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Commentary on Psalms 150 verses 1–6
We are here, with the greatest earnestness imaginable, excited to praise God; if, as some suppose, this psalm was primarily intended for the Levites, to stir them up to do their office in the house of the Lord, as singers and players on instruments, yet we must take it as speaking to us, who are made to our God spiritual priests. And the repeated inculcating of the call thus intimates that it is a great and necessary duty, a duty which we should be much employed and much enlarged in, but which we are naturally backward to and cold in, and therefore need to be brought to, and held to, by precept upon precept, and line upon line. Observe here,
I. Whence this tribute of praise arises, and out of what part of his dominion it especially issues. It comes, 1. From his sanctuary; praise him there. Let his priests, let his people, that attend there, attend him with their praises. Where should he be praised, but there where he does, in a special manner, both manifest his glory and communicate his grace? Praise God upon the account of his sanctuary, and the privileges which we enjoy by having that among us, Eze 37:26. Praise God in his holy ones (so some read it); we must take notice of the image of God as it appears on those that are sanctified, and love them for the sake of that image; and when we praise them we must praise God in them. 2. From the firmament of his power. Praise him because of his power and glory which appear in the firmament, its vastness, its brightness, and its splendid furniture; and because of the powerful influences it has upon this earth. Let those that have their dwelling in the firmament of his power, even the holy angels, lead in this good work. Some, by the sanctuary, as well as by the firmament of his power, understand the highest heavens, the residence of his glory; that is indeed his sanctuary, his holy temple, and there he is praised continually, in a far better manner than we can praise him. And it is a comfort to us, when we find we do it so poorly, that it is so well done there.
II. Upon what account this tribute of praise is due, upon many accounts, particularly, 1. The works of his power (Psa 150:2): Praise him for his mighty acts; for his mightinesses (so the word is), for all the instances of his might, the power of his providence, the power of his grace, what he has done in the creation, government, and redemption of the world, for the children of men in general, for his own church and children in particular. 2. The glory and majesty of his being: Praise him according to his excellent greatness, according to the multitude of his magnificence (so Dr. Hammond reads it); not that our praises can bear any proportion to God's greatness, for it is infinite, but, since he is greater than we can express or conceive, we must raise our conceptions and expressions to the highest degree we can attain to. Be not afraid of saying too much in the praises of God, as we often do in praising even great and good men. Deus non patitur hyperbolum - We cannot speak hyperbolically of God; all the danger is of saying too little and therefore, when we have done our utmost, we must own that though we have praised him in consideration of, yet not in proportion to, his excellent greatness.
III. In what manner this tribute must be paid, with all the kinds of musical instruments that were then used in the temple-service, Psa 150:3-5. It is well that we are not concerned to enquire what sort of instruments these were; it is enough that they were well known then. Our concern is to know, 1. That hereby is intimated how full the psalmist's heart was of the praises of God and how desirous he was that this good work might go on. 2. That in serving God we should spare no cost nor pains. 3. That the best music in God's ears is devout and pious affections, non musica chordula, sed cor - not a melodious string, but a melodious heart. Praise God with a strong faith; praise him with holy love and delight; praise him with an entire confidence in Christ; praise him with a believing triumph over the powers of darkness; praise him with an earnest desire towards him and a full satisfaction in him; praise him by a universal respect to all his commands; praise him by a cheerful submission to all his disposals; praise him by rejoicing in his love and solacing yourselves in his great goodness; praise him by promoting the interests of the kingdom of his grace; praise him by a lively hope and expectation of the kingdom of his glory. 4. That, various instruments being used in praising God, it should yet be done with an exact and perfect harmony; they must not hinder, but help one another. The New Testament concert, instead of this, is with one mind and one mouth to glorify God, Rom 15:6.
IV. Who must pay this tribute (Psa 150:6): Let every thing that has breath praise the Lord. He began with a call to those that had a place in his sanctuary and were employed in the temple-service; but he concludes with a call to all the children of men, in prospect of the time when the Gentiles should be taken into the church, and in every place, as acceptably as at Jerusalem, this incense should be offered, Mal 1:11. Some think that in every thing that has breath here we must include the inferior creatures (as Gen 7:22), all in whose nostrils was the breath of life. They praise God according to their capacity. The singing of birds is a sort of praising God. The brutes do in effect say to man, "We would praise God if we could; do you do it for us." John in vision heard a song of praise from every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, Rev 5:13. Others think that only the children of men are meant; for into them God has in a more peculiar manner breathed the breath of life, and they have become living souls, Gen 2:7. Now that the gospel is ordered to be preached to every creature, to every human creature, it is required that every human creature praise the Lord. What have we our breath, our spirit, for, but to spend it in praising God; and how can we spend it better? Prayers are called our breathings, Lam 3:56. Let every one that breathes towards God in prayer, finding the benefit of that, breathe forth his praises too. Having breath, let the praises of God perfume our breath; let us be in this work as in our element; let it be to us as the air we breathe in, which we could not live without. Having our breath in our nostrils, let us consider that it is still going forth, and will shortly go and not return. Since therefore we must shortly breathe our last, while we have breath let us praise the Lord, and then we shall breathe our last with comfort, and, when death runs us out of breath, we shall remove to a better state to breathe God's praises in a freer better air.
The first three of the five books of psalms (according to the Hebrew division) concluded with Amen and Amen, the fourth with Amen, Hallelujah, but the last, and in it the whole book, concludes with only Hallelujah, because the last six psalms are wholly taken up in praising God and there is not a word of complaint or petition in them. The nearer good Christians come to their end the fuller they should be of the praises of God. Some think that this last psalm is designed to represent to us the work of glorified saints in heaven, who are there continually praising God, and that the musical instruments here said to be used are no more to be understood literally than the gold, and pearls, and precious stones, which are said to adorn the New Jerusalem, Rev 21:18, Rev 21:19. But, as those intimate that the glories of heaven are the most excellent glories, so these intimate that the praises the saints offer there are the most excellent praises. Prayers will there be swallowed up in everlasting praises; there will be no intermission in praising God, and yet no weariness - hallelujahs for ever repeated, and yet still new songs. Let us often take a pleasure in thinking what glorified saints are doing in heaven, what those are doing whom we have been acquainted with on earth, but who have gone before us thither; and let it not only make us long to be among them, but quicken us to do this part of the will of God on earth as those do it that are in heaven. And let us spend as much of our time as may be in this good work because in it we hope to spend a joyful eternity. Hallelujah is the word there (Rev 19:1, Rev 19:3); let us echo to it now, as those that hope to join in it shortly. Hallelujah, praise you the Lord.
But someone will say: if the divine nature is incomprehensible, then why do you discourse about these things? Well then, because I cannot drink up the whole stream, am I not even to take in proportion to my need? Or because I cannot take in all the sunlight owing to the constitution of my eyes, am I not even to gaze on what is sufficient for my wants? On entering a vast orchard, because I cannot eat all the fruit therein, would you have me go away completely hungry? I praise and glorify him who made us; for it is a divine command that says, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!” I am endeavoring now to glorify the Lord, not to describe him, though I know that I shall fall short of glorifying him worthily; still I consider it a godly work to try all the same. For the Lord Jesus encourages my weakness when he says, “No one has at any time seen God.”
And since to savour of the flesh is death, "let every spirit praise the Lord" [Psalm 150:6].
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SUMMARY
Psalms 150:6 serves as the climactic and universal benediction to the entire Psalter, issuing an emphatic and all-encompassing mandate for every living entity to offer praise to the LORD. This concluding verse encapsulates the central purpose of existence—to glorify God—and transforms the very act of breathing into a continuous, life-affirming act of worship, culminating the book's journey from lament and petition to unbridled adoration.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Psalm 150:6 masterfully employs several impactful literary devices to convey its profound message. The most prominent is Hyperbole, as "every thing that hath breath" is an expansive, all-encompassing statement, stretching the scope of praise beyond human capacity to include all living creation. This emphasizes the boundless nature of God's worthiness and the universal scope of His dominion. Repetition is powerfully evident in the phrase "Praise ye the LORD," which appears twice within the verse and frames the entire Psalm (and the final five Psalms), creating a powerful, rhythmic, and memorable call to worship. This repetition also functions as an Imperative, serving as a direct, non-negotiable command, underscoring the urgency and necessity of this universal praise. Finally, the verse utilizes Synecdoche, where "breath" (a part) stands for "life" or "living beings" (the whole), powerfully linking the very act of existence to the inherent purpose of praising the Creator.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 150:6 culminates the Psalter with a profound theological statement: the universe, in its entirety, is designed for the praise of its Creator. This verse underscores the intrinsic connection between life and worship, asserting that the very breath we draw is a continuous testament to God's sustaining power and thus, a constant impetus for adoration. It moves beyond specific acts of worship to declare that life itself, in all its forms, is a perpetual offering of praise to the LORD. This universal call foreshadows an eschatological reality where all creation will ultimately acknowledge God's sovereignty and glory.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 150:6 is not merely a poetic conclusion but a profound theological and practical challenge to every believer. It reminds us that praise is not an optional activity reserved for specific times or places, but the fundamental purpose of our existence. If we have breath, we have an undeniable reason and an imperative command to praise God. This means cultivating a lifestyle of continuous worship, recognizing God's hand in every aspect of our lives—from the mundane to the miraculous. Our praise should be holistic, encompassing our thoughts, words, and actions, transforming our daily routines into opportunities to glorify Him. This verse invites us to join a cosmic chorus, aligning our hearts with the universal purpose of creation, living lives that continually declare the majesty and goodness of our Creator.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does "Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD" truly mean for humanity?
Answer: This phrase means that the very act of living, of breathing, is intrinsically linked to the purpose of praising God. For humanity, it signifies that our existence itself is a continuous call to worship. It's a reminder that our life, our vitality, and our ability to think, speak, and act are gifts from God, and therefore, our ultimate purpose is to glorify Him. It implies that as long as we draw breath, we have both the capacity and the obligation to acknowledge God's sovereignty, goodness, and majesty through our words, actions, and attitudes. This aligns with the biblical teaching that humanity was created in God's image to have fellowship with Him and to reflect His glory, as seen in Isaiah 43:7.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 150:6, with its universal call for all that has breath to praise the LORD, finds its ultimate fulfillment and deepest meaning in Jesus Christ. While the Old Testament calls all creation to praise the Creator, it is through Christ that humanity, fallen and alienated from God, is reconciled and empowered to offer true, Spirit-filled praise. Jesus, as the incarnate Son, perfectly embodied this praise, living a life of complete obedience and adoration to the Father, even unto death on the cross (Philippians 2:8). His redemptive work cleanses us from sin, enabling us to approach God's presence with thanksgiving and praise, transforming our "breath" from a mere biological function into a spiritual act of worship (Hebrews 13:15). Furthermore, the New Testament reveals that all creation will ultimately bow before Christ (Philippians 2:10-11), and in the new heavens and new earth, the redeemed will join a countless multitude in an eternal chorus of praise to God and the Lamb (Revelation 5:13). Thus, the universal Hallelujah of Psalms 150:6 is not just a command but a prophetic vision of a redeemed creation, fully restored and eternally praising the LORD through and because of Jesus Christ.