Psalm 150:1 - Let Everything That Has Breath Praise the LORD

Audio Bible

Context

Let Everything That Has Breath Praise the LORD
1Hallelujah! Praise God in His sanctuary. Praise Him in His mighty heavens. 2Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him for His excellent greatness.…

Cross References

Psalm 148:1-2
Hallelujah! Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise Him in the highest places. / Praise Him, all His angels; praise Him, all His heavenly hosts.Psalm 149:1
Hallelujah! Sing to the LORD a new song—His praise in the assembly of the godly.Psalm 146:1-2
Hallelujah! Praise the LORD, O my soul. / I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.Psalm 145:1-2
A Psalm of praise. Of David. I will exalt You, my God and King; I will bless Your name forever and ever. / Every day I will bless You, and I will praise Your name forever and ever.Psalm 135:1-2
Hallelujah! Praise the name of the LORD. Give praise, O servants of the LORD, / who stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God.Psalm 134:1-2
A song of ascents. Come, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD who serve by night in the house of the LORD! / Lift up your hands to the sanctuary and bless the LORD!Psalm 100:4
Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and bless His name.Psalm 96:9
Worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness; tremble before Him, all the earth.Psalm 92:1
A Psalm. A song for the Sabbath day. It is good to praise the LORD, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High,Psalm 81:1
For the choirmaster. According to Gittith. Of Asaph. Sing for joy to God our strength; make a joyful noise to the God of Jacob.Psalm 47:1
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. Clap your hands, all you peoples; shout unto God with a voice of triumph.Isaiah 6:3
And they were calling out to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts; all the earth is full of His glory.”Isaiah 12:5
Sing to the LORD, for He has done glorious things. Let this be known in all the earth.Isaiah 42:10
Sing to the LORD a new song—His praise from the ends of the earth—you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you islands, and all who dwell in them.Isaiah 44:23
Sing for joy, O heavens, for the LORD has done this; shout aloud, O depths of the earth. Break forth in song, O mountains, you forests and all your trees. For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, and revealed His glory in Israel.

Psalm 149:1
Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.

in his sanctuary

Psalm 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.

Psalm 66:13-16
I will go into thy house with burnt offerings: I will pay thee my vows, …

Psalm 116:18,19
I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people, …

in the firmament

Genesis 1:6-8
And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters…

Ezekiel 1:22-26
And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature was as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above…

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.

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Psalm 150

Hallelujah!
The term "Hallelujah" is a transliteration of the Hebrew phrase "Hallelu Yah," meaning "Praise the Lord." It is a call to worship and an expression of joy and reverence. This exclamation is used frequently in the Psalms, emphasizing the importance of praise in the life of a believer. The use of "Hallelujah" connects to the worship practices of ancient Israel, where music and song were integral to temple worship. It also foreshadows the heavenly worship described in Revelation, where the multitude praises God with "Hallelujah" (Revelation 19:1-6).

Praise God in His sanctuary.
The "sanctuary" refers to the holy place where God's presence dwells. In the context of ancient Israel, this would have been the Tabernacle and later the Temple in Jerusalem. The sanctuary was the center of worship and sacrifice, symbolizing God's dwelling among His people. This phrase calls believers to worship God in the designated holy places, acknowledging His holiness and sovereignty. It also points to the New Testament understanding of the believer's body as a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19), expanding the concept of sanctuary to include the personal and communal life of Christians.

Praise Him in His mighty heavens.
The "mighty heavens" refers to the expanse of the sky and the celestial realm, highlighting God's sovereignty over all creation. This phrase invites worship not only in earthly sanctuaries but also in the vastness of the heavens, suggesting that all of creation is a testament to God's power and majesty. The heavens declare the glory of God (Psalm 19:1), and this call to praise extends to the angelic hosts and all heavenly beings. It underscores the universal scope of worship, where both the earthly and heavenly realms join in adoration of the Creator. This also anticipates the eschatological vision where heaven and earth unite in worship of God.

Persons / Places / Events

1. God
The central figure of worship and praise in this verse. The focus is on His majesty and sovereignty.

2. Sanctuary
Refers to the holy place where God is worshiped. In the Old Testament context, this would be the temple in Jerusalem.

3. Mighty Heavens
Represents the vast expanse of the sky and universe, symbolizing God's omnipresence and power.

Teaching Points

The Call to Praise
The psalm begins with "Hallelujah," a Hebrew word meaning "Praise the Lord." This is a command, not a suggestion, emphasizing the importance of worship in the believer's life.

Worship in the Sanctuary
The sanctuary represents a dedicated space for worship. Believers are encouraged to create and honor spaces in their lives where they can focus on God and offer Him praise.

Praise in the Heavens
The mention of the "mighty heavens" reminds us that God's glory is evident in creation. We are called to recognize His handiwork and respond with awe and worship.

The Universality of Worship
This verse highlights that worship is not confined to a specific location. Whether in a church building or under the open sky, God is worthy of praise everywhere.

The Power of Praise
Praise is a powerful act that aligns our hearts with God's will. It shifts our focus from earthly concerns to divine realities, fostering spiritual growth and peace.

Lists and Questions

Top 10 Lessons from Psalm 150How does Psalm 150:1 remain relevant when the “sanctuary” no longer exists as it did in ancient times?What are sacred frequencies?How does the directive to use such celebratory worship in Psalm 150 align with passages advocating more solemn or silent reverence elsewhere in the Bible?Who was Fanny Crosby and what are her hymns?

(1) Sanctuary--That is, the temple. Some take it in direct parallelism with firmament, and understand the "heavenly palace," or "Temple" (comp. Psalm 11:4); but, as in Psalms 148, the invocation to praise includes heaven and earth; so here, but in the reverse order, the earthly sanctuary first, and the sublime things done on earth (Psalm 150:2), then heaven and the exalted greatness there.

Verse 1. - Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary. This is the right rendering, and not that of the Prayer-book Version, "Praise God in his holiness." Israel is called upon to give God praise in his holy temple. Praise him in the firmament of his power; i.e. in the broad expanse of heaven, the sign and seat of his power. Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Hallelujah!
הַ֥לְלוּ (hal·lū)
Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 1984: To shine

Praise
הַֽלְלוּ־ (hal·lū-)
Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 1984: To shine

God
אֵ֥ל (’êl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 410: Strength -- as adjective, mighty, the Almighty

in His sanctuary.
בְּקָדְשׁ֑וֹ (bə·qā·ḏə·šōw)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6944: A sacred place, thing, sanctity

Praise
הַֽ֝לְל֗וּהוּ (hal·lū·hū)
Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine plural | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1984: To shine

Him in His mighty
עֻזּֽוֹ׃ (‘uz·zōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5797: Strength, might

heavens.
בִּרְקִ֥יעַ (bir·qî·a‘)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7549: An expanse, the firmament, visible arch of the sky

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Psalm 150:1 Catholic BibleOT Poetry: Psalm 150:1 Praise Yah! (Psalm Ps Psa.)