Psalms 150:1

Praise ye the Lord,.... Or, "hallelujah"; which, in the Targum, Septuagint, and Vulgate Latin versions, is the title of the psalm; and expresses the subject of it, the praise of the Lord; praise God

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.

Psalms 150 THE This Psalm agrees much with the former, and is an invitation to all men to praise God, and especially to the Levites, or those of them who were appointed to this work, as may be gathered both from the place in which they are to praise him, which is, according to our translation, in his sanctuary, , and from that great variety of instruments here mentioned, all which were frequently used in their temple service, and seldom elsewhere. An exhortation to praise the holiness, power, and kindness of God, with all sorts of, musical instruments. In his sanctuary; in his temple, where this work was to be performed constantly and solemnly. Or, who dwelleth in his sanctuary. So it describeth and limiteth the object of their praises. Or, for (as this particle is used in the next verse) his sanctuary, for this great favour of placing his sanctuary and dwelling-place amongst men. In the firmament of his power; in his heavenly mansion, there let the blessed angels praise him. Or, who dwelleth in the firmament, or spreading forth of his power, to wit, in the heavens, which were stretched out by his great power, and in which are the most glorious testimonies of his infinite power. Or, for the firmament, &c.; for that glorious and astonishing piece of his workmanship.

Psalms 150:1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.Ver. 1. Praise ye the Lord] See Psalms 148:1. Praise God in his sanctuary] It is probable, saith Beza, that hoc Psalmo mirifici ardoris plano, by this psalm, which is so full of wonderful ardour, the holy singers of the sanctuary did mutually stir up one another to praise the Lord. It hath been noted before, that here we have in six verses twelve hallelujahs. Some by "sanctuary" understand heaven; others, the hearts of believers. Praise him in the firmament of his power] Or, for the firmament wherein appeareth his power, Psalms 21:1. Or, for the Church, and the firmament of faith.

(1) Sanctuary—That is, the temple. Some take it in direct parallelism with firmament, and understand the “heavenly palace,” or “Temple” (comp. Psalms 11:4); but, as in Psalms 148, the invocation to praise includes heaven and earth; so here, but in the reverse order, the earthly sanctuary first, and the sublime things done on earth (Psalms 150:2), then heaven and the exalted greatness there.

PSALM CL A general exhortation to praise God, 1, 2. With the trumpet, psaltery, and harp, 3. With the timbrel and dance, stringed instruments and organs, 4. With the cymbals, 5. All living creatures are called upon to join in the exercise. 6. NOTES ON PSALM CL. This Psalm is without title and author in the Hebrew, and in all the ancient versions. It is properly the full chorus of all voices and instruments in the temple, at the conclusion of the grand Hallelujah, to which the five concluding Psalms belong. Verse 1. Praise God in his sanctuary] In many places we have the compound word הללו-יה halelu-yah, praise ye Jehovah; but this is the first place in which we find הללו-אל halelu-el, praise God, or the strong God. Praise him who is Jehovah, the infinite and self-existent Being; and praise him who is God, El or Elohim, the great God in covenant with mankind, to bless and save them unto eternal life. In his sanctuary - in the temple; in whatever place is dedicated to his service. Or, in his holiness - through his own holy influence in your hearts. The firmament of his power.] Through the whole expanse, to the utmost limits of his power. As רקיע rakia is the firmament of vast expanse that surrounds the globe, and probably that in which all the celestial bodies of the solar system are included, it may have that meaning here. Praise him whose power and goodness extend through all worlds; and let the inhabitants of all those worlds share in the grand chorus, that it may be universal.

1. God] El, the God of sovereign power (Psalms 90:2). in his sanctuary] This may mean the temple (cp. Psalms 63:2, &c.), and the verse will then be a call to men to praise Jehovah in His earthly abode, and to angels to praise Him in heaven above. Cp. Psalms 148. But it is better to understand it to mean heaven (cp. Psalms 11:4). The whole verse will then be a Sursum Corda. Praise the holy God who dwells in His holy heaven (Psalms 20:6), the firmament which is His handiwork and the witness to His omnipotence. This, and not in his strong or indestructible firmament (ἐντῷστερεώματιτῷἀκαθαιρέτῳαὐτοῦ Symm.), seems to be the meaning of the firmament of his power. The P.B.V. in his holiness is in itself possible, but contrary to the parallelism.

Praise ye the Lord - See the notes at Psalms 146:1. Praise God in his sanctuary - His holy place; the place where he dwells. The allusion here is, probably, to the temple, the place of his abode on earth.

1. As the theme is praise, the psalm opens with a very specific designation of the Being to be praised. Two titles are given. First, Praise ye éä, (Yah,) or Jehovah—the name of God as in covenant with his people.