Psalm 150
Psalm 150 is surely one of the better-known chapters in the book of Psalms. This short little chapter directs the reader to simply “praise the Lord,” in fact, it uses the word “praise” thirteen times. The original word used for praise throughout this passage is the word from which we get our word “hallelujah.” As believers, we know this is something we should do, and it’s easier to do when we gather as a church family; however, we often struggle to give Him the praise He desires every day, as we go throughout our lives. I know this is true for me, and I am sure it is true for most of you as well.
1 Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! 2 Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! 3 Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! 4 Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! 5 Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! 6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Ps 150:1–6.
Each of these six verses gives us an avenue by which we can give praise to our living God.
Verse 1: We have both the privilege of having God dwelling with us now through the Holy Spirit, as well as the hope of His glorious presence forever and ever.
Verse 2: We praise God for what He has done; for what He has made, and we recognize His greatness. Our God is full of mighty power and wonder; truly an awesome God.
Verse 3-5: We praise God with what we have and with what He has made us skillful at, no matter what it may be. In all that we do and with whatever skill He has blessed us with, we shall use it to glorify the name of the Lord.
Verse 6: Matthew Henry wrote, “Since we must shortly breathe our last, while we have breath let us praise the Lord; then we shall breathe our last with comfort. Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord.” The life we live here on earth is short, but may we use this life to give God praise.
The early church father Cyril of Jerusalem wrote these words that give me comfort: “I am endeavoring now to glorify the Lord, not to describe him, though I know that I shall fall short of glorifying him worthily; still I consider it a godly work to try all the same.”
I know I shall fall short in my wanting to give God the praise He is so worthy of, but I should not use that as a reason to keep my mouth shut. It is a “godly work” to praise the Lord, even in our faults and weaknesses. God is honored by our offerings of praise to Him. So, with all that you are and all that you have, praise the Lord.
Love you and mean it!
