries

PSALM 148

THE WHOLE CREATION IS INVOKED TO PRAISE JEHOVAH!

"Praise ye Jehovah.

Praise ye Jehovah from the heavens:

Praise him in the heights.

Praise ye him, all his angels:

Praise ye him all his host.

Praise ye him, sun and moon:

Praise him all ye stars of light.

Praise him, ye heavens of heavens,

And ye waters that are above the heavens.

Let them praise the name of Jehovah;

For he commanded, and they were created.

He hath also established them forever and ever:

He hath made a decree which shall not pass away.

Praise Jehovah from the earth,

Ye sea monsters in all deeps;

Fire and hail, snow and vapor;

Stormy wind, fulfilling his word;

Mountains and all hills;

Fruitful trees and all cedars;

Beasts and all cattle;

Creeping things and flying birds;

Kings of the earth and all peoples;

Princes and all judges of the earth;

Both young men and virgins;

Old men and children:

Let them praise the name of Jehovah;

For his name alone is exalted.

And he hath lifted up the horn of his people,

The praise of all his saints;

Even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him.

Praise ye Jehovah."

There is not a word in this psalm which appears to us as needing any comment. Just as it stands, it is one of the most thrilling songs ever written. Kirkpatrick's immortal hymn, "Hallelujah! Praise Jehovah", is nothing more than a poetic arrangement of this psalm set to music; and we submit it here as the most eloquent comment on Psalms 148 that we have ever seen. In this writer's years as a song director, he frequently led this song, and more than once it became the "theme song" for radio programs conducted by the church. The congregations of worshippers attended by this writer have been singing this song for at least seventy-five years, and we have never heard of anyone who needed it to be explained to him!

Hallelujah! Praise Jehovah

Hallelujah! Praise Jehovah;

From the heavens praise his name;

Praise Jehovah in the highest;

All his angels praise proclaim.

All his hosts together praise him,

Sun and moon and stars on high;

Praise him O ye heaven of heavens,

And ye floods above the sky.

Let them praises give Jehovah!

They were made at his command;

Them forever he established;

His decree shall ever stand.

From the earth, O praise Jehovah,

All ye floods, ye dragons all,

Fire and hail and snow and vapors,

Stormy winds that hear his call.

All ye fruitful trees and cedars,

All ye hills and mountains high,

Creeping things and beasts and cattle,

Birds that in the heavens fly,

Kings of earth, and all ye people,

Princes great, earth's judges all;

Praise his name young men and maidens,

Aged men and children small.

(the chorus)

Let them praises give Jehovah,

For his name alone is high,

And his glory is exalted

Far above the earth and sky.¹

- William J. Kirkpatrick