This psalm is a hymn, centering in the praise of God. Its breadth encompasses heaven and earth, calling upon both celestial and terrestrial entities to join in the chorus. The words of the psalm would be familiar to those who know the hymn “Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah,” which is a mostly verbatim adaptation of the biblical text, except that it has three stanzas where the scriptures have two.

    The psalm begins and ends with “praise the Lord” (Hallelujah), which is an encircling bond giving the tone of all contained between these “parentheses.” The first stanza of the text, verses 1-6, calls for celestial praise of God in verses 1-4, and gives the reasons he should be praised in verses 5 and 6. The second stanza, verses 7-14, contains praise from the various elements of the earth in verses 7-12. The last two verses (13, 14) not only sum the entire psalm, but also give the reasons why earthly praise should be offered the Lord.

Its breadth encompasses heaven and earth...

We do not know the occasion upon which this psalm was used in ancient Israel. Suggestions offered depend on the assumptions of the interpreter. It was possibly sung at some important worship occasion, and many think it celebrated God’s blessing in bringing the people back f rom exile and allowing the rebuilding of the temple. The text of the psalm itself offers little evidence by which to date it. Regardless, it has powerful lessons to teach believers of all ages, whatever the usage in Israel’s worship. The last verse celebrates powerful deliverance God has given his people by its use of the image of the horn. This indicates an animal horn, and denotes a powerful force at work to accomplish its purposes.

Verses 1-4 - NLT - RSV

In this section nine “elements” of God’s creation are called to praise. Above all is the Lord. Below him, in ancient thought, are the waters above the heavens. Descending, next come the highest heavens, then the angels, then the heavenly bodies (sun, moon, stars). The psalmist speaks as if these nine could consciously choose to praise, though to our minds that is not possible, since they are not rational creations (except the angels). The author’s usage is nonetheless powerful, especially when one takes time to reflect on the magnitude of the parts of creation designated in these verses. Moderns, with our greatly increased knowledge of the heavens, may have even greater reason for awe than did the ancients (billions of galaxies, each containing billions of bodies; unimaginable distances, in which even a light year is miniscule).

The waters in verse 4, with the “sea monsters” (some versions have dragons) of verse 7, suggest ancient concepts of chaos. Thus God has conquered and confined the forces of chaos.

Verses 5 - 7 - NLT - RSV

The call to praise is repeated. All the things indicated in verses 1-4 were created at his command. Their nature, by his power, is eternal—thus they are constantly sustained by him. Their roles and boundaries are also determined by God, which implies the order and functioning of the heavenly elements.

Stop and reflect. Do not pass these verses too quickly. Ponder what the psalmist has said, and be amazed. Because they are, they praise the one who made them that way. Such power and concern are staggering.

Verse 8 - NLT - RSV

This verse turns the focus to weather. Fire may be lightning. These exhibitions of nature suggest both violence (potentially destructive) and beauty (snow and frost). The extreme manifestations of weather have a profound daily effect on human life. But they are not sovereign. God is, as explicitly indicated in the last line regarding the wind. One’s mind rushes foreward over the centuries to the story of Jesus stilling the Galilean blasts.

Verses 9,10 - NLT - RSV

Verse 9 begins with geography and continues with trees. Verse 10 indicates animal life, on the earth and in the sky.

Verses 11,12 - NLT - RSV

The nature of the psalm changes with verse 11. For the first time (except possibly with angels in verse 2) sentient creatures are called to praise. Angelic freedom of will remains a mystery to us but human free will is not. Both rulers and “commoners” are called to choose praise, for reasons that will be given in verses 13 and 14. This mandate is the point at which the hearers are brought personally into the psalm and the praise it advocates.

Some suggest the men and women, old and young, in verse 12, may constitute a procession in a worship context, chanting the psalm as they proceeded.

Verses 13,14 - NLT - RSV

The concluding verses announce the reasons to praise, applicable mainly, we presume, to the praising community. God’s very being calls for praise, as does his glory. These have been marvellously demonstrated in the previous verses, so that the depictions there are brought into powerful meaning here. His glory above the earth was shown in verses 7-12, and above the heavens in verses 1-6.

Praise is offered,as well, because of God’s saving power, indicated by the image of an animal’s horn through which the divine goals are accomplished. A remarkable contrast concludes the psalm just before it bursts into a final Hallelujah. It shows God’s greatness and exaltation on the one hand (14a) and his nearness, assuring salvation, on the other (14b).

Devotional Applications

1. Stop and look. As we see these things in heaven and earth, we are invited by the psalm to view them with new eyes. They are God’s creation. As we marvel at them, we praise him. A whole world of wonder and praise is wrapped up in each of the thirty plus “elements” this psalm has cited.

2. I like to think of the image of a chorus. Each has a part, from “the heavens” through “children”. Each has its unique voice of praise, and all blend perfectly in one magnificant anthem. I imagine the first voice (heavens) beginning, and the other voices joining one by one, swelling the chorus till it passes beyond human perception. This may not be the image of the psalmist, but I find it helpful, and hope others might as well.

3. The final goal of all that exists is to praise God. In this praise the entire creation is united. Some praise him because of what he has made them to be. Humans, choosing to praise God, are being what he has created them to be. Praise of God is the greatest calling to which humans can aspire. We are made to praise him and enjoy him forever.

Title: "A Chorus of Praise"
Author: Dr. Tony Ash
Publication Date: December 9, 2001

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