Tag: Psalms 146-150
Universal Praise!
Scripture reading for July 3rd: Psalms 146-150
Life is to be lived in worship to the King! Real joy and peace come from a life centered on the goodness and greatness of God the Creator! Worship is not just singing a few songs at church on Sunday. It is a universal duty of everything that has breath!
Psalm 146 begins with a declaration that the psalmist is going to praise the Lord all of his life! Many are caught up in the idea of a king or politician who can save them! But they will die and their plans come to nothing! (Psalm 146:3-4) Only the God who created the heaven and earth can save! He can be counted on by the poor, needy, oppressed and hungry! He watches over the alien, widow, and the fatherless! (Psalm 146:7-9) God alone is worthy of praise!
Psalm 147 is a hymn of praise to the Lord for Jerusalem. God has built up Jerusalem and gathered the exiles of Israel. God’s people are to praise and honor Him for His mighty deeds on their behalf! God’s delight is in those who fear Him! (Psalm 147:11) He blesses them and protects them and deserves their worship! (Psalm 147:12-14) He has given them His Word and laws, making them special among all nations! (Psalm 147:19-20)
Psalms 148 commends all creation for their praise of the Lord! Angels praise Him in the heights. The sun, moon and stars praise Him. (Psalm 148:3-6) From the earth, sea creatures and fish, mountains and valleys, animals large and small praise Him! (Psalm 148:7-10) Man, too, praises the Lord! Young and old, men and women, rich and poor all owe Him praise for His splendor is above all His works! (Psalm 148:14)
Psalm 149 calls upon God’s covenant people, Israel, to praise the Lord! They are to dance, sing, and make music with instruments! The psalm then shifts from praise of God in their mouths to a double edged sword in their hands! They are to praise the Lord as they inflict vengeance on the nations and peoples who have rebelled against the Lord and rejected His Love! (Psalm 149:6-9) This is the “glory of all His saints.”
Psalm 150:6 sums it all up and closes the hymnal! “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.”
Everything that has breath: Praise the Lord!
Scripture reading for July 3rd: Psalms 146-150
The hymn book of the Old Testament concludes with some stirring songs of worship to the King! Real joy and peace come from a life centered on the goodness and greatness of God the Creator! Worship is not just singing a few songs at church on Sunday. It is a universal privilege of everything that has breath!
Psalm 146 began with a declaration that the psalmist was going to praise the Lord all of his life! He warned the people not to put their trust in princes, mortal men who cannot save! Today, many are caught up in the idea of a president or ruler can save them! (Psalm 146:3-4) Only the faithful God who created the heaven and earth can save! He can be counted on by the poor, needy, oppressed and hungry! He watches over the alien, widow, and the fatherless! (Psalm 146:7-9)
Psalm 147 is a hymn of praise for Jerusalem, God’s holy city and it’s chosen people. God has built up Jerusalem and gathered the exiles of Israel. God’s people are to praise and honor Him for His mighty deeds on their behalf! God’s delight is in His people, those who fear Him! (Psalm 147:11) He blesses them and protects them and deserves their worship! (Psalm 147:12-14) He has given them His Word and laws, making them special among all nations! (Psalm 147:19-20)
Psalms 148 commends all creation and the saints for their praise of the Lord! Angels praise Him in the heights. The sun, moon and stars praise Him. God named them and set them in place! (Psalm 148:3-6) From the earth, sea creatures and fish, mountains and valleys, animals large and small praise Him! (Psalm 148:7-10) Men, made in His image, praise the Lord! Young and old, men and women, rich and poor all owe Him praise for His provision and splendor! (Psalm 148:14)
Psalm 149 calls upon God’s covenant people, Israel, to praise the Lord! They are to dance, sing, and make music with instruments! The psalm then shifts from praise of God in their mouths to a double edged sword in their hands! They are to praise the Lord as they inflict vengeance on the nations and peoples who have rebelled against the Lord and rejected His Love! (Psalm 149:6-9) This is the “glory of all His saints.”
Psalm 150:6 sums it all up and closes the hymnal! “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.”
Breathing Praises!
Scripture reading for July 3rd: Psalms 146-150
Every one of these last psalms begin and end with “praise the Lord”! That Hebrew word is “Hallelujah” and is familiar to Christians from use in many hymns and choruses. It is fitting that this Hebrew book of worship would end in a crescendo of praise to the awesome God of heaven!
“Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, O my soul. I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.” (Psalm 146:1-2) This psalm is a personal statement of the psalmist’s choice to praise the Lord personally. It is something that comes from his soul and inspires song. Praise is a life-long pursuit and not optional for those who know Him as “my God”.
“Praise the Lord. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise Him! The Lord builds up Jerusalem; He gathers the exiles of Israel. He heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds.” (Psalm 147:1-3) The nation, as well as individuals, praises the Lord with joy and singing. God builds up Jerusalem, His holy city, filling it with the redeemed who worship Him freely!
“Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise Him from the heights above. Praise Him, all His angels, praise Him, all His heavenly host. Praise Him sun and moon, praise Him all you shining stars.” (Psalm 148:1-3) Praise flows from the angels and all of the heavenly creation to God as well. Like a rock dropped into still water, praise resonates from individuals to the nation and then to the heavenly hosts!
“Praise the Lord. Sing to the Lord a new song, His praise in the assembly of the saints. Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; let the people of Zion be glad in their King.” (Psalm 149:1-2) The saints particularly praise their Lord with creativity by composing a “new song”! This song is a joyful song of gladness and praise to God for His mercy in redemption and for the King and their kingdom!
“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.” (Psalm 150:6) The last verse of the last psalm commands everything that breathes to give the Lord praise! All mankind owes its breath and life to the One who breathed life into them. Man alone can give God the praise that is due Him!
Everything that has breath, Praise the Lord!
Scripture reading for July 3rd: Psalms 146-150
The hymn book of the Old Testament concludes with some stirring songs of praise. Life is to be lived in worship to the King! Real joy and peace come from a life centered on the goodness and greatness of God the Creator! Worship is not just singing a few songs at church on Sunday. It is not limited to those who are gifted at singing or dancing. It is a universal duty of everything that has breath!
Psalm 146 begins with a declaration that the psalmist is going to praise the Lord all of his life! He warns us not to put our trust in princes, mortal men who cannot save! What a word for our nation today! Many are caught up in the idea of a President or Governor who can save us! It simply will not happen! They will die and their plans come to nothing! (Psalm 146:3-4) Only the God who created the heaven and earth can save! This God is faithful forever! He can be counted on by the poor, needy, oppressed and hungry! He watches over the alien, widow, and the fatherless! (Psalm 146:7-9) God is the ultimate social worker and will bring help and justice! He reigns forever!
Psalm 147 is a hymn of praise to the Lord for Jerusalem, His holy city and it’s chosen people. God has built up Jerusalem and gathered the exiles of Israel. He has healed them and sends provision. God’s people are to praise and honor Him for His mighty deeds on their behalf! God’s delight is in His people, those who fear Him! (Psalm 147:11) He blesses them and protects them and deserves their worship! (Psalm 147:12-14) He has given them His Word and laws, making them special among all nations! Praise the Lord! (Psalm 147:19-20)
Psalms 148 commends all creation and the saints for their praise of the Lord! Angels praise Him in the heights. The sun, moon and stars praise Him. They should because he commanded and they were created! He named them and set them in place! (Psalm 148:3-6) From the earth, sea creatures and fish, mountains and valleys, animals large and small praise Him! (Psalm 148:7-10) Man, too, praises the Lord! Young and old, men and women, rich and poor all owe Him praise for His splendor is above all His works! (Psalm 148:14)
Psalm 149 is a curious psalm. It calls upon God’s covenant people, Israel, to praise the Lord! They are to dance, sing, and make music with instruments! They are to sing a new song and rejoice, even on their beds! The psalm then shifts from praise of God in their mouths to a double edged sword in their hands! They are to praise the Lord as they inflict vengeance on the nations and peoples who have rebelled against the Lord and rejected His Love! These are under a sentence of death from God! (Psalm 149:6-9) This is the “glory of all His saints.” Wow!
Psalm 150:6 sums it all up and closes the hymnal! “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.”