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Psalm 148: Hallelujah—Praise God in Heaven and Earth

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Praise ye the LORD. —Psalm 148:1

Psalm 148 is the third Hallelujah psalm. It calls all heaven (vv. 1–6) and earth to praise the Lord (vv. 7–14). “Not only heavenly beings, but, poetically, the heavenly bodies themselves are invited to join in praising God. The psalmist extends the invitation to every living creature on earth and to inanimate nature. No one is left out of this universal call to ascribe praise to the Creator and Sustainer of all things.” God’s reign is universal.

All inhabitants of the universe should therefore recognize His authority and praise Him (v. 4, 5). The heavenly hosts respond to His command and offer Him praise (v. 2).

The sun, moon, and stars are called upon to praise Him (v. 3).

God created and ordained the movements of these celestial bodies.

“The heavenly bodies owe their stability and permanence to the omnipotent will of God, their Sustainer. “. . . God has marked out the orbits in which the heavenly bodies move. They perform their revolutions with unerring accuracy within the bounds that He has prescribed [vv. 5, 6].” Animals and creatures of the deep should praise the Lord (v. 7).

The elements—fire, hail, snow, fog, and wild winds—should praise Him (v. 8).

The plant and animal kingdoms, including wild as well as domesticated birds and animals, should praise Him (vv. 9, 10). All humanity should praise Him (vv. 11, 12).

David ends by calling humankind to praise God.

“Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children: Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven” (vv. 12, 13). Israel, as a nation, had reason to praise God, for He had strengthened and greatly blessed them (v. 14). David calls on all creation to praise the Lord. He ends this psalm as he did Psalms 146 and 147: “Praise ye the LORD!” (Psalm 148:14). “Praise Him! praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer! / Sing, O earth—His wonderful love proclaim! / Hail Him! hail Him! highest archangels in glory; / Strength and honor give to His holy name!”