Psalms 150:1

¶ Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.

Praise {H1984} ye the LORD {H3050}. Praise {H1984} God {H410} in his sanctuary {H6944}: praise {H1984} him in the firmament {H7549} of his power {H5797}.

Halleluyah! Praise God in his holy place! Praise him in the heavenly dome of his power!

Hallelujah! Praise God in His sanctuary. Praise Him in His mighty heavens.

Praise ye Jehovah. Praise God in his sanctuary: Praise him in the firmament of his power.

Psalms 150:1 serves as the powerful opening to the final psalm, culminating the entire book of Psalms with an emphatic and universal call to praise God. This verse sets the stage for a grand symphony of worship, inviting all of creation to acknowledge the Lord's majesty.

Context

Psalm 150 is the glorious conclusion to the Psalter, often called the "Hallelujah Chorus" of the Old Testament. It is the last of five psalms (Psalms 146-150) that begin and end with the Hebrew phrase "Hallelujah" (Praise ye the LORD). This final psalm acts as a doxology, a hymn of praise, summarizing the central theme of the entire book: the rightful and fervent worship of God. It follows a series of psalms that recount God's mighty deeds, His faithfulness, and His covenant with His people, leading naturally to this ultimate expression of adoration.

Key Themes

  • The Universal Call to Praise: The verse begins with the imperative, "Praise ye the LORD," a direct and inclusive command to all to engage in worship. This isn't a suggestion but a joyful summons to acknowledge God's supreme worth. The repetition emphasizes the urgency and importance of this act.
  • Where to Praise God: The psalm specifies two primary locations for praise, representing both the sacred space and the vastness of creation:
    • "In his sanctuary": This refers to the earthly temple in Jerusalem, the holy place where God's presence dwelt among His people. It signifies praise offered in corporate worship, within the community of believers, and in a designated place of holiness.
    • "In the firmament of his power": The word "firmament" (Hebrew: raqia) refers to the expanse of the heavens, the sky, and the cosmos. This expands the scope of praise beyond the earthly sanctuary to the entire universe, where God's creative power and glory are visibly displayed. This echoes themes found in Psalm 19:1, where "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork."
  • Why to Praise God: While the full reasons are elaborated in subsequent verses of Psalm 150 (for His mighty acts, for His excellent greatness), this verse implicitly points to God's inherent power and His holy presence as foundational reasons for praise. His power is evident in the vastness of the heavens, and His holiness is manifest in His sanctuary.

Linguistic Insights

The opening phrase, "Praise ye the LORD," is the English translation of the Hebrew Hallelû Yah (הַלְלוּ יָהּ), from which we get the familiar word "Hallelujah." Hallelû is an imperative plural verb meaning "Praise!" or "You all praise!" and Yah is a shortened form of Yahweh, the personal name of God. Thus, it is a direct command to the assembly to praise the one true God. The term "firmament" (Hebrew: raqia) denotes the vast, stretched-out expanse of the sky, a visible testament to God's immense creative power.

Practical Application

This verse challenges believers today to understand that worship is not confined to a single building or specific time. While corporate worship in a church or "sanctuary" is vital for communal praise and spiritual growth, the call to praise extends to every aspect of life and the vastness of creation. We are to recognize God's power and presence in the natural world around us and in every circumstance. Our lives, thoughts, and actions should reflect a continuous posture of praise, acknowledging that God is worthy of all adoration, everywhere, at all times. Just as the heavens declare His glory, so too should our lives be a living testimony to His greatness.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 149:1

    ¶ Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, [and] his praise in the congregation of saints.

  • Psalms 134:2

    Lift up your hands [in] the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.

  • Psalms 116:18

    I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people,

  • Psalms 116:19

    In the courts of the LORD'S house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.

  • Psalms 29:9

    The voice of the LORD maketh the hinds to calve, and discovereth the forests: and in his temple doth every one speak of [his] glory.

  • Ezekiel 10:1

    ¶ Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.

  • Daniel 12:3

    And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
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