Psalm 150:1

Psalm 150:1

Praise the Lord!

Oh dear! Oh dear! This is the last Psalm in the psalter and It feels as if we are preparing to say “Goodbye” to a dear friend. I first started the process of studying the Psalms, verse by verse,  in May 2019 and it’s taken me nearly 6 years! I feel so privileged and so blessed. These studies have made an enormous impact on my spiritual walk with the Lord, and it has been an absolute joy to share these thoughts with others. Psalm 150 is sometimes called “The final Great Hallelujah!” There are those who think it was composed specifically to bring an appropriate end to the collection of songs and thus it embraces the whole universe and every form of praise. Let’s dive in and enjoy these final moments of uninhibited worship of the Lord God. 

 

V1        Where is it that the Lord should be praised? Firstly, in His sanctuary. For Jewish readers and singers this meant, of course, Jerusalem and the Temple that was constructed there, the place of pilgrimage and the most holy location on earth. Of Course, the Lord must be praised in this place that was dedicated to His Name and to His glory. But we are also aware that the Lord’ sanctuary extends to the heavenlies and that He is praised by angels and living creatures who gather before His throne and sing praises that echo throughout the heavens and that will never be terminated. That is why He is praised in His mighty heavens. As we have seen, praise is not confined to living, breathing creatures but it is also taken up by the sun and moon and the stars and indeed everything that the Lord has created sings His praise. So why do men venerate things that God has created when they can worship the Creator?

We may look to a man-made building like the Temple or to a cosmic temple that encompasses the universe, or we may yearn for the heavenly throne room of the Lord where, one day, we will see Him. Whatever the location, there is one thing that never changes, God is praised! That is why our corporate acts of worship are so important, they reflect what all creation is doing, they add our voices to the symphony of praises that is offered to the One, true God by all that He has made.  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Psalm 106:13

Psalm 106:13 Do not forget We need to remember that Israel’s relationship with the Lord God was based on His laws and their obedience. It was possible for them to live lives that were highly blessed, that incorporated the provision of God in every tiny detail of their national and individual existence. God was prepared to give them everything they needed, He would provide food and water for them and their flocks. He would guide them on their journey. He would protect them from their enemies. He would inspire and direct their leaders. He would keep them from the heat of the sun and the terrors of the desert night. He would take them to the land that He had promised, in double quick time. There was no reason why they could not be in situ in just a few months. Everything they could possibly need was His to provide and He was willing to sacrifice anything to see them gratefully settled in Canaan.  There was just one snag, it all depended upon their obedience and faithfulness. God insis...
Read more
Psalm1:5       Our earthly journey will allow us, at times, to stand with the redeemed in holy awe and worship exhilarated by the presence of our Father.  In the Psalmists’ day these “assemblies of the righteous” would have been joyful times of worship at God’s sanctuary where music played, choirs sang and the people joined in the excitement and corporate wonder of being together in God’s presence. If our own church worship is anything, it should be a prelude to the time when we will join with a numberless throng and sing the praises of the Lamb and the One who sits upon the throne of heaven. Many go to events like Spring Harvest, Keswick Convention, New Day and the rest, primarily for this experience of joy and exhilaration.  Our earthly, joyful experiences are but a foretaste of what is to come and we are promised that we will join with heavenly choirs and our song will be “Worthy is the Lamb.”   Such music and exalta...
Read more

Psalm 119:83

Psalm 119:83 Wineskins in the smoke Well, this verse has caught us by surprise! What does it mean? As we will be aware, in ancient times, wine was not stored in purpose-made glass bottles but in animal skins. In order to keep the skin pliable and soft it must not be allowed to dry out for it would soon shrivel and crack. It follows that the last thing you would do with your treasured wineskins is to hang them up over a smoky fire, not only would they quickly wither but the smoke would clearly ruin the flavour and texture of the wine!  What does the author mean when he says that he is like such a wineskin?  It denotes the uncomfortable condition he was in or at least thought himself to be in; being caught in the midst of smoke is very uncomfortable, and he considered himself to be in darkness with sin and afflictions, like a wineskin in smoke, black and sooty. He felt like an empty wineskin with nothing in him. Maybe he was worn out with cares and old age and had become pale an...
Read more