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“Summaries, Psalms 146-150”
Categories: Bulletin Articles
Psalm 146 is an outpouring of praise to God for His goodness. Its opening phrase (“Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul!”) is used, among other places, in the third verse of “It Is Well with My Soul”. The psalmist continues from there to promise God that he never will cease to praise Him. He urges others not to trust in princes, who are mortal, but in God, who created all things and remains faithful. Whenever His people are in need, God sees them and blesses them. By contrast, He strikes down the wicked. He will reign forever, and everyone should praise Him.
Psalm 147 continues the theme of praise by considering God’s work in creation. The same God who cares for His people numbers and names the stars. He uses His infinite strength to care for the weak and vulnerable. Because of His providence, He is worthy of praise. He feeds all living things, and He cares for His own.
Next, the psalm invites the people of Jerusalem to praise God. He has cared for them, and His power is so great that even the weather does His bidding. Finally, His care is shown in that He has given His people His law.
Psalm 148 is one of the most familiar psalms in the psalter because it is paraphrased in our hymn “Hallelujah! Praise Jehovah!” It invites all of the creation to praise God: the angels, the celestial bodies, the elements of creation, living creatures, and all people. God is worthy of praise from all of these because He is above everything else.
Psalm 149 calls God’s people to praise Him. They are invited to glorify Him in a number of different ways. They praise Him because they can be certain of His help in defeating their enemies among the nations.
Psalm 150, the final psalm in the book, is another call to worship. It invites God’s people to praise Him in different locations, for His great works, and with various musical instruments. The psalm (and the book) concludes by appealing to everything that has breath to praise the Lord.
