Psalm 148
14 verses · BSBPsalms book hub →
Speaks with:Genesis 1×4Psalms 8×3Psalms 89×2Psalms 103×2Jeremiah 31×2Revelation 16×2
Summary
Chapter summary
The cosmic choir: 'Praise ye Jehovah from the heavens' (all his angels, all his host, sun and moon, stars of light, heavens of heavens) 'for he commanded, and they were created.' Then from the earth: sea-monsters and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and vapor, stormy wind fulfilling his word; mountains and hills, fruitful trees and cedars, beasts and cattle, creeping things and flying birds; kings of the earth and all peoples, young men and virgins, old men and children. 'Let them praise the name of Jehovah; for his name alone is exalted… And he hath lifted up the horn of his people.'
Context
Poetry · David, Asaph, Sons of Korah, others — Psalms overview
The world behind this chapter
Psalms 148The history
The psalm is a roll call, and it is taken in order. First the heights: angels, armies of heaven, sun, moon, shining stars, and the waters above the sky. Then the earth: sea creatures and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and mist, the storm wind that does his bidding. Then mountains and hills, fruit trees and cedars, wild animals and cattle, crawling things and birds. Then people: kings, princes, judges, young men and women, old men and children.
Almost every item on that list was a god somewhere in Israel's neighborhood. Egypt worshiped the sun, Babylon the moon and the stars, Canaan the storm, and half the region kept sacred animals. The psalm does not argue with any of it. It simply puts them all in the choir and gives them a conductor.
The reason given for the heavens praising him is that he commanded and they were created, and then set them a decree that will not pass away. Ancient people watched the sky as the one perfectly reliable thing in the world, and the psalm says its reliability is obedience.
Raising a horn for his people is the picture of strength lifted — the same image used for a bull's horn and for a king's power. It is the last item after all creation has sung, and it is about a small nation.
What it meant to them
For Israelites surrounded by powerful religions, this song settled the ranking question by seating everything on the same bench.
It also gave them a place in it. After the stars and the sea monsters and the kings of the earth have all been called, the psalm ends with the people near to him — which was the whole point of being called at all.
Sources cited
- Walton, Matthews and Chavalas, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament
- Charles H. Spurgeon, The Treasury of David on Psalm 148
The text of this chapter
This page carries no textual note on Psalms 148. Where this site has examined a place the manuscripts differ, the examination is in the manuscripts room. Every place this site examines →
This page draws on Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory; John Calvin, Commentaries; John Wesley, Notes on the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary.