The Psalms as a whole, and this one in particular make the following outline perpetually relevant. WE ARE CREATED TO PRAISE WE ARE COMMANDED TO PRAISE WE ARE COMPELLED TO PRAISE WE ARE COMPLETED BY PRAISE

1. PSALM 150 COMMENTARY
Written and edited by Glenn Pease
PREFACE
As in all my commentaries I quote many old and contemporary authors. Some that I
think are the best I quote often and sometimes at length. This is a good hint to look
them up, for they may have other studies that are equally valuable. Sometimes I do
not have the name of the author, and if anyone knows the author and lets me know I
will give credit where it is due. If anyone does not want their words quoted in this
commentary they can let me know, and I will delete it. My e-mail is
glenn_p86@yahoo.com
INTRODUCTION
1. Dr. Paul Choo, “The Book of Psalms was the hymnal of the Jews. The first and
last psalms are both short 6-verse psalms. The first teaches us of our duties to study
His Word and the last teaches us to praise Him - thus implying that as we get to
know Him through His Word, we will end up praising Him. This progression from
duty to praise also reflects a Christian's life-journey - from one that is primarily of
duty (on earth) to one of praise (in heaven). Psalm 150 is the "grand finale" of the
five "Hallelujah Psalms" (Psalms 146-150) and contains 13 hallelujahs! Though no
new truth is taught in each subsequent verse, it is the grandest and most intense of
all the psalms.”
2. The Psalms as a whole, and this one in particular make the following outline
perpetually relevant.
WE ARE CREATED TO PRAISE
WE ARE COMMANDED TO PRAISE
WE ARE COMPELLED TO PRAISE
WE ARE COMPLETED BY PRAISE
2B. This outline fits the present Psalm perfectly:
The Sphere of Praise-terrestrial and celestral
The Subjects of Praise-God’s acts and attributes
The Symphony of Praise-eight instruments and dance
The Singers of Praise-universal
2C. Another unknown author gives us this breakdown which answers all the basic
questions: “An analysis of the Psalm reveals that the Psalmist tells who is to be

2. praised: “Praise the LORD” (v. 1); next, the Psalmist reveals why He is to be
praised: “Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness”
(v. 2); then, who is to praise Him: “Let everything that has breath praise the
LORD” (v. 6). And, finally, How should God be praised? The Psalmist does not
leave this to the imagination. He tells how he is to be praised—the LORD is to be
praised with music (vv. 3-5).
3. Spurgeon, “ We have now reached the last summit of the mountain chain of
Psalms. It rises high into the clear azure, and its brow is bathed in the sunlight of
the eternal world of worship, it is a rapture. The poet prophet is full of inspiration
and enthusiasm. He stays not to argue, to teach, to explain; but cries with burning
words, "Praise him, Praise him, Praise ye the LORD."
4. “Each of the last five Psalms begins and ends with Hallelujah! Praise ye the Lord.
And each Psalm increases in praise, love, and joy, unto the last, which is praise
celebrating its ecstasy. The elect soul, the heir of God, becomes "eaten up" with the
love of God. He begins every sentence with Hallelujah; and his sentences are very
short, for he is in haste to utter his next Hallelujah, and his next, and his next. He is
as one out of breath with enthusiasm, or as one on tiptoe, in the act of rising from
earth to heaven. The greatest number of words between any two Hallelujahs is four,
and that only once: in every other instance, between one Hallelujah and another
there are but two words. It is as though the soul gave utterance to its whole life and
feeling in the one word, Hallelujah! The words, "Praise ye the Lord!" or "Praise
him!" "Praise him!" "Praise him!" are reiterated no fewer than twelve times in a
short Psalm of six short verses. --John Pulsford, in "Quiet Hours", 1857.
5. Steven Cole, “The theme of praise has dominated all the psalms, but as the end
approaches, the “conductor” brings in each section of the orchestra in one grand
finale of praise. Psalm 150 is the climax of the climax, where we are exhorted 13
times in six short verses to praise the Lord. It is telling us that ...God’s people should
be caught up with praising Him.”
1. Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens.
1. This is clearly a praise Psalm, for every verse in it has the word praise. In this
verse we see it three times. The focus is upward to God's sanctuary in the mighty
heavens. It is a looking up song, and you can imagine a congregation gazing up in
wonder at the awesomeness of God's throne that sit far above the highest heavens.
God has his sanctuary up there where all the angelic host sing his praises day and
night. He is worshiped in a sanctuary larger than all earthly sanctuaries put
together, and with an angelic choir larger than all the singers who have ever sang in

3. a choir on earth.
1B. Some see the sanctuary as the earthly temple. “In verse 1, we are told to praise
God in His sanctuary and in the sky, His stronghold. Other versions use His holy
place and the expanse of His might; his temple and heaven, his mighty fortress; his
Temple and his mighty heaven. There are numerous variations of these terms. One
version defines temple as a building where people worship. It further states that
God told the Jewish people to worship him at the Temple in Jerusalem. We are told
to worship God in His earthly dwelling and in His heavenly dwelling. Since we
cannot praise Him in heaven during our lifetime, we can praise Him throughout His
creation. After we are resurrected, we can praise Him in heaven. Here is a hint of
eschatology. Our praise is not limited to our presence in a synagogue or a church
when the saints meet. If we are in a place where we feel that we cannot worship
God, we probably should not be there. The question "Where?" is answered in this
verse.” author unknown
1C. Brian Bill, “Verse 1 begins with a bang: “Praise the Lord. Praise God in His
sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty heavens.” The word used here for “Lord” is
“Jehovah,” which means, “the self-existent and eternal one.” The psalmist than
shifts his focus to another name and calls him, “God” or “El” in Hebrew, which
means, “Strong and mighty.”
1D. Warren Wiersbe, “Who is it that we praise? "Praise the Lord" (v. 1)--not the
church, not the preacher, but the Lord. Our problem is that we often don't see the
Lord. We look at gifts or lack of gifts from God. We say, "Why didn't the Lord do
this, or why wasn't it done differently?" We don't really see Him. Let's get beyond
the gift to the Giver. Let's get beyond the blessing to the Blesser. Let's praise the
Lord. "Rejoice in the Lord," Paul said. "Again I will say, rejoice!” Phil. 4:4
2. Pope John Paul II gave an address on this Psalm, and he said, “The first place
where the musical and prayerful theme unfolds is the "sanctuary" (see verse 1). The
Hebrew original speaks of the "sacred" area, pure and transcendent, in which God
dwells. It is, therefore, a reference to the celestial and paradisaical horizon where, as
the Book of Revelation will specify, the eternal and perfect liturgy of the Lamb is
celebrated (see, for example, Revelation 5:6-14). The mystery of God, in which the
saints are gathered for a full communion, is an ambit of light and joy, of revelation
and love. Not accidentally, although with a certain liberty, the old Greek translation
of the Septuagint and the same Latin translation of the Vulgate proposed the word
"saints" instead of "sanctuary": "Praise the Lord in his saints."
2B. Victor Shepherd, “When we praise God we open our hearts to God. In that
moment we are joined with the hosts of heaven. Now stick with me I am going to get
a little theological here. John said he saw the elders in heaven praising God and
each had a harp and a bowl of incense that is the prayers of the saints. In other
words when we praise God here on hearth the "sound" of that goes to heaven and
joins with the praise of the angels and the saints in heaven, just as the smoke from

4. those bowls of incense in Revelation went up. In a sense praise opens the gates of
heaven. When we praise God here on earth, we are also before the throne of God in
heaven. In praise, pure adoration of God, heaven and earth intersect. And we,
without leaving the building are at that same moment in heaven.”
2C. We think of a sanctuary as a church or temple, and God is certainly to be
praised there, but here sanctuary is parallel to his mighty heavens. It is the common
way of the Psalms to state the same thing twice with different words that mean the
same thing, and so sanctuary in this context means the mighty heavens. It could be
an exhortation to the angelic choir to praise, but they need no such encouragement
to do so, and so it is for worshipers on earth to focus on the God who made and
dwells in the vast heavens, and to praise him as Creator and Lord. Calvin thought
so, and he wrote, “By the sanctuary there is little doubt that heaven is here meant, as
is often the case elsewhere. The second clause is exegetical, for the same thing is
repeated. But for sanctuary we read , rekia, that is, the expanse of heaven, to
which is added the epithet of power, because there we have a proof of the matchless
power of God, so that we cannot look to the heavens without being lost in
admiration.”
3. In the light of that, God does not even need us to praise him on earth, for he has
praise that it enormous and endless already, and has had it long before man was
even created. God does not need our praise, but we need to praise him for our own
sakes. The praise of God adds nothing to him, but it adds a great deal to us who do
the praising, for when you praise God it increases your faith and love, and all of the
Christian virtues. Praise is good for the soul, for it increases in us all that is good
and godlike. God is pleased with our praise, not because he needs it, but he knows
we need it, and he is pleased with the benefits we are reaping be being a praising
people.
3B. Dick Peirce, “C.S. Lewis used to be bothered by this idea of praising God. He
wondered why God wanted to be praised – did God have a low sense of self-worth
that needed reassuring by praise? Was God some ego maniac that loved to see
people bowing before God? But finally Lewis realized that God wants us to worship
and praise God because when we do, something happens inside US, not God. It’s in
the process of worshiping that God’s presence is communicated to us. As we
worship and praise we stop being preoccupied with ourselves and turn to focus on
God. And when we do we are open to experiencing God’s loving presence, a
powerful force that reaches deep into the center of our souls, and heals us at our
core!”
3C. Johnny Carver, “Praise lifts our eyes from the CONFLICT to the CONQUEST
as we look to Jesus, our MIGHTY CONQUEROR. Nothing so MULTIPLIES Faith
as Praising God. Praise is Faith in ACTION! Praise DRAWS our attention away
from circumstances and focuses our eyes on our MIGHTY God who causes all
things to work together for our good and His Glory.”

5. 3D. Adrian Pratt, “The whole world is full of Praise. Lovers praise their loved ones.
Players praise their favorite games. People praise the weather, praise food, praise
wine, praise places and times. Praise flows out of their enjoyment of life. To be
around them is infectious. They urge us to join in with them. Isn’t she lovely,
Wasn’t that brilliant, Wow, that was really something. People can’t help
praising things that they love and count as valuable.
God demands our praise, not because He would be inadequate without it. But
because it is ultimately in praising God that the meaning of the world is fulfilled. In
praise our hearts are lifted to God. We praise God because of the wonderful things
that God has done and because the correct response to amazing things is praise. Our
lives are incomplete without praising God. To fail to do so is to miss out on
something special. Psalm 150 is a call to Praise God.”
4. Calvin, “That the majesty of God may be duly reverenced, the Psalmist
represents him as presiding on his throne in the heavens; and he enlarges upon the
same truth in the second verse, celebrating his power and his greatness, which he
had brought under our notice in the heavens, which are a mirror in which they may
be seen. If we would have our minds kindled, then, to engage in this religious
service, let us meditate upon his power and greatness, which will speedily dispel all
such insensibility. Though our minds can never take in this immensity, the mere
taste of it will deeply affect us. And God will not reject such praises as we offer
according to our capacity.”
5. Spurgeon, “Praise ye the LORD. Hallelujah! The exhortation is to all things in
earth or in heaven. Should they not all declare the glory of him for whose glory they
are, and were created? Jehovah, the one God, should be the one object of adoration.
To give the least particle of his honor to another is shameful treason; to refuse to
render it to him is heartless robbery.
Praise God in his sanctuary. Praise El, or the strong one, in his holy place. See how
power is mentioned with holiness in this change of names. Praise begins at home.
In God's own house pronounce his praise. The holy place should be filled with
praise, even as of old the high priest filled the sanctum sanctorum with the smoke of
sweet smelling incense. In his church below and in his courts above hallelujahs
should be continually presented. In the person of Jesus God finds a holy dwelling or
sanctuary, and there he is greatly to be praised. He may also be said to dwell in
holiness, for all his ways are right and good; for this we ought to extol him with
heart and with voice. Whenever we assemble for holy purposes our main work
should be to present praises unto the Lord our God.”
6. Henry, “Verse 1. Praise ye the Lord. Praise God with a strong faith; praise him
with holy love and delight; praise him with an entire confidence in Christ; praise
him with a believing triumph over the powers of darkness; praise him with an
earnest desire towards him, and a full satisfaction in him; praise him by a universal
respect to all his commands; praise him by a cheerful submission to all his disposals;

6. praise him by rejoicing in his love, and solacing yourselves in his great goodness;
praise him by promoting the interests of the kingdom of his grace; praise him by a
lively hope and expectation of the kingdom of his glory.”
7. Henry goes on, “The psalmist had been himself full of the praises of God, and
here he would fain fill all the world with them: again and again he calls, Praise the
Lord, praise him, praise him, no less than thirteen times in these six short verses.
He shows, I. For what, and upon what account, God is to be praised (Psalms
150:1,2), II. How, and with what expressions of joy, God is to be praised, Psalms
150:3-5. III. Who must praise the Lord; it is every one's business, Psalms 150:6. In
singing this psalm we should endeavor to get our hearts much affected with the
perfections of God and the praises with which he is and shall be for ever attended,
throughout all ages, world without end.”
8. Dr. Robert Morris, “It is said that there are three words that are understood in
every language on the face of the globe: Amen, Alleluia, and Coca Cola. I want to
look this morning at the word “Alleluia.” It is a Hebrew word, in fact a fusion of two
Hebrew words: Hallelujah is an imperative meaning praise ye, and Yah, that
suffix on the end, is a contraction of the name for God, Jehovah. So Alleluia means
praise ye the Lord. In Old Testament times it was often used as a liturgical
response in worship. If you examine the five concluding songs in the Psalter, you'll
see that each of these psalms begins and ends with the same liturgical refrain,
“Alleluia.” You could say these five psalms constitute a kind of biblical equivalent of
the “Alleluia Chorus, for this word of praise keeps recurring again and again.”
9. Steven Cole, “The “mighty expanse” (“firmament”) refers to the heavens, and is a
call to all of the heavenly hosts to praise God. Thus the psalmist is saying, “Praise
God everywhere! Praise Him on the earth! Praise Him in the heavens!” Derek
Kidner writes, God’s “glory fills the universe; His praise must do no less”
10. Jack Hayford, “Paul E. Billheimer wrote, Mrs. Frances Metcalf, in her little
book Making His Praise Glorious, has called attention to the passages of Scripture
which inform us that God's dwelling place is between the cherubim: Psalm 80:1,
99:1, and Isaiah 37:16. While these passages refer to the cherubim covering the Ark
of the Covenant, those cherubim are only an earthly reflection of the heavenly
reality. They take their significance from the cherubim which surround the throne
of the majesty on high, who rest not day and night, saying Holy, holy, holy, Lord
God Almighty. God dwells in an aura, an atmosphere, an enthronement of praise.
Praise and His presence have a mutual affinity. Although God is omnipresent, He is
not everywhere present in benign influence. Where there is joyful praise, there He
is dynamically and benevolently active. In Psalm 22:3 we are told that God
inhabits the praises of His people. This means that wherever there is adoration,
reverence, and acceptable worship and praise, there He identifies and openly
manifests His presence. And His presence always expels Satan. Satan cannot
operate in the divine ambiance. For years many have known that praise is power
without fully understanding why. May this not be the explanation? Is it not a
convincing rationale for praise? In short, Satan is allergic to praise, so where there

7. is massive, triumphant praise, Satan is paralyzed, bound, and banished. The secret
of overcoming faith, therefore, is praise. It was James who said, Resist the devil,
and he will flee from you (Jas. 4:7). Since praise produces the atmosphere in
which the Divine Presence resides, it is the most effective shield against Satan and
satanic attack. Because praise is anathema to Satan, it is the most powerful defense,
the most devastating weapon in conflict with him.”
2. Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness.
1. Here again we see the parallel statements of acts of power and his surpassing
greatness. His greatness is seen in his acts of power that no person or natural power
could possibly achieve. David knows the history of God's miracles in delivering
Israel over and over by his mighty acts. He is worthy of praise just because of the
many miracles he performed to save his people in the past.
1B. Gill, “Praise him for his mighty acts…The creation of all things out of nothing;
the sustaining of all beings; the government of the world; the redemption of man by
Christ, and the wonderful works done by him on earth; the work of grace upon the
hearts of his people, and the preservation of them in grace to glory;”
2. An unknown author makes an interesting point here: “There is a very important
lesson here. Many people think gratitude is the same as praise. And yes, gratitude is
often expressed as praise. But do we stop praising God when we seem to have
nothing to thank Him for, when He seems to withhold His blessings, when His divine
face seems to be set against us? Does that make God less praiseworthy? Of course
not! In other words, God is to be praised simply because He is God, because of Who
He is, quite apart from anything that He does for me.” In other words God is a
being worthy of praise just because of who he is regardless of what he does, but in
this context we see it is what he does that is the focus of this verse. His acts of power
like diving the water so Israel could cross over and escape the Egyptian army, and
the walls of Jericho tumbling down without an arrow shot, or a battering ram used.
These types of acts of power give a good reason to be always in a praising mood.
3. Spurgeon, “Praise him for his mighty acts. Here is a reason for praise. In these
deeds of power we see himself. These doings of his omnipotence are always on behalf
of truth and righteousness. His works of creation, providence, and redemption, all
call for praise; they are his acts, and his acts of might, therefore let him be praised
for them. Praise him according to his excellent greatness. His being is unlimited, and
his praise should correspond therewith. He possesses a multitude or a plenitude of
greatness, and therefore he should be greatly praised. There is nothing little about
God, and there is nothing great apart from him. If we were always careful to make
our worship fit and appropriate for our great Lord how much better should we
sing! How much more reverently should we adore! Such excellent deeds should have

8. excellent praise.”
4. The unknown poet,however, calls our attention to the daily acts of power that
make God worthy of our daily acts of praise.
Praise! Praise! Praise!
Praise to God for His fair morning light!
Praise for the love that kept us through the night!
Praise for the power that guides the world aright!
And Praise, Praise, Praise, for His good gift of sight!
5. Brian Bill combines a focus on both the trivial and the tremendous things to be
praising God for in this verse. He wrote, “We’re called to rave about God for at
least two reasons. First, we praise Him for what He does. We see this in the first part
of verse 2: “Praise Him for His acts of power.” This is the theme of many of the
psalms. The phrase, “acts of power” carries with it the idea of God as a champion
because of the victory He has won. His acts of power are displayed in creation and
in our own lives as we enjoy the benefits of His grace, forgiveness, and salvation.
Some of you have great reason to praise the Lord for some recent ways in which He
has demonstrated His acts of power in your life. You’ve seen Him restore a
relationship, give you victory over a sin, renew your health, or answer a specific
prayer request. You’re praising Him today for what He’s done in your life and you
should. But, we’re also to praise Him for who He is in the second part of verse 2:
“Praise Him for His surpassing greatness.” This is especially evident in the last
group of praise psalms. Psalm 145:3 says, “Great is the Lord and most worthy of
praise; His greatness no one can fathom.” Psalm 147:5: “Great is our Lord and
mighty in power; His understanding has no limit.” When we praise God for who He
is, we are recognizing his surpassing greatness, or as the Hebrew indicates, for His
“muchness of greatness and abundant magnitude.”
6. Gill gives us some of the mighty acts of God for which praise shall never cease in
heaven or on earth. He wrote, “Praise him for his mighty acts…The creation of all
things out of nothing; the sustaining of all beings; the government of the world; the
redemption of man by Christ, and the wonderful works done by him on earth; the
work of grace upon the hearts of his people, and the preservation of them in grace to
glory; praise him according to his excellent greatness; or, according to the
multitude of his greatness; which appears in his nature, perfections, and work, and
these both of providence and grace; and in proportion hereunto, and according to
the abilities of creatures, angels, and men, is he to be praised; which is giving him
the honor due unto his name; see (Psalms 96:8) (106:2) .”
7. “The reasons of that praise which it becomes all intelligent creatures, and
especially redeemed men, to render to Jehovah, are here assigned. We are to praise
Jehovah in his sanctuary, in the place where his glory dwells, where his holiness

9. shines forth with ineffable splendor; we are to praise him in the wide expanse over
which he has spread the tokens of his power, whether in the heaven above, or in the
earth beneath; we are to praise him for those omnipotent acts whereby he hath
shown himself to be above all gods; we are to praise him in a manner suited to the
excellent majesty of a Being whom all the heavens adore, and who is wonderful in
counsel and excellent in working. His holiness, the infinity of his operations, the
miraculous power which he has displayed, the unspotted excellence of his
administration, call for loudest songs of praise from all whose reason enables them
to rise to the contemplation of the great Supreme.” --John Morison.
8. Joseph Caryl, “...when the Scripture saith, God is great, this positive is to be
taken as a superlative. God is great, that is, he is greatest, he is greater than all;
so great that all persons and all things are little, yea, nothing before him. Isaiah
40:15: Behold, the nations are (to him but) as a drop of a bucket, and are counted
as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.
And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt
offering. All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less
than nothing, and vanity. How great is God, in comparison of whom the greatest
things are little things, yea, the greatest things are nothing!”
9. Henry, “Praise him according to his excellent greatness, according to the
multitude of his magnificence (so Dr. Hammond reads it); not that our praises can
bear any proportion to God's greatness, for it is infinite, but, since he is greater than
we can express or conceive, we must raise our conceptions and expressions to the
highest degree we can attain to. Be not afraid of saying too much in the praises of
God, as we often do in praising even great and good men. We cannot speak
hyperbolically of God; all the danger is of saying too little and therefore, when we
have done our utmost, we must own that though we have praised him in
consideration of, yet not in proportion to, his excellent greatness.”
10. Henry Law, “Mighty indeed are God's acts in creation, providence, and grace.
Creation is a volume replete with wonders. They surpass all power to enumerate.
They exceed all admiration. Providence is wonderful in showing His mind in
constant operation. But redemption causes love to overflow in wonder. It excites our
loudest shouts. To estimate its exceeding preciousness the eternal kingdom must be
reached. The innumerable multitude must be joined before we can fully realize that
all sin is washed away, and every transgression pardoned, and the law's curse
removed, and righteousness divine bestowed as the resplendent robe of heaven.
Then will be the joy of knowing that mercy has brought us to the journey's end; that
endless rest is reached and endless hallelujahs placed upon the lips. Then shall
eternal bliss flow on; then shall the realm of glory shout endlessly the Redeemer's
praise.”
11. Praise is to be as frequent as God is worthy, and that means praise is to be
continually in our mouth. I like the way Johnny Carver says it in this alphabetical
list:

10. “a There are two times to PRAISE the Lord: (1) When you FEEL like it. (2) When
you don’t FEEL like it!
b. Surely Paul and Silas didn’t feel like praising God when they were cast into that
dark dungeon at Philippi. * Their backs were bleeding * Their hands and feet were
placed in stocks * The prison was a filthy place * They were surrounded by vile,
sinful men. *But Paul and Silas “prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the
prisoners heard them” (Acts 16:25).
c. But more importantly God heard them! * The mighty God who inhabits the
praises of His people responded to Paul and Silas in their dilemma and shook the
prisons doors open and their bands fell off!
d. The SOURCE of many of our troubles is our tongue. * God has prescribed a cure
for our “tongue troubles,” and that is to use our tongues in PRAISING the Lord.
e. In Psalms 34:1 David said, “I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall
continually be in my mouth.” * David had learned the secret of victory over his
tongue: to keep it busy praising God.
f. We are to praise God for: * The Things in the PAST * The Things in the
PRESENT * The Things that are in the FUTURE!
3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,
1. We not only sing the praise of God by our words, but we produce pleasant sounds
of music to praise him as well. The music of instruments motivates us to praise, for
they produce a rhythm that gets our body in the mood to praise, dance, and just feel
the enjoyment of praise. It can be done without music, and we should never be
limited if music is not available, but music and happy sounds enhance our praise.
2. We need not be literalistic and use these instruments for they are primitive
compared to modern instruments. We have upgraded the level of music. An
unknown author wrote, “If the psalmist were living today, we know he would add
Praise him with the organ and piano,
praise him with the guitar and synthesizer,
praise him with the drums and keyboard,
praise him with the boom box and stereo.
We can praise God with any sort of instrument: with wind instruments, with
stringed instruments, with percussion instruments, with electronic instruments.”
3. Worship needs to be loud at times to awake people to God’s presence. As the
trumpet was used to announce the presence of the King it gets attention so one is not
nodding off and bored. The highest use of any instrument is to aid people in the

11. praise of God. The trumpet is probably the loudest of instruments and it stimulates
feeling. Praise is almost always expressed by sound. The Second Coming will be
announced with the trumpet of the Lord. The legend of Lucifer says he was asked
what he most missed about heaven and he responded, “I miss most the trumpets
that sounded in the morning.”
4. Luther said, “Next to theology, I give a place to music, for thereby all anger is
forgotten, the devil is driven away, melancholy, many tribulations, and evil thoughts
are expelled. It is the solace of a despondent mind.”
5. Steve Heartsill, “It is interesting to notice what we find here. In these verses, we
find the most complete listing of instruments found anywhere in the Old Testament.
Why did the writer list so many musical instruments? I think the answer is simple.
The writer reminded us to praise the Lord with everything we have. Every kind of
instrument, whether it is solemn or happy, percussion or melodic, gentle or strident,
all of these instruments are to be rallied to praise the Lord of the universe. The
writer tells us to pick up our instrument! We are to join in with the band of heaven!
We are to make a joyful noise to the Lord!
Notice what else is required if we play all of those instruments and do all that is
suggested. We have to use our breathe to play the trumpet or wind instrument. We
have to use our fingers to strike the strings. We have to use our whole hand to beat
the timbrel. We have to use our feet to move in sacred dance. Do you see where the
writer was headed? The psalmist told us that the entire body is to be used in
praising God. Everything about us is to praise God.”
6. Music is also a tool that leads men into unholy activity, and so Calvin writes here
saying, “Our corrupt nature indulges in extraordinary liberties, many devising
methods of gratification which are preposterous, while their highest satisfaction lies
in suppressing all thoughts of God. This perverse disposition could only be corrected
in the way of God's retaining a weak and ignorant people under many restraints,
and constant exercises. The Psalmist, therefore, in exhorting believers to pour forth
all their joy in the praises of God, enumerates, one upon another, all the musical
instruments which were then in use, and reminds them that they ought all to be
consecrated to the worship of God.”
7. Spurgeon, “Let us never sound a trumpet before us to our own honor, but reserve
all our trumpeting for God's glory. When the people have been gathered by blast of
trumpet, then proceed to praise him with the psaltery and harp. Stringed
instruments are to be used as well as those which are rendered vocal by wind. Dulcet
notes are to be consecrated as well as more startling sounds. The gospel meaning is
that all powers and faculties should praise the Lord -- all sorts of persons, under all
circumstances, and with differing constitutions, should do honor unto the Lord of
all. If there be any virtue, if there be any talent, if there be any influence, let all be
consecrated to the service of the universal Benefactor. Harp and lyre -- the choicest,
the sweetest, must be all our Lord's.”

12. 8. “The shophar (Hebrew word for trumpet), is especially interesting to us as being
the only Hebrew instrument whose use on certain solemn occasions seems to be
retained to this day. Engel, with his usual trustworthy research, has traced out and
examined some of those in modern synagogues. Of those shown in our engraving,
one is from the synagogue of Spanish and Portuguese Jews, Bevis Marks, and is, he
says, one foot in length; the other is one used in the Great Synagogue, St. James's
place, Aldgate, twenty- one inches in length. Both are made of horn. --James
Stainer.
9. Verse 3-5. “The variety of musical instruments, some of them made use of in the
camp, as trumpets; some of them more suitable to a peaceable condition, as
psalteries and harps; some of them sounding by blowing wind in them; some of
them sounding by lighter touching of them, as stringed instruments; some of them
by beating on them more sharply, as tabrets, drums and cymbals; some of them
sounding by touching and blowing also, as organs: all of them giving some certain
sound, some more quiet, and some making more noise: some of them having a
harmony by themselves; some of them making a concept with other instruments, or
with the motions of the body in dancing, some of them serving for one use, some of
them serving for another, and all of them serving to set forth God's glory, and to
shadow forth the duty of worshipers, and the privileges of the saints. The plurality
and variety (I say) of these instruments were fit to represent divers conditions of the
spiritual man, and of the greatness of his joy to be found in God, and to teach what
stirring up should be of the affections and powers of our soul, and of one another,
unto God's worship; what harmony should be among the worshipers of God, what
melody each should make in himself, singing to God with grace in his heart, and to
show the excellency of God's praise, which no means nor instrument, nor any
expression of the body joined thereunto, could sufficiently set forth in these
exhortations to praise God with trumpet, psaltery, c.” --David Dickson.
10. Brian Bill, “As we come to the end of the Book of Psalms, we notice that each of
the last 5 Psalms begins with, “Praise the Lord,” and each Psalm increases in praise
and joy until we come to the last one in the holy hymnbook Psalm 150. For the
psalmist, “praise the Lord” was definitely not a cliché but an ecstatic expression of
unbridled joy! In six short verses, he uses the phrase 13 times. Every sentence starts
off with “Hallelujah” (which is the Hebrew way to say, “Praise the Lord”) and is
very short it’s as if he can’t wait to get to the next opportunity to say, “Praise the
Lord” again. The word, “praise” is derived from a Latin word which means to
prize. When we praise, we are expressing our approval by valuing something or
someone who has worth or merit. The word also means to “shine” or “make a show
by raving and celebrating.” To praise the Lord is to prize Him and rave about Him
as the only one worthy of glory and honor.
After the blast of the trumpet, verse 3 calls us to “praise Him with the harp and
lyre.” We go from an explosive expression of praise to the sweet sound of strings.

13. The harp is mentioned more than any other instrument and was played powerfully
by David. Scholars believe that the harp and the lyre were similar in function and
design, but the harp was probably larger.”
11. Victor Shepherd, “Victor Shepherd, “The word harp or harps appears in
the Bible 32 times. The word lyre or lyres appears 46 times, for a total of 78.
Almost every verse that mentions harps or lyres is about praise. Stringed
instruments were a regular part of praising God. When we think of church music
we usually think of organs and pianos. But the lyre or harp was often the
instrument of choice. In fact the inscription above 7 of the psalms specifies that a
lyre be used in playing it. Some of these churches that use guitars for their worship
music think they are doing something new. Actually they are just resurrecting an
ancient practice of using stringed instruments to praise the Lord. And when you
think of heavenly music what comes to mind: the harp. In fact the passage I read
form Revelation tells us that John saw people with harps praising God in heaven. So
the harp or lyre is a symbol of praise. It represents the songs and other acts of praise
that God's people lift up. It is a symbol of the praise offered not only by the church
on earth but also by the choirs of angels and saints in heaven.”
4 praise him with tambourine and dancing,
praise him with the strings and flute,
1. The custom of dancing was found in many cultures, but not ours. We do not
dance as a form of worship. It is getting more popular in some places but not in
most churches. We usually just get our feet and fingers tapping. In some churches
there are a few trained dancers, but seldom to never does the whole congregation
get involved in dancing. The idea is that the whole body is to be engaged in praise to
God.
Not for the lip of praise alone,
Not e’en the praising heart
I ask, but for the life made up
Of praise in every part.
1B. I do not think dancing is required for true worship and praise, but I do believe
we need to express praise with joy, and the following story illustrates that many
have a hard time getting even to this level. “A conference at a Presbyterian church
in Omaha. People were given helium filled balloons and told to release them at some
point in the service when they felt like expressing the joy in their hearts. Since they
were Presbyterians, they weren't free to say Hallelujah, Praise the Lord. All
through the service balloons ascended, but when it was over 1/3 of the balloons were
unreleased. Let your balloon go.”

14. 2. Brian Bill, “Verse 4 gives us the next instruments of worship the tambourine and
dancing. Associated with the deliverance at the Red Sea, this form of praise was
jubilant and expressive. Exodus 15:20-21 describes the scene: “Then Miriam the
prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women
followed her, with tambourines and dancing. Miriam sang to them: ‘Sing to the
LORD, for He is highly exalted. The horse and its rider He has hurled into the sea.’”
The playing of the tambourine was often accompanied with dancing. The Hebrew
word for “dance” indicates a “twirl or a twist,” and was done in an attitude of
protracted praise and adoration. The hands and the feet were both set in motion
and the entire body moved in response to God’s greatness and His mighty acts of
power. Are there not periods of life when we are so happy that we could dance for
joy? Brothers and sisters, there is enough in our faith to create and justify the
highest degree of euphoric delight which breaks forth into melodious movement.”
2B. “Each part of our body is included in this psalm. With our ears and eyes we
experience the music, with our mouths, lungs, arms, and hands the instruments
would be played, and with our legs and bodies we dance as a means to praise God,
as it is said, And David was leaping about with all his might before God. (Sh’muel
II 6:14) author unknown
2C. Dick Peirce, “In an old Charlie Brown cartoon Snoopy is dancing along on a
beautiful spring day. He says to himself, “To dance is to live! For me dancing is an
emotional outlet. I feel sorry for people who can’t dance.” He ends by adding, “If
you can’t dance you should at least be able to do a happy hop!” The early followers
of Jesus changed their day for group worship from the last day of the week to the
first, so that every Sunday worship service is to remember the great event of the
resurrection, and to respond each week in praise – or at least a happy hop!”
3. Spurgeon, “Praise him with the timbrel and dance. Associated with the
deliverance at the Red Sea, this form of worship set forth the most jubilant and
exultant of worship. The hands and the feet were both employed, and the entire
body moved in sympathy with the members. Are there not periods of life when we
feel so glad that we would fain dance for joy? Let not such exhilaration be spent
upon common themes, but let the name of God stir us to ecstasy. Let us exult as we
cry,
In the heavenly Lamb thrice happy I am,
And my heart it doth dance at the sound of his name.
There is enough in our holy faith to create and to justify the utmost degree of
rapturous delight. If men are dull in the worship of the Lord our God they are not
acting consistently with the character of their religion.
Praise him with stringed instruments and organs. We have here the three kinds of

15. musical instruments: timbrels, which are struck, and strings, and pipes; let all be
educated to praise the Lord. Nothing is common and unclean: all may be sanctified
to highest uses. Many men, many minds, and these as different as strings and pipes;
but there is only one God, and that one God all should worship. The word translated
organs signifies pipe -- a simpler form of wind instrument than the more modern
and more elaborate organ. Doubtless many a pious shepherd has poured out
gracious pastorals from a reed or oaten pipe, and so has magnified his God.”
4. It is clear that all instruments are valid tools to aid in praising God, but for some
strange reason the history of the church has revealed that people have some
instruments that they feel are not appropriate for worship. This discrimination
against certain instruments has led to controversy. One unknown musician wrote,
“You wouldn’t believe how many arguments and split ups have occurred in
congregations over just the INSTRUMENTS that are being used. In the history of
the church there have been people who have claimed that a guitar is evil in worship
- that only a organ can be played. When I played my trumpet in one congregation I
was told that some of the members refused to sing with it. I don’t know if that was
true or not - but it’s sad that some feel that there is only one instrument to praise
God - and that’s it. Back in Luther’s time the Reformed camp would not allow
instruments of ANY kind in their worship.”
5. Mark Axelrod, “I believe that the Bible can teach us about the kind of music God
appreciates. Number one: He likes variety. Psalm 150 mentions 7 different
instruments! And Colossians 3:17 mentions psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.
The early church was very creative. They took psalms from the Bible and put them
to music. They created praise choruses. They even wrote new hymns from scratch.
Philippians 2:5-11 is a good example. We have no idea what this stuff sounded like.
But we do know that there was variety in the early church.
In the past 10 years, I’ve been to polka masses. Contemporary worship services.
Parishes with full blown orchestras. And traditional services. And I can truly say
that I was blessed at each one. God doesn’t prefer one music style over another. He
prefers that we worship him in Spirit and in truth. No matter what style we choose.
The most important thing about Christian music is that Jesus Christ is praised. It
doesn’t matter if the song is rock. Or Bach. If Jesus Christ is glorified in the lyrics,
then the song is sacred. And let me just give you two quick pieces of advice about
music in the church. First of all, be open-minded. We can no longer assume that the
only kind of music God is blessing is 150 year old White Anglo Saxon organ music.
God is bigger than any one person’s musical tastes. And he can use any piece of
music he wants to bring glory to himself. illus (trip to black church)”
6. “In the Old Testament there are many references to musical instruments and
each one performs its own specific function. Especially in the Psalms we come across
quite a few musical instruments. What is very obvious is the vast amount of
references to musical instruments in Psalm 150. In the entire Psalms the most
references are made to musical instruments in Psalm 150. A literary analysis of

16. Psalm 150 helps to argue that this psalm is the final doxology and grand finalé of the
Psalms. The studies about the musical instruments’ role in the Psalms shows that
the musical instruments build up to a crescendo in the Psalms. The Psalms end with
a tremendous grand finalé in Psalm 150. The Psalms is regarded in this study as a
great musical composition (a symphony) and the entire symphony orchestra is
spread throughout the whole of Psalms. At the end of Psalms the whole symphony
orchestra plays together and every one and everything that is created by God is
called upon to praise and worship the Lord.” author unknown
7. Someone wrote, “When church bells were made the Christians would gather
around the furnace while the molten metal was being prepared and sing this this
Psalm that it might be a blessing and an aid to the praising of God.”
8. Every instrument is to be used in praise, and Brian Bill points out that every part
of the body is to be used as well. He wrote, ““All of our faculties are to be engaged in
praising God. The breath is used to blow the trumpet and flute; the fingers are used
with the harp and strings; the whole hand hits the tambourine; the feet move in
rhythm; and the arms are used to clash the cymbals together. Corporate worship is
not meant to be passive as if its something that we just watch or listen to. We are to
be fully engaged in active worship, lifting our praise to God by engaging our head,
our heart, and our hands.”
9. With all of the instruments playing and all the body parts getting into the act, it is
possible to see the relevance of the song by Sydney Carter called, “The Lord of the
Dance.”
I danced in the morning when the world was begun,
And I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun.
I came down from heaven and I danced on the earth,
At Bethlehem I had my birth.
I danced for the scribe and the Pharisee,
But they would not dance and they did not follow me.
I danced for the fishermen, for James and John,
They came with me and the dance went on.
Dance, dance, wherever you may be!
I am the Lord of the dance said he—

17. And I’ll lead you all wherever you may be,
And I’ll lead you all in the dance said He.
I danced on the Sabbath and I cured the lame.
The holy people said it was a shame.
They whipped and they stripped and they hung me on high;
They left me there on a cross to die.
I danced on a Friday when the sky turned black.
It’s hard to dance with the devil on your back.
They buried my body and they thought I’d gone,
But I am the dance and I still go on!
They cut me down, but I lept up high.
I am the life that will never, never die.
I’ll live in you if you live in me,
I am the Lord of the dance said He.
Dance, dance, wherever you may be!
I am the Lord of the dance said he—
And I’ll lead you all wherever you may be,
And I’ll lead you all in the dance said He.
5. praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.
1. Here we make a loud noise but that does not mean that silence is not also able to
be full of praise. It is in silence that we develop the concept of God that make Him
worthy of joyful sounds. We need to escape the noise of life and get silent within.
This silence prepares us for the sound of praise. It is in silence that we develop the

18. awareness of the exceeding greatness of God that makes us want to use all
instruments for His praise.
2. Clarke, “Two hollow plates of brass, which, being struck together, produced a
sharp clanging sound. This instrument is still in use. What the high-sounding
cymbals meant I know not; unless those of a larger make, struck above the head,
and consequently emitting a louder sound.”
3. Spurgeon, “Praise high upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high
sounding cymbals. Let the clash of the loudest music be the Lord's: let the joyful
clang of the loftiest notes be all for him. Praise has beaten the timbrel, swept the
harp, and sounded the trumpet, and now for a last effort, awakening the most heavy
of slumberers, and startling the most indifferent of onlookers, she dashes together
the disks of brass, and with sounds both loud and high proclaims the glories of the
Lord.”
4. Brian Bill, “Verse 5 kicks up the volume level: “Praise Him with the clash of
cymbals, praise Him with resounding cymbals.” These instruments were used in
religious ceremonies and were played by the priests. They made a loud, distinctive
sound when banged together. When the walls of Jerusalem were dedicated in
Nehemiah 12:27, “…the Levites were sought out from where they lived and were
brought to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving
and with the music of cymbals, harps, and lyres. The phrase, “resounding cymbals”
can be translated, “the clamor of joy.” I like that. God wants us to clamor with joy.”
5. “Loud cymbals ... high sounding cymbals. This important passage clearly points
to two instruments under the same name, and leaves us to conclude that the
Hebrews had both hand cymbals and finger cymbals (or castanets), although it may
not in all cases be easy to say which of the two is intended in particular texts.”
--John Kitto.
6. “We have permission to make noise in our praise as long as it is done with joy.
There is a danger in any kind of orchestrated (literal and figurative) praise that the
focus becomes the performance, not the joy and the gratitude to God. So it’s well to
remember Paul’s admonition in I Corinthians 13:1 that “If I speak in the tongues of
mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging
cymbal.” Even perfectly performed music or message is nothing but noise without
love. Yet this psalm tells us the opposite is also true — with love and gratitude, a
clanging cymbal can sound angelic to God.” author unknown
7. “Why do you think the psalmist focuses on instruments instead of talking about
prayer and the words that we are to sing to the Lord? Perhaps the psalmist is
thinking about the significant times in Israel's history when those particular
instruments were used.
When were the trumpets used in Israel? Examples: Num. 10:10, Lev. 25:9; 2 Sam.

19. 6:15; Num. 10:4; Joshua 6 7.
Harp and lyre? Examples: Gen. 31:27; 2 Chron.5:12; Neh. 12:27; 1 Sam. 10:5…
Tambourines and dancing? See Eccles. 3:4; Psalm 30:11; Jer. 31:4, 13; Ex. 15:20; 1
Sam. 18:6, 21:11, 29:5; 2 Sam. 6:14, etc.
Strings and pipes? Cymbals? See 2 Sam. 6:5; 2 Chron. 29:25; 1 Chron. 13:8.
So, how are we to praise the Lord? With all our might. Wholeheartedly.
Enthusiastically! With your heart and mind totally focused on God.” unknown
author
8. In a symphonic orchestra, these groupings are known as (1) strings, (2)
woodwinds, (3) brass, (4) percussion. Thus, the four families in the orchestra are
represented. Consequently, any instrument can be used in the praise of God.
Traditionally, the organ is the instrument that is used in churches. However, the
psalmist lists other instruments as well. When the focus is on praising God, the
instrument used is not important.” unknown author
9. “There is an interesting association connected with this Psalm which deserves to
be recorded: that in former times, when the casting of church bells was more of a
religious ceremony, this Psalm was chanted by the brethren of the guild as they
stood ranged around the furnace, and while the molten metal was prepared to be let
off into the mold ready to receive it. One may picture these swarthy sons of the
furnace with the ruddy glow of the fire upon their faces as they stand around, while
their deep voices rung forth this Hymn of Praise.” --Barton Bouchier.
6. Let everything that has breath praise the
LORD. Praise the LORD.
1. If you are alive you have breath, and that breath is to be used to praise the Lord.
In other words, praise is to be universal in that all life is obligated to praise the
author of life. It is enough just to be among the living to make you grateful to God.
He has given you breath, and you are to respond by using your breath to praise the
giver of it. Praise is an obligation of life, and any being who does not praise the giver
of life is dead even while he lives. His breath is wasted, for it is never used to
communicate gratitude to the Lord.
1B. “Each verse is slightly longer than the previous one and can be divided in half,
with the second half echoing the first half. The structure provides a melodic reading
and suggests a growing praise of God that will never end. The final line breaks this

20. double structure, drawing attention to its content and bringing the psalm to a
close.” unknown author
1C. Steven Cole, “The fact that God can command us to praise Him means that
praise is not just a feeling based upon your mood or circumstances. Praise is in part
a feeling, but it is not at its heart a feeling. Praise is a matter of obedience to our
great God. It stems from deliberately focusing on Him. It is the result of being
willfully God-centered in your thinking. If you are breathing, praising God is not an
option;it is your responsibility.”
2. There is a funny story about one pastor who tried to limit this praise to just one
sex. It was a mistake, of course, but his mistake had a lasting effect. The pastor was
the well known John Ortberg, and he told the story in his book Everybody's Normal
Till You Get to Know Them. He wrote, “The church where I work videotapes pretty
much all of our services, so I have hundreds of messages on tape. Only one of them
gets shown repeatedly. It’s a clip from the beginning of one of our services. A high
school worship dance team had just brought the house down to get things started,
and I was supposed to transition into some high-energy worship by reading Psalm
150. This was a last-second decision, so I had to read it cold, but with great
passion: “Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary! Praise him in his mighty
firmament!” The psalm consists of one command after another to praise, working
its way through each instrument of the orchestra. My voice is building in a steady
crescendo; by the end of the psalm I practically shout the final line, only
mispronouncing one word slightly: “Let everything that has breasts, praise the Lord.”
A moment of silence. The same thought passes through 4,000 brains—did he just
say what I think he did? In church? Is this some exciting new translation I can get at
the bookstore? Then everybody in the place just lost it. They laughed so hard for so
long I couldn’t say a thing. I finally just walked off the stage, and we went on with
the next part of the service. Eight years I’ve been teaching at that church: of all the
passages I’ve exegeted and messages I’ve taught that’s the one moment that gets
replayed before conferences and workshops. Over and over. It’s an amazing truth:
being fully right barely brings as much life to other people as simply being human.”
3. Brian Bill, “Who Is To Praise. Verse 6 pulls it all together, “Let everything that
has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.” Not merely the priests and Levites,
nor just the congregation, but all living creatures are included in the choir of choirs.
God has given each of us breath; we’re called now to breathe His praise. This song
begins and ends with the command to praise the Lord. We’re to praise Him
everywhere, with every means possible because of His mighty acts, and because of
who He is. And, we’re to praise Him with a wide variety of instrumentation and
with triumphant expressions of worship. God desires for you and for me to live a
lifestyle of spontaneous praise for the best instrument of praise is a man or woman,
teenager, or child wholly committed to Him. We are to be a people of praise.
There is nothing more majestic or more beautiful in the entire book of Psalms than
this brief finale. Let’s shout it out together, vigilant to not ever let it become just a

21. cliché. Repeat it after me: “Praise the Lord!” Let’s say it out loud three different
times, emphasizing a different word each time. A praise is a requirement for God’s
people. It is the last word in the book of worship. We are to give to God that which
is our gift to Him, for He is the author of all that makes praise possible. Children
often ask dad for money in order to buy him a gift. Their joy in giving him the gift
is not lessened because he is the source of supply that makes the gift possible.
With full orchestra and chorus active, now he calls on the universal audience to join
in the praise. Do this and be a success-fail at this and nothing is success.
I’ll praise the Lord in the morning,
I’ll praise the Lord until noon,
I’ll praise the Lord until even tide,
Ends my praises too soon.
I’ll praise the Lord every minute,
Until life is over, and then,
I’ll enter the gates of glory,
And begin all over again.
The book ends with a hallelujah chorus. The sublime finale of this great opera of
praise. One in every 6th word is the word praise. Here is the end that never ends,
for praise is to go on forever.”
4. Spurgeon, “Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Let all breath
praise him: that is to say, all living beings. He gave them breath, let them breathe
his praise. His name is in the Hebrew composed rather of breathings than of letters,
to show that all breath comes from him: therefore let it be used for him. Join all ye
living things in the eternal song. Be ye least or greatest, withhold not your praises.
What a day will it be when all things in all places unite to glorify the one only living
and true God! This will be the final triumph of the church of God. Praise ye the
LORD. Once more, Hallelujah! Thus is the Psalm rounded with the note of praise;
and thus is the Book of Psalms ended by a glowing word of adoration. Reader, wilt
not thou at this moment pause a while, and worship the Lord thy God? Hallelujah!”
5. “The Great Psalm about praise ends with a direct appeal to YOU. The choir
needs you, beloved. The Lord loves you. He has made a way for you to harmonize
with Him through His Son. You cannot really hear or appreciate this music until
you open your heart and join in. You can't sit back and be the audience. God is the
audience. Join in, beloved. Praise ye the Lord. Let God’s greatness fill you with
joy and overflow into praise. If you’re breathing, you have reason to feel grateful
and a way to express it in praise. Any moment can fill you with a sense of gratitude
if you let it: the movement of leaves in the wind, a community solution that is more
creative than any individual suggestion, the sound of laughter.
As Friends, we may feel somewhat uncomfortable with the giddy call in this psalm

22. to dance and make music and loud noise. The psalm, however, may be calling us to
something we can relate to. The praise expressed in this psalm is beyond words. The
joy overflows into sound and movement because words are inadequate to convey
what God has done and who God is. We may feel uncomfortable with the choices
others make to praise or worship God but we cannot make that discomfort a
prohibition. This psalm and others provide plenty of evidence that God appreciates
all types of praise, if they come from the heart.” author unknown
6. “Let all breath praise Jah! Hallelujah. The very ambiguity of all breath gives
extraordinary richness of meaning to this closing sentence. From the simple idea of
wind instruments, mentioned in the context, it leads us, by a beautiful transition, to
that of vocal, articulate, intelligent praise, uttered by the breath of living men, as
distinguished from mere lifeless instruments. Then, lastly, by a natural association,
we ascend to the idea expressed in the common version, everything that hath
breath, not merely all that lives, but all that has a voice to praise God. There is
nothing in the Psalter more majestic or more beautiful than this brief but most
significant finale, in which solemnity of tone predominates, without however in the
least disturbing the exhilaration which the close of the Psalter seems intended to
produce; as if in emblematical allusion to the triumph which awaits the church and
all its members, when through much tribulation they shall enter into rest.” -- Joseph
Addison Alexander.
7. Henry, “Who must pay this tribute (Psalms 150:6): Let every thing that has
breath praise the Lord. He began with a call to those that had a place in his
sanctuary and were employed in the temple-service; but he concludes with a call to
all the children of men, in prospect of the time when the Gentiles should be taken
into the church, and in every place, as acceptably as at Jerusalem, this incense
should be offered, Malachi 1:11. Some think that in every thing that has breath here
we must include the inferior creatures (as Genesis 7:22), all in whose nostrils was
the breath of life. They praise God according to their capacity. The singing of birds
is a sort of praising God. The brutes do in effect say to man, We would praise God
if we could; do you do it for us. John in vision heard a song of praise from every
creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, Revelation 5:13.
Others think that only the children of men are meant; for into them God has in a
more peculiar manner breathed the breath of life, and they have become living
souls, Genesis 2:7. Now that the gospel is ordered to be preached to every creature,
to every human creature, it is required that every human creature praise the Lord.
What have we our breath, our spirit, for, but to spend it in praising God; and how
can we spend it better? Prayers are called our breathings, Lamentations 3:56. Let
every one that breathes towards God in prayer, finding the benefit of that, breathe
forth his praises too. Having breath, let the praises of God perfume our breath; let
us be in this work as in our element; let it be to us as the air we breathe in, which we
could not live without. Having our breath in our nostrils, let us consider that it is
still going forth, and will shortly go and not return. Since therefore we must shortly
breathe our last, while we have breath let us praise the Lord, and then we shall
breathe our last with comfort, and, when death runs us out of breath, we shall

23. remove to a better state to breathe God's praises in a freer better air.
8. “Inclusiveness of praise at all times and places and all instruments and all that
have breath. It is a Niagara Falls of praise with the reverberation of jubilation.”
Unknown author wrote the above, but Horatius Bonar wrote in the 1800's:
Fill Thou my life, O Lord my God,
In every part with praise,
That my whole being may proclaim
Thy being and Thy ways.
Not for the lip of praise alone,
Nor e'en the praising heart,
I ask, but for a life made up
Of praise in every part.
9. Scott Hoezee, “But you must read this psalm the right way to appreciate how
much wallop it packs. Since I've mentioned this many times, by now I suspect most
of you are aware that when you read the words Praise the LORD in the Book of
Psalms, you are reading not some dull statement but you are receiving a fiery
command! In the original Hebrew the phrase hallelu yah is in the imperative mood.
Literally translated it means Praise Yahweh. But you are supposed to read those
words while also picturing a finger wagging in your face or maybe thumping you in
the chest. This represents the psalmist getting in your face. Here the poetic bard
is going nose-to-nose with the reader, getting so close you can smell the garlic on his
breath as he shouts, You there! Yes, you! Grab an instrument, open your mouth,
and get going! Praise Yahweh! I mean it! Move! Sing! Dance! Show some respect!
This is the praise imperative. This is the psalmist as army drill sergeant, barking to
the world his order to worship. Actually, the structure of Psalm 150 at first keeps
you in suspense as to just who is being addressed. From verses 1-5 we receive a
rapid-fire string of eleven imperative commands. But only in verse 6, at the end, are
we told who is being commanded. And guess what? It's everybody! It's everything
that has breath, which includes not only every person on the planet but also hippos
and red-eyed vireos.”
10. As long as you have breath you are obligated to use it in praising God. Some
have used their breath like this in unusual situations to give glory to God. Pastor
Adrian Dieleman tells this story: “I witnessed a delightful instance of this after the
1989 World Series. Johnny Carson's Tonight Show had a 27th anniversary special.
Johnny's final guest on the live program was L.A. Dodger pitching ace, Orel
Hershiser. Johnny asked the pitcher what he did to keep himself calm before games
and between innings. Hershiser, a very outspoken Christian, said he sang hymns.
Johnny pressed him to sing for the audience. Hershiser caught Johnny off guard
when he sang Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow. Now, you must realize
that Hershiser doesn't have the best singing voice. Yet when he finished, the
audience surprised me by breaking out into a tremendous round of applause. It was
wonderful to hear God's name praised on secular TV.”

24. 11. In what is called the Book of Praise, which is found in the Ketuvim (Writings)
section of the Tanakh, we read this list of information:
1. The word
Hallel occurs thirteen times in psalm 150, corresponding to the Thirteen
Attributes of Mercy manifested by God’s loving kindness.
2. The word
Hallelu occurs twelve times, corresponding to the twelve months of the year. The
final verse is repeated to reach thirteen, to include a leap year.
3. In a symphonic orchestra, there are groupings are known as strings, woodwinds,
brass, percussion. In Psalm 150, the four families in the orchestra are represented.
4. There is an element of physics shown in these verses when we follow the order of
the instruments in each line. The sound of the shofar is loud. The harp and lyre give
a softer sound. Timbrel and dance are louder. Lute and pipe (or flute) are softer.
The cymbals are louder. In naming the cymbal twice, there is a crescendo. If you
map out the loudness of the instruments in each line there are three peaks and two
valleys. Thus, from start to finish, there are two wavelengths.
5. The order of the instruments brings one to awareness and then a peak of
involvement: the sound of the shofar works as a call to attention. The harp and lyre
begin the praise on a soft and quiet level, increasing with the beat of the timbrel.
The lute and pipe then add an additional layer of feeling and volume, after which
the cymbals bring everything to a loud and crashing conclusion. Only to return to
the quietness of one’sneshama– breath in the final line.
6. The sounds of the psalm bring together all of our feelings. The trumpet sounds
the note of victory, and our praise should resound with triumph and exaltation. The
harp gives the sweet tones of gratitude and love. The tambourine and dance speak of
the effervescent energy, effort and enthusiasm of children and young people
engaged in a favorite activity. Pipes were instruments of pleasure rather than
worship, reminding us that true praise should be the highest enjoyment of believers,
not merely a duty. The loud, resounding cymbals are an allusion to the volume,
strength and power of worthy praise.”
APPENDIX A
Below are some versions of this Psalm that have been written and sung by
Christians in the past.
1. Words: Brady and Tate, A New Version of the Psalms of David
L.M.
1 O Praise the Lord in that blest place,

25. from whence his goodness largely flows;
Praise him in heav'n, where his face
unveiled in perfect glory shows.
2 Praise him for all the mighty acts
which he in our behalf hath done;
His kindness this return exacts,
with which our praise should equal run.
3 Let the shrill trumpet's warlike voice
make rocks and hills his praise rebound;
Praise him with harp's melodious noise,
and gentle psalt'ry's silver sound.
4 Let virgin troops soft timbrels bring,
and some with graceful motion dance;
Let instruments of various strings,
with organs joined, his praise advance.
5 Let them, who joyful hymns compose,
to cymbals set their songs of praise,
Cymbals of common use, and those
that loudly sound on solemn days.
6 Let all that vital breath enjoy,
the breath he does to them afford
in just returns of praise employ:
let ev'ry creature praise the Lord.
2. Words: Sternhold and Hopkins, The Whole Book of Psalms Collected into
English Metre
Common Metre Tunes
1 Yield unto God the mighty Lord
praise in his holiness;
And in the firmament of his
great pow'r praise him no less.
2 Advance his Name, and praise him in
his mighty acts always;
According to his excellence
and greatness give him praise.

26. 3 His praises with the princely noise
of sounding trumpets blow;
Praise him upon the viol, and
upon the harp also.
4 Praise him with timbrel and with lute,
organs and virginals,
With sounding cymbals praise ye him,
praise him with loud cymbals.
5 Whatever hath the benefit
of breathing, praise the Lord:
To praise his great and holy Name
agree with one accord.
3. Words: The Scottish Psalter
Common Metre Tunes
1 Praise ye the Lord. God's praise within
his sanctuary raise;
And to him in the firmament
of his pow'r give ye praise.
2 Because of all his mighty acts,
with praise him magnify:
O praise him, as he doth excel
in glorious majesty.
3 Praise him with trumpet's sound; his praise
with psaltery advance:
4 With timbrel, harp, stringed instruments,
and organs, in the dance.
5 Praise him on cymbals loud; him praise
on cymbals sounding high.
6 Let each thing breathing praise the Lord.
Praise to the Lord give ye.
4. Words: The Psalter, 1918.

27. Music: “Alleluia (Lowe),” Albert Lowe, 1868 (MIDI, score).
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
In His temple God be praised;
In the high and heavenly places
Be the sounding anthem raised.
Refrain
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Amen.
Hallelujah! Praise Jehovah
For His mighty acts of fame;
Excellent His might and greatness;
Fitting praises then proclaim
Refrain
Hallelujah! Praise Jehovah
With the trumpet’s joyful sound;
Praise with harp and praise with organ,
Let His glorious praise abound.
Refrain
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
All that breathe, Jehovah praise;
Let the voices God has given
Joyful anthems to Him raise.
Refrain
5. CHARLES WESLEY
Praise the Lord Who reigns above and keeps His court below;
Praise the holy God of love and all His greatness show;
Praise Him for His noble deeds; praise Him for His matchless power;
Him from Whom all good proceeds let earth and heaven adore.
Publish, spread to all around the great Jehovah’s name,
Let the trumpet’s martial sound the Lord of hosts proclaim:
Praise Him in the sacred dance, harmony’s full concert raise,

28. Let the virgin choir advance, and move but to His praise.
Celebrate th’eternal God with harp and psaltery,
Timbrels soft and cymbals loud in this high praise agree;
Praise with every tuneful string; all the reach of heavenly art,
All the powers of music bring, the music of the heart.
God, in Whom they move and live, let every creature sing,
Glory to their Maker give, and homage to their King.
Hallowed be Thy Name beneath, as in heaven on earth adored;
Praise the Lord in every breath, let all things praise the Lord.
6. Contemporary version
EASY ENGLISH
v1 *Hallelujah!
Shout, You are the best to God the *LORD.
Do it in his *temple. Do it in the skies.
v2 Shout, You are the best to him because he is very strong.
Shout, You are the best to him because he is very powerful.
v3 Sing, You are the best to him with music.
Use *horns and *harps and *guitars.
v4 Sing, You are the best to him with music.
Use dancing and *drums, *strings and *pipes.
v5 Sing, You are the best to him with music.
Use big and small *cymbals.
v6 Everything that is alive, shout to the *LORD, You are the best.
*Hallelujah!
APPENDIX B
Aaron Keyes gives us this brief study of the words for praise in the Hebrew.
“I’ve just recently finished a six month study in the Psalms, studying the reasons for
worship and praise all throughout the book. Amazing study. The entire book of

29. Psalms could be summed up in one word: Praise.
Definition of Praise: Adoration. Celebration. To acclaim, extol, commend, applaud.
There are several different Hebrew words which are all translated praise in our
Bibles, each of them showing a different flavor, taste, and style of praise. Yet they all
share in common Enthusiasm, Energy, and Activity!
Five most common Hebrew words for Praise (in Old Testament)
1. Hallal: Occurs 99 times in O.T.; 33 of them are in the Psalms. Means to
“celebrate, to laud, to boast.” It’s the root of Hallelujah.
2. Yadah: Means to worship with extended hands, raised arms. My son Cooper
loves having his tummy rubbed with my face! He was sitting in his little chair and
I stuck my face down in his belly and started kissing him—he gets this huge smile
and starts giggling and raised his hands to be picked up out of the chair. As if he
was saying, Yadah! Yadah!, you know, yadda yadda.
3. Barak: To declare God as the origin of power, success, or victory. Recognizes
Him as the source of all resources, strategy, and strength.
4. Shabach: To shout or commend loudly! Kurt Warner completes another
touchdown pass to Isaac Bruce; Mike Madono assists Brett Hull for another
sudden-death game-winning goal. The fans jump up and shabach. How much
more should we shabach our living Messiah for what He’s done for us.
5. Gil: To circle in joy; to dance in circles. Megan on a Sunday afternoon a few
weeks ago, realized that she didn’t have to teach the next day—vacation day…
Upon remembering this, she just spun in circles in excitement! She Gil-ed!
APPENDIX C
Best quotes on praise that I have found.
1. Victor Shepherd, “...anything we enjoy we praise. Enjoyment overflows
spontaneously into praise. Our delight in anyone or anything overflows naturally
into praise. What's more, whatever we praise we praise not simply because we
happen to like it; whatever we praise we praise believing that praise is fitting. We
praise the work of Shakespeare or Mozart or Rembrandt just because we know that
our praise is not misplaced; we aren't mistakenly praising something that actually
merits our rejection. We are convinced that praise is a fitting response, an
appropriate response, the only correct response. We praise what we admire, and
our admiration isn't wasted, isn't evidence of tastelessness or insensitivity.

30. Another aspect of praise: you must have noticed that the people who are unhappy,
cranky, miserable, sour-puss spoilsports are invariably those who praise least. They
find so little enjoyment in life, so little that delights them, so little they admire that
they can't praise, since praise is the natural spillover of enjoyment and delight and
admiration. And so they grope and grumble, chronically sour and sarcastic. On the
other hand. those who praise most are always large-hearted people, profoundly
contented, generous in their appreciation. In fact large-hearted, generous people can
find something genuinely worthy of praise anywhere. The beefsteak was as tough
and stringy as a tennis racket? Ah, but meat like this always has the best flavor! The
movie was boring? But wasn't it heartwarming to see the elderly couple in front of
us who held hands all through it as though they were courting? The Blue Jays lost 5
- 0? Yes, but what a performance by the Baltimore pitcher! Those who praise most
(because they find most to praise) are invariably the most delighted and delightful
people. Ready praise is always a sign of someone's inner good health.”
2. J. J. Magee, “God is present first of all theologically-that is He is by His
omnipresent nature everywhere, and we accept this by our intellect and
acknowledge His presence. He is present by His power, which keeps all the law of
nature functioning, and all the planets and stars in orbit, and all matter from flying
apart. But God become experientially present when we praise Him, for our
adoration of Him opens the door of awareness. We feel His nearness because praise
takes us from theology to psychology so that we go beyond knowing of God’s
presence to enjoying His presence. If we are more conscience of problems we will
tend to gripe, but if we are more conscience of the good, the true and the beautiful
then we tend to praise. The Psalms call us to the consciousness of God’s presence
and all for which we have to be thankful. Whatever presence dominates your mind
determines your mood.”
3. “Praise is not only a human necessity and a human requirement, but it is also a
human delight. One’s praise to God is one’s response to His power and mercy. It is
inappropriate not to praise God. God should be praised because He is God. Praise
does its work among humans as much as it does among the heavenly host.”
unknown author