In Today's Email:
Psalm 146
No author or superscription is provided for this verse. It is a song of praise to the God who is trustworthy.
vs. 1-2 – A commitment to personal praise.
vs. 3-4 – The untrustworthiness of the strongest of mankind.
vs. 5-6 – Blessed are those who trust in the Creator.
vs. 7-9 – Examples of the trustworthiness of God.
vs. 10 – Praise to the eternal God.
Psalm 147
No author or superscription is provided for this verse. It is a song of praise to the Almighty God.
vs. 1 – The beauty of praising God.
vs. 2-9 – Praise to the God of Creation, nature, and Israel.
s. 10-11 – The Lord desires our faith and fear above all else.
vs. 12-18 – Praise to the God of Creation, nature, and Israel.
vs. 19-20 – Praise to the God of Israel.
Psalm 148
No author or superscription is provided for this verse. It is a song of praise to the God of the universe.
vs. 1 – A call to praise the Lord.
vs. 2-6 – A call for praises to resound in the celestial realms.
vs. 7-13 – A call for praises to resound in the terrestrial realms.
vs. 14 – A call for Israel and believers to praise the Lord.
Psalm 149
No author or superscription is provided for this verse. It is a song of praise to the victorious God.
vs. 1 – A call for the saints to sing a new song in response to God’s goodness, likely in deliverance.
vs. 2-5 – A call for Israel as a community to joyously celebrate God’s goodness toward them.
vs. 6-9 – A call for the warrior to praise the Lord as he executes God’s justice.
Psalm 150
No author or superscription is provided for this verse. It is a call to praise the Lord.
vs. 1 – A call to praise the Lord in His holy Temple.
vs. 2 – A call to praise the Lord for His character and actions.
vs. 3-5 – A call for musical instruments to be used in God’s praise.
vs. 6 - A call for all that lives to join in the praises of their Creator.
Closing Thoughts
We began our journey through Psalms in Psalm 1 with the description of the two paths: the way of righteousness and the way of the wicked. We have seen these two paths described throughout the book. Now we come to the end of the way of righteousness which is the outpouring of praise to God. The old Westminster Shorter Catechism opens with the question: “What is the chief end of man?” This is answered: “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.” That is the message of Psalms. We are to trust in the Lord in this life and faithfully service, not for our praise but for His. Then in the endless eons of eternity we will continue to praise Him. For the child of God, nothing could be sweeter.
Hymn for Today
Our hymn today is “Sing Praise to the Lord”, written in 1875 by H.W. Baker. It echoes the numerous calls to praise God in the closing of the Book of Psalms.
Sing praise to the Lord! Praise Him in the height;
Rejoice in His Word, you angels of light.
You heavens, adore Him by whom you were made,
And worship before Him in brightness arrayed.
Sing praise to the Lord! Praise Him on the earth
In tuneful accord, you saints of new birth.
Praise Him who has brought you His grace from above;
Praise Him who has taught you to sing of His love.
Sing praise to the Lord! All things that give sound,
Each jubilant chord, re-echo around.
Loud organs, His glory tell forth in deep tone,
And trumpets, the story of what He has done.
Sing praise to the Lord! Thanksgiving and song
To Him be outpoured all ages along!
For love in creation, for Heaven restored,
For grace of salvation, sing praise to the Lord!