Psalms 150:6

Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord,.... Even the brute creatures, as in a preceding; but more especially man, in whom God has breathed the breath of life, and is become not only a living

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

Every thing that hath breath; every living creature in heaven and in earth, , according to their several capabilities, some objectively, others actively, as was noted before.

Psalms 150:6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.Ver. 6. Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord] Or, Let every breath praise the Lord. Tam Dei meminisse opus est quam respirare, saith Chrysostom. We have all as much reason to praise God as we have need to draw breath; our breath should be like the smoke of the tabernacle, or those pillars of incense therehence ascending. Tremellius rendereth it, Tota ipsa anima laudet Iah, Let the very whole soul of us praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord] The psalmist had made an end, and yet he hath not done. When we have said our utmost for God’ s praise we must rest uusatisfied, and begin anew. Hoc primum repetas opus, hoc postremus omittas.

(6) Everything that hath breath.—LXX. “every breath;” Vulg., “every spirit;” literally, all breath. We naturally wish to give these words their largest intent, and to hear the psalter close with an invocation to “the earth with her thousand voices” to praise God. But the psalm so distinctly and positively brings us into the Temple, and places us among the covenant people engaged at their devotions, that we are compelled to see here a hymn specially suited to close the collection of hymns of the covenant, as the first and second were to begin it. It is, therefore, not all breathing beings, but only all assembled in the sanctuary, that are here addressed; and the loud hallelujah with which the collection of psalms actually closes rises from Hebrew voices alone.

Verse 6. Let every thing that hath breath] Either to make a vocal noise, or a sound by blowing into pipes, fifes, flutes, trumpets, c. Let all join together, and put forth all your strength and all your skill in sounding the praises of Jehovah and then let a universal burst with HALLELUJAH! close the grand ceremony. It is evident that this Psalm has no other meaning than merely the summoning up all the voices, and all the instruments, to complete the service in FULL CHORUS. Of such peculiar importance did the Book of Psalms appear to our blessed Lord and his apostles, that they have quoted nearly fifty of them several times in the New Testament. There is scarcely a state in human life that is not distinctly marked in them; together with all the variety of experience which is found, not merely among pious Jews, but among Christians, the most deeply acquainted with the things of Christ. The minister of God's word, who wishes to preach experimentally, should have frequent recourse to this sacred book; and by considering the various parts that refer to Jesus Christ and the Christian Church, he will be able to build up the people of God on their most holy faith; himself will grow in grace, and in the knowledge of God; and he will ever have an abundance of the most profitable matter for the edification of the Church of Christ. ANALYSIS OF THE HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH PSALM This Psalm is the same with the former. In the hundred and forty-eighth, all creatures are invited to praise God; in the hundred and forty-ninth, men especially, and those who are in the Church; but in this, that they praise him with all kinds of instruments. I. An invitation to praise God, which word he repeats thirteen times, according to the thirteen attributes of God, as the rabbins reckon them. II. That this be done with all sorts of instruments, intimating that it is to be performed with all the care, zeal, and ardency of affection. I. Throughout the Psalm he calls on men to praise God. 1. "Praise God in his sanctuary." Or in your hearts, which are the temples of the Holy Ghost. 2. "Praise him in the firmament," c. His magnificence when he sits on his throne. Some understand the Church by it, in which his saints shine as stars in the firmament. 3. "Praise him for his mighty acts," c. The works of his power. 4. "Praise him according," &c. Whereby he excels all things he being absolutely great they only comparatively so. II. The prophet desires that no way be omitted by which we may show our zeal and ardency in praising him. 1. "Praise him with the sound of the trumpet," c. An instrument used in their solemn feasts. 2. "Praise him with the psaltery," &c. And with these they sing, so that there is also music with the voice. 3. "Praise him with the timbrel," &c. In the choir with many voices. 4.

6. every thing that hath breath] Heb. all breath, Vulg. omnis spiritus, Jer. omne quod spirat. Cp. Deuteronomy 20:16, Joshua 10:40. Neshâmâh most commonly denotes the breath of man; but it may include all animals. Not priests and Levites only but all Israel, not Israel only but all mankind, not all mankind only but every living thing, must join in the chorus of praise. The universe is Jehovah’s Temple, and all its inhabitants should be His worshippers. The Psalmist’s words find their echo in the vision of the Apocalypse: “Every created thing which is in the heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and on the sea, and all things that are in them, heard I saying, “Unto him that sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb, be the blessing, and the honour, and the glory, and the dominion, for ever and ever.”

Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord - All living things in the air, the earth, the waters. Let there be one universal burst of praise.

6. The final call to praise. Every thing that hath breath—Every living thing. Praise ye the Lord—Reader, this is addressed to thee. A fitting practical climax! Can a rational soul decline this honor?