The Book of Psalms

Psalm 148

Psalm CXLVIII · Vol. II, pp. 1078–1079

1 The psalmist exhorteth the celestial, 7 the terrestrial, 11 and the rational creatures, to praise God.

Margin referencesNotes ↓

1 Praise ye the LORD.¹ Praise^a ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights.

B.C. cir. 1047.

1 Heb. Hallelujah, Ps.104.35;105.45.

a Re.5.11,13. Lu.2.13,14. Ps.149.6.

2 Praise^b ye him, all his angels:² praise ye him, all his hosts.³

b Ps.103.20,21;68.17. Ge.2.1. Da.7.10. He.1.7,14.

2 Angels. Spirits employed as God's messengers.—C.

3 Hosts. Spirits employed as his armies, for judgment upon his enemies, or defence of his people, 2 Ki.19.35. Is.37.36. Ps.34.7. Mat.26.53. 2 Th.1.7. Re.12.7.—C.

3 Praise^c ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.

c Ps.19.1-6;136.6-9;74.16.

4 Praise^d him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.

d 1 Ki.8.27. 2 Co.12.2. Is.66.1. Ge.1.7. Job 26.9;38.22-29. Ps.104.3.

Vol. II, p. 1079

5 Let them praise the name of the LORD: for^e he commanded, and they were created.

A.M. cir. 2957. B.C. cir. 1047.

e Ge.1.1,3,6. Ps.33.6,9. He.11.3.

6 He^g hath also stablished them for ever and ever:⁴ he hath made a decree which shall not pass.

g Ps.89.37;119.90,91. Je.31.35,36;33.25. Is.14.27;25.1;46.10.

4 An imperfect philosophy entertained many fears for the stability of the planetary system—a sounder philosophy has demonstrated that the system is calculated to subsist for ever. But this by no means precludes God from changing and remodelling at his will either the heavens or the earth that his wisdom formed and his power has sustained, He.1.11,12. 2 Pe.3.7,12. Re.21.5.—C.

7 Praise the LORD from the earth, ^hye dragons, and all deeps:

h Ge.1.21. Is.43.20. Ps.104.25,26;107.23,24.

8 Fire,ⁱ and hail; snow, and vapours; stormy wind fulfilling his word;

i Job 37.2-6;38.22-29. Ex.9.23-25. Ps.147.15-18;11.6.

9 Mountains,^j and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars;

j Ps.114.4,6;29.5-8. Is.42.11;41.18,19;55.12.

10 Beasts,^k and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl;⁵

k Ps.50.10,11. Ge.1.20-25.

5 Heb. birds of wing.

11 Kings^l of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth;

l Ps.72.10,11;22.27-29;66.1,4. Pr.8.15,16. Ac.17.28.

12 Bothⁿ young men and maidens; old men and children:

n Ps.68.25;8.2. Mat.21.15,16. Zec.9.17.

13 Let them praise the name of the LORD: for^o his name alone is excellent;⁶ his glory is above the earth and heaven.

o Ps.8.1,9. Is.12.4. Phi.2.9-11. Ep.2.20-23.

6 Heb. exalted.

14 He^p also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people ^qnear unto him. Praise ye the LORD.

p Ps.75.10;89.17;92.10;149.9. De.10.21.

q De.4.7. Ep.2.13,17,19. Jn.14.21,23. Ja.4.8. Ex.19.5,6. 1 Pe.2.9. Tit.2.14.

Notes

Ver. 1. In the heights. The highest regions of heaven, where the glory of God is most brightly exhibited, and the mysteries of his government—unspeakable in earthly language—are audibly expounded and proclaimed, 2 Co. 12. 2-4. C.

Ver. 7. Dragons. This word is generally interpreted 'sea-monsters'—an unmeaning phrase. The word is generic, and that it sometimes signifies wild beasts seems probable from Mal. 1. 3. That it also is applied to the whale, seems certain from its description as one of the mammalia, La. 4. 3, and from its property of holding its breath and violently emitting it, Je. 14. 6. C.

Reflections.—How great and good must God appear to his people, when their minds are so overcharged with their debt of praise! And indeed, had the praises of God but due room on earth, it would much resemble heaven. But none are more deep in the debt of praise than faithful men; sometime afar off, but now brought near to him by the blood of his Son!