Bible Commentaries

Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.

Psalms 150:1-6.-Three strophes of two verses each. The first, where, and on what account, praise is to be given; the third, wherewith it is to be given-with all that have voice or sound. A doxology of thirteen "Hallelujahs" to the whole collection of Psalms.

Praise God in his sanctuary (in His temple on earth: in contrast to) praise him in the firmament of his power - (Compare Psalms 68:33-34, "His, strength is in the clouds" - margin, 'heavens.' His earthly sanctuary corresponds to the heavenly "expanse" (so the Hebrew for "firmament" means [ raaqiya` ]), wherein especially He displays His might and glory (Psalms 19:1).

Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.

Praise him for his mighty acts - (Psalms 145:5-6.)

Praise him according to his excellent greatness - (Psalms 148:13.)

Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.

Praise him with the sound of the trumpet ... the psaltery and harp. The same instruments as here and Psalms 150:5 are mentioned at the dedication of the walls under Nehemiah (Nehemiah 12:27; Nehemiah 12:35, "cymbals, psalteries ... harps").

Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.

Praise him with the timbrel and dance - (Psalms 149:3.) The timbrel accompanied the dance (Exodus 15:20; Psalms 68:25).

Organs - [ `uwgaab , from `aagab , to blow], rather, 'pipes.' Nowhere else is the pipe mentioned in the public temple service. Here it is introduced only because the feast of dedicating the walls was one of popular rejoicing. The instruments used in the temple service being all given here, it is plain that the interpretation whereby many find new instruments in several of the titles is erroneous.

Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.

Praise him upon the loud cymbals ... upon the high-sounding cymbals - suited to loud praises (Nehemiah 12:27).

Living voices shall take up the failing sounds of dead instruments, and as they cease on earth, those of intelligent ransomed spirits and holy angels, as with the sound of mighty thunders, will prolong eternally the praise, saying, "Alleluia! salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: ... Alleluia! the Lord God omnipotent reigneth." Amen.